Looking through boxing history there are (loosely) 3 key factors in being a world class fighter: 1) Desire to rise above the hand you've been dealt 2) Athletic ability 3) Work ethic 1) There are most certainly places in Oz where you dont have a chance to grow up to be a lawyer or a city slicker 2) Australia has a strong outdoors culture. Most blokes have played or do play some kind of contact/fitness sport to some sort of level 3) Its something the average man in the street prides himself on: the ability to put in a good days work So, why the **** arent there more world class boxers in oz? Especially when you consider how far above the weight (population wise) Australia punches in every other field of sport.
Ok look at it this way. There is some farken awesome boxing talent here. Ive seen some guys, even mates, who would give world class boxers a run for their money. Whats to blame? the Aussie public. Boxing just isnt a sport the aussie public is currently interested in. So, since there is no interest, guys who are really talented and gifted in boxing dont pursue a career in the sport as there is no livelyhood in it. Thats the laymans version. Of course there are other factors, but I believe the above is the ROOT cause.
You say that, but consider the ridiculous backing that Bumdine has recieved. Theres obviously a public interest in the sport otherwise the cycloptic **** wouldnt be newsworthy.
The reason why? Simple.........Look at the fight cards and you will notice one thing and one thing always.......We fight guys even I would blow away to fly up the rankings and when it comes time for a hard fight we are never ready. Only the strong survive in this sport but when you are feed easy wins you learn nothing from it.
There's no big interest in the sport, the interest is in Mundine, just like the rest of ex-footballers (and their brothers) hopping onto the bandwagon and getting the sort of cash top Australian boxing talent doesn't see, unless they make it to the big leagues.
Mundine had a fanbase purely because he was Rugby player. So my argument still stands. It'd be the same as if David Beckham suddenly started playing AFL there'd be a sudden surface level interest around the world. So basically most of the Mundine fans only have a surface level interest.
yeh he has some kind of strange sadistic vendetta against aussies. Maybe his last girfriend (assuming he ever had one) left him for an aussie...
It's mainly a numbers thing, most of the guys with genuine natural athletic abiilities are playing other sports like league, union AFL etc where there is plenty of money, the other night on fox they were saying there isn't even 200 registered pro boxers in the country, and to get into the big money if you are any good takes years. Look at Briggs last title fight all he earnt was $140,000 then you have to minus the trainer and manager etc fees, elite cricketers/footballers make more per year.
Totally agree with that post.Im a product of that..I juggled boxing and rugby league for awhile until i became 18 and started making alright cash playing league.Had 5 amateur bouts and at the time i was fighting most thought i had the skills and dedication to become a aussie champ atleast.. I got to 19 and had to seriously choose one or the other..the reason i had only 5bouts was that i would be around 86kgs in footy than during off season get straight into boxing hard out and strip to middleweight 75kgs..Than i would try get my weight back up in time for the footy season.IT WAS GETTING RIDICULOUS. I thought about winning commonwealth/olympic medals etc but the way my life is i havent lived at home since i was 16 so the cash i was getting playing footy and that i did have equal ability and love for it led me to choose footy.. Sometimes regret it but such is life. I have full respect for anyone who steps in the squared circle as i know first hand how tough of a sport it is..