Does this make me not a true boxing fan...?

Maelstrom · Post by **Maelstrom** » 05 May 2008, 16:21

Can you guys tell me something?

Do you watch and enjoy, (so long as it is of a reasonable standard), every boxing fight?

Because to be honest, I don't.

For instance, I could not sit through that card on Friday night with Rendall Munroe.

The Napa fight had more interest for me - I have a soft spot for him - but even during that fight I was flicking.

With the big fights, (Calzaghe-Hopkins, Hatton-Mayweather etc), I am always glued and would never tune out. But for some reason, with a lot of these Friday night shows, I am a bit ambivelant...

Does that make me no better than the rest of the public? And why is it? Is it because I don't really care who wins??

I often get these crises of conscious!

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 05 May 2008, 16:25

I'm the same, wasn't too interested in the Napa result, as you just know it's going to be a points win, so didn't watch.
Caught a bit of Munroe, but on flicked over now and again, as the Frenchman looked a journeyman, to be honest.

Never watch Eurosport either,

Spud · Post by **Spud** » 05 May 2008, 16:28

Maelstrom wrote:Can you guys tell me something?

Do you watch and enjoy, (so long as it is of a reasonable standard), every boxing fight?

Because to be honest, I don't.

For instance, I could not sit through that card on Friday night with Rendall Munroe.

The Napa fight had more interest for me - I have a soft spot for him - but even during that fight I was flicking.

With the big fights, (Calzaghe-Hopkins, Hatton-Mayweather etc), I am always glued and would never tune out. But for some reason, with a lot of these Friday night shows, I am a bit ambivelant...

Does that make me no better than the rest of the public? And why is it? Is it because I don't really care who wins??

I often get these crises of conscious!

Bloody good thread - you have had me thinking there - there have been fights I really havn't given a toss about - I still love the sport.

Something tells me though regardless of your attitude towards some fights you are still a BIG fan!!

whicker · Post by **whicker** » 05 May 2008, 16:29

I think a lot of it depends on the actual fight. If its close stuff- a good competative scrap, which looks like it could end in a knockout, then I enjoy it.

If its a prospect having 6 rounds of target practice against a journeyman then that struggles to hold my interest.

Where my interest starts to wain is when its obvious who is going to win. And sadly, in many cases nowadays thats apparant as soon as the fight is announced.

I also think its natural to get a bit bored after a time of watching boxing- 10 fight undercards are too much for me. Whn you've been sitting for hours watching the same thing, the appeal does decline a little.

states · Post by **states** » 05 May 2008, 16:34

I would say that if you care enough to ask the question on a forum like this, then yes, you are a real fan.

You don't need to watch everything on offer to be a fan. Do you have to give a shit about the Blue Square Premier to be a football fan?

Not everything is exciting about boxing, not all of it is going to hold your attention. Same goes in every sport. Just because you can't work up too much enthusiasm about a fairly routine Rendall Munroe fight doesn't mean you aren't a real fan. fornicate me, how many people could tell you who Rendall Munroe was?

Spud · Post by **Spud** » 05 May 2008, 16:38

Have to say Maelstrom has started a bloody good thread - I have been at some shows and normally always find the time in between jobs to see the fights I want to - I remember being guilty as f*ck missing some fights!!!

I remember another time - myself and Rhino missed a lot of Mark Potters fight at Wembley Conference Centre once because we were told Lennox Lewis was definitely turning up - Rhino please explain how we got out of that one!!!

jim wright · Post by **jim wright** » 05 May 2008, 16:43

My advice would be to switch off your TV, get a car full of mates together and have a ride around the country watching a few shows.

The undercard for the Munroe was an absolute rollercoaster with wars, stunning KO's and see-saw battles.

When you watch people like Napa and Munroe live there is so much more to see then having it spoon fed through tv.

Also at the live shows the place is packed with fighters coming to see their mates fight and they are in my experience the most approchable, welcoming sportsmen in the world who always have time for a chat with the fans.

whicker · Post by **whicker** » 05 May 2008, 17:01

states wrote:You don't need to watch everything on offer to be a fan. Do you have to give a shit about the Blue Square Premier to be a football fan?

Good point- but in a way its kind of different. Most football fans- I'd say probaly like 90% - support one particular team (or maybe 2 teams) usually for life. As such if your team is in the Blue square, then yeah, thats the football you would watch.

For sure, people watch other teams live on telly too etc, but its not really the same as boxing.

IE- when I go to football, its always to cheer on my team. When I go to boxing, its to watch a variety of bouts just for the entertainment in and of itself. I think most of the audience is in the same position, certainly during the undercard.

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 05 May 2008, 17:20

the key thing is, and regardless of the standard of the fighters or whatever glorious belt its for, but if the fight is evenly matched, if its a 50/50 duel...then i will be hooked.... whether its area level or world title !!

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 06 May 2008, 02:34

There is so much football that I can happily miss the odd game, but if there is boxing on I'm watching it. I've not been a fan for that long really, so I feel like I need to catch up, and I love watching fighters and trying to do a Teddy Atlas on them - work out how they will get caught by shots and what they do well.

Gray-Fox · Post by **Gray-Fox** » 06 May 2008, 02:40

Watching every fight would make you a boxing anorak. I'm happy if the lay fan is even aware of fighters like Ian Napa.

Shirow · Post by **Shirow** » 06 May 2008, 02:51

My diagnosis would be that you are a true boxing fan with lay fan tendencies.

Hatton & Mayweather & Hopkins v Calzaghe were well hyped but weren't very fan friendly to watch. Apart from being significant matches to the hardcore boxing fan I think the hype was a big part of the appeal & anticipation.

Well matched fights of at least a compentent standard where the fighters both show big desire to win every moment of every round are just as exciting. The problem is that you seldom know when you are guaranteed these on a small hall show. That hurts boxing in this country - if there was only a promoter who put on shows where you might not know the boxers but knew that you could expect to see great fights this might be diferent.

I'll probably re-watch Rhodes v Woolcombe before Hatton or Calzaghe last big fights again.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 06 May 2008, 02:58

i missed friday night fights altogether this week.

usually watch it though or catch the best bits.

always make sure i catch the big american fights.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 06 May 2008, 03:02

MatthewS wrote:There is so much football that I can happily miss the odd game

yeah just so much football on these days.

i didn't watch any of the sunday and monday games this week.

Tykemania · Post by **Tykemania** » 06 May 2008, 06:46

I guess there are bits of the sport that are pretty dull, such as the proliferation of dull as dishwater "Development" matches for the promoters latest prospect - almost makes you wonder whether the Board should make s atnd and refuse sanctioning for some bouts! You also need to be invested in the result - having watched Napa for years, I cared enough to video his fight (yay! I have a life!) but Monroe, whose work I hardly know, versus a guy who'd lost to his own grandmother. Twice. wasn't worth it.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 06 May 2008, 06:48

It's very rare I miss a fight, other than the ones on Eurosport ('Comedy Boxing' as my mucka calls it)

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 06 May 2008, 07:04

I'm a bit unusual in that I watch all the British stuff I can but neglect to follow a lot of European and/or World level stuff.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 06 May 2008, 07:16

On the UK scene I like watching the young fighters who are going places and the great fights. I especially like competitive fights.

However, I can't really sit through Amir Khan mismatches (Kristjansen), and I've yet to see a Munroe or Napa fight all the way through as they just get a bit repetitive.

I like keeping an eye on the Euro scene for some of these well schooled guys from Russian countries but not those boring arse Italian guys who go for EBU titles, pull out and get the shit beaten out of them in half baked world title fights.

chesh · Post by **chesh** » 06 May 2008, 07:46

I must be an anorak. Not only do I watch everything, but I also record everything and have done for many years. I'm currently transferring thousands of fights from VHS to DVD and then taking bin bags full of the redundant tapes to the local tip. I also buy most commercially available boxing DVDs. Having said that, there are some fights I only watch out of the corner of one eye as I'm reading a book or newspaper at the same time. I only look up if Adam Smith starts to sound excited - which is quite often. LOL.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 06 May 2008, 07:47

I just don't have the time to watch everything. I record everything but for example I could not be arsed to stay up for the DLH-Forbes fight.

dondada · Post by **dondada** » 06 May 2008, 07:56

chesh wrote:I must be an anorak.

Certainly sounds like it!

chesh · Post by **chesh** » 06 May 2008, 08:27

Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:
chesh wrote:I must be an anorak.
Certainly sounds like it!

:(

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 06 May 2008, 08:36

Well, I have to admit I was a bit shocked at the amount of post saying "yawn" etc in this forum during the round by round for the Calzaghe vs Hopkins fight. I was quite engrossed by that fight.

Chambers2 · Post by **Chambers2** » 06 May 2008, 10:58

stujones wrote:Well, I have to admit I was a bit shocked at the amount of post saying "yawn" etc in this forum during the round by round for the Calzaghe vs Hopkins fight. I was quite engrossed by that fight.

Was you gutted we never got to see Barney-Ottke?

el_grande_mauro_mina · Post by **el_grande_mauro_mina** » 06 May 2008, 11:32

I like certain aspects of boxing - I like the heavyweights and I try not to watch FW cards because I end up just being annoyed.

Peter Buckley and 100 fight journeymen who don't try to win! No thank you! Though I do like Paul Bonson - a proper hard case who comes to win and will fight the biggest heavyweight.

I don't like hype like Andy Lee - the crap that was being said about this lad by the likes of Bunce which he had no chance of living up to and now we are getting with Frankie Gavin - someone please save me.

I don't care about Manny Pacquiao. I'm sure he is a good fighter but I have no interest in him, Kelly Palvik or de la Hoya who is now a celebrity boxer - I do not give a toss about world champions - does anybody care that Firat Aslan is a world champion - I don't.

All those horrible, boring-as-shite former Soviet East Europeans with their ubereffective styles and bland personalities - Andreas Koletnik, Arthur Abraham, Dimitrenko, Chagaev, Potvetkin, Sidorenko etc etc - I love Fidel but am praying that capaitalism comes sooner to Cuba rather than later so we can have some good fighters who can kick these bores asses!

I like watching old fights on youtube, I like reading about boxing from places like Argentina and Australia. I love small hall stuff - It matters not if I'm a true boxing fan or not - I just take out of it the stuff that interests me.

Does this make me not a true boxing fan...?

Does this make me not a true boxing fan...?

Re: Does this make me not a true boxing fan...?