Why do we resent our best boxers?

[Manchester Massive]

Ricky Hatton has been one of best boxers we have produced, beat Kosta Tysuzu, who was an all time great, who had just come off stoppage wins over Mitchell and Judah, beat Maussa in unification bout, stepped up a weight in opponents backyard and won, then convincingly beat another world class fighter (admittedly past his best) in Castillo, one loss to the P4P best in world and already an alltime great in PBF- what is their to hate. If he chases money now who can blame him?

Joe Calzaghe, dominated his weight, won tough gutsy fights v Eubank and Reid, beat the next big thing Lacey, beat the man who a lot in the know thought was better in Kessler and then goes to US, steps up a weight and beats an all time great who was just off big wins over Tarver and Wright - why knock him?

Amir Khan, barely 21, Olympic silver medallist at 17, unbeaten and a commonwealth champ and top world 10 rated fighter whilst still a kid, why do so many want to see him get beat or get over matched early.

Without these 3 British boxing will be so much poorer so why the dislike or desire to see them get beat buy their own countrymen?

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Welcome to the forum. As fans who follow the sport we are going to be more analytical to both the negative and positive traits of the boxers. If a fighter avoids challenges, trys to deceive the fans, or simply isn't as good as he states he'll be called on it

As fans maybe some see the 'Stars' as celebrities who have it easy compared to their follow Pros. In some cases their may be fellow British Pros who are as good as the 'Stars' and don't have the same lucky breaks

They are all excellent fighters but they do have weaknesses and these will be analysed on boxing forums. Do some fans become hateful of boxers, which is immature

Also remember boxing instills great passion. Fans associate with certain fighters and may just dislike like a boxer who they just don't see as a good person

Lastly I'll say as a boxing fan my favourate fighters aren't British, I'm a boxing fan first and support the better boxer before the British boxer unless both are the same thing

[Old bones Ian]

Sometimes on the forums its jealousy, or they just want to wind people up.
also it can just be the boxers personality they don't like.

Of course you can get the internet warriors that take on everyone with bullshit talk and saying how they could beat some of the boxers, but have never left there front room to go to a gym. Just type 'Zelonoff' into youtube to find one of the ultimate warriors, although he did actually get into a ring. for the most embarressing fight.

What i dislike more is when people moan about British boxers not taking on the best , then when the fights are made , they slag off the boxers instead of getting behind them.

[Peter Hick]

It's a British trait and happens in other sports too.

Look at the stick Hamilton and Murray are getting at the moment.

[DavidPayne]

Yep.

We Brits love Eddie the Eagle, Frank Bruno, Tim Henman but have inherent mistrust of the successful.

We love gallant losers with stiff upper lips but abhor winners.

Chris Eubank was hated as a winner, but loved in defeat.

[banjo]

It's a British trait and happens in other sports too.

Look at the stick Hamilton and Murray are getting at the moment.

That's very true, Hamilton has had one full F1 season finishing 2nd in the closest championship for years yet he is slagged off.

With boxing, I'm not interested in nationality, I've been a big fan of Mayweather since 2000 so I was never going to support Hatton over him, however I wouldn't have begrudged him if he'd won. The problem I have with Ricky is his patronising attitude, for example every interview he does he feels the need to tell us he's "One of the lads", "No different from the man on the street", "I grew up on a council estate" etc. It's almost as if he has to reassure himself that the money hasn't gone to his head.

I'll tell you, if I made the money he has then I wouldn't be hanging around shitty Manchester drinking Guiness and having bacon butties, it'd be flaunt, flaunt, flaunt with me.

[Chambers2]

Ricky Hatton has been one of best boxers we have produced, beat Kosta Tysuzu, who was an all time great, who had just come off stoppage wins over Mitchell and Judah, beat Maussa in unification bout, stepped up a weight in opponents backyard and won, then convincingly beat another world class fighter (admittedly past his best) in Castillo, one loss to the P4P best in world and already an alltime great in PBF- what is their to hate. If he chases money now who can blame him?

Joe Calzaghe, dominated his weight, won tough gutsy fights v Eubank and Reid, beat the next big thing Lacey, beat the man who a lot in the know thought was better in Kessler and then goes to US, steps up a weight and beats an all time great who was just off big wins over Tarver and Wright - why knock him?

Amir Khan, barely 21, Olympic silver medallist at 17, unbeaten and a commonwealth champ and top world 10 rated fighter whilst still a kid, why do so many want to see him get beat or get over matched early.

Without these 3 British boxing will be so much poorer so why the dislike or desire to see them get beat buy their own countrymen?

I have nothing against Calzaghe and Khan, but I've quite rightly criticised Hatton for ducking Junior Witter whilst claiming to be a fans fighter and for regularly taking the easy option (excl Tszyu and PBF). The £14.99 gift took the piss as well. You say "If he chases money now who can blame him?" - I can blame him if he's claiming to be the fans fighter whilst taking fights solely on a risk-reward ratio, he says 1 thing and does another IMO

I agree that the British have a mentality of slagging off winners and of loving the underdog, but Hatton deserves all the criticsm he gets and more IMO.

[Peter Hick]

I don't find Calzaghe or Hatton to be particularly endearing characters and that's the main reason I don't support them.

Calzaghe is however a genuine talent and I respect him for that.

Hatton, on the other hand, is a b level fighter who thinks he's elite class and that's why I have no time for him.

[observer1]

Well its Different From Each Sport.

I dont understand why Someone would Slag of Hamilton, considering it was only his First Season.

Thing is, it's Usually "The Better the Boxer, the more Popular he is", Problem with British Boxers, its "The More Popular he is, the Better he is".

Calzaghe is the Best British Boxer by Far. I dont Slag him off, i just think he Wasted his Talent for 10 Years, and is Over-Rated for the Fights he had, When Calzaghe knows Full Well he could have Mega Fights against the Best at Prime for Prime, but he never.


Same with Hatton, Don't want to sound Harsh, but He is a B Level Fighter, just as someone earlier said. He will Win against the likes of Malignaggi (if he Fights him), Passed it Boxers etc. But against Someone like Mayweather, Prime v Prime, he will never Win.

Thats the Problem with British Boxers, There is always Some Angle to make them look better than they are.

Nobody is Slagging them off, its just Reality.

[josh fg]

I'd like to start off by saying I don't hate any of our fighters but I am frustrated by some of them, and think its legitimate to criticise them as it is us fans buying tickets and PPV that keeps them in pocket.

Ricky Hatton has been one of best boxers we have produced, beat Kosta Tysuzu, who was an all time great, who had just come off stoppage wins over Mitchell and Judah, beat Maussa in unification bout, stepped up a weight in opponents backyard and won, then convincingly beat another world class fighter (admittedly past his best) in Castillo, one loss to the P4P best in world and already an alltime great in PBF- what is their to hate. If he chases money now who can blame him?

Hatton for years passed the WBU title off as a real title while fighting sub standard opponents. Indeed it is also reasonable to argue that Maussa was the easiest touch, add to that the diss respect he has shown to fellow professionals like Witter.

Joe Calzaghe, dominated his weight, won tough gutsy fights v Eubank and Reid, beat the next big thing Lacey, beat the man who a lot in the know thought was better in Kessler and then goes to US, steps up a weight and beats an all time great who was just off big wins over Tarver and Wright - why knock him?

Years in his own back yard talking about stepping up or a weight and never fighting for a unification. he just doesn't strike me as a nice bloke tbh.

Amir Khan, barely 21, Olympic silver medallist at 17, unbeaten and a commonwealth champ and top world 10 rated fighter whilst still a kid, why do so many want to see him get beat or get over matched early.

Without these 3 British boxing will be so much poorer so why the dislike or desire to see them get beat buy their own countrymen?

Khan just gets slagged off by proxie I think people still feel agreeved about Harrison and also dont trust allegedly.

[mrbassie]

Ricky Hatton has been one of best boxers we have produced, beat Kosta Tysuzu, who was an all time great, who had just come off stoppage wins over Mitchell and Judah

That's twisting the facts a bit isn't it? Tszyu had been terribly inactive, he may have stopped Mitchell in two but two rounds in 18 months is hardly going to allow top form. He most certainly had not come off a win over Judah, that was YEARS before he fought Hatton.
Hatton's amazingly fought the best opposition of the three guys you talk about but like Calzaghe he spent his best years knocking over no names and from lower weightclasses to boot. Tszyu was a great win but Mayweather (at 140), Cotto(at 140), Gatti, Corley, Judah, Mitchell, Witter are glaringly absent from his record. Not saying he could or should have fought them all as that would take some doing (although it's not impossible as looking at some fighters resumes from the depression era shows) but two or three would make a huge difference to his standing.

Joe Calzaghe, dominated his weight, won tough gutsy fights v Eubank and Reid, beat the next big thing Lacey, beat the man who a lot in the know thought was better in Kessler and then goes to US, steps up a weight and beats an all time great who was just off big wins over Tarver and Wright - why knock him?

Eubank was past it, Reid a never-was, Lacy a hype job who, credit to Joe, he utterly exposed.
What's not to like is that he spent the majority of his career fighting mediocre and below opposition while holding an irrelevant unrecognised (for most of the time he held it) title. Not saying Joe isn't a very good fighter because he is but he didn't do enough to prove it, didn't fight the top guys out there and basically wasted his career. He may well retire with an unbeaten record but there's no names on it other than a couple of old men.

Amir Khan, barely 21, Olympic silver medallist at 17, unbeaten and a commonwealth champ and top world 10 rated fighter whilst still a kid, why do so many want to see him get beat or get over matched early.

Without these 3 British boxing will be so much poorer so why the dislike or desire to see them get beat buy their own countrymen?

Khan has potential but he's on the road to a career like Calzaghe if he stays with Warren, i.e he'll continue to be protected and hold a minor title, never fighting the best guys around.

It really isn't resentment but there's no reason we should blindly adore these guys and make them out to be much better than they are just because they're British like people on telly do to get you to watch their programs.
They're not above criticism just because they pay taxes to the same thieves as we do.

[John Dillinger]

I've no problem with folk pointing out flaws in fighters. That's a major part of this forum. IMO lots of it is fairly petty and I'm sure there are some who would find fault in anything.

On the other hand there are those who seem to leap on any little thing to justify their blind hatred of Hatton/Calzaghe etc. That dilutes their arguement and makes them look a bit daft imo.

How can you really "hate" a boxer who you've never spent time with?

[tonyevs]

In regard to Calzaghe and Hatton - I wouldn`t say resentment was an issue.

Calzaghe has taken a very long time to realize his potential he showed the night he beat Eubank .. in fact he probably wasted his best years fighting nobodies...with him prob frustration more the resentment.

With Hatton I think its a great deal to do with the colour of his skin for alot of peaple on here .. why else the constant biting?.. he took a massive chance leaving fWank and went to USA .. provided exciting fights .. fought the best out there.

And Khan, too much hype and selling him as a def world beater when in all fairness he hasn`t yet proved anything .. for me his team have been worthy of more praise to get him where he is than what he has achieved or shown in the ring.

[whicker]

To address the original post . I guess this can be turned on its head- Should the "Great British Public" be obliged to support an individual just because he is British? Does their nationality make them exempt from criticism regarding their personal or professional conduct?

Firstly, the feelings of "dislike" differ greatly depending on the individual boxer, indeed, depending ont he individual person.

The fact that they are (or arn't) British makes little difference.

Take Khan- a lot of the criticism- and it IS criticism, not resentment- comes from the fact that many feel he is getting too big for his boots, whilst moving in the wrong direction (ie fighting weaker opponents) professionally.

[ArtOfWar]

I don't really support any boxer who doesn't look to fight the best opponant each and every time they step inside the ring. Neither Haton or Calzaghe have ever tried to this. In fact the majority of boxers around the world these days don't try to do that, so I just like watching good match up's now, rather than favouring certain fighters.

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

People don't like Hatton because he is an excellent self promoter and a world class fighter, Hatton goes on TV and does his everyman stuff and people get all hot and bothered because some of the things he says to promote a fight may not strictly be accurate. Its as if people expect him to come on Parkinson and talk about his holidays in 5 star resorts and his Ferrari's and then add at the end "Oh by the way, watch my fight so i can buy my dad a Porsche"

Oh and this Hatton has ducked Witter thing, take away the fact Witter is British and what on earth gives him the right to fight Hatton?


fornicate all


Calzaghe? i never really got whats to dislike, OK he hasn't always fought the best (Unlike ummm errrrm Rocky Balboa?) but he's just beat Lacey, Kessler and Hopkins so you can put that one to bed.


Khan? fornicate knows what people don't like there, maybe they don't like the way he is promoted or something, i don't care


The main reason is that people who post on forums about any subject, want to be considered "hardcore" or "real" fans or whatever, and the easiest way of doing that is to pick holes in successful people/things to show the world what a hardcore observer you really are



Also, lets face it, a lot of people on here are not very bright

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

I don't really support any boxer who doesn't look to fight the best opponant each and every time they step inside the ring.

Ugh. no fighter in the history of the world has done this, for fucks sake

Man, you're so hardcore you dont like anyone!!!!!


Berk

[hitman_hatton1]

Ricky Hatton has been one of best boxers we have produced

yeah course he is.

definitely the best slugger anyway.

[hitman_hatton1]

I don't really support any boxer who doesn't look to fight the best opponant each and every time they step inside the ring.

Ugh. no fighter in the history of the world has done this, for fucks sake

Man, you're so hardcore you dont like anyone!!!!!


Berk

don't listen to john smiths man.

very set in his ways that one.

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

People don't like Hatton because he is an excellent self promoter and a world class fighter, Hatton goes on TV and does his everyman stuff and people get all hot and bothered because some of the things he says to promote a fight may not strictly be accurate. Its as if people expect him to come on Parkinson and talk about his holidays in 5 star resorts and his Ferrari's and then add at the end "Oh by the way, watch my fight so i can buy my dad a Porsche"

Oh and this Hatton has ducked Witter thing, take away the fact Witter is British and what on earth gives him the right to fight Hatton?


eff all


Calzaghe? i never really got whats to dislike, OK he hasn't always fought the best (Unlike ummm errrrm Rocky Balboa?) but he's just beat Lacey, Kessler and Hopkins so you can put that one to bed.


Khan? eff knows what people don't like there, maybe they don't like the way he is promoted or something, i don't care


The main reason is that people who post on forums about any subject, want to be considered "hardcore" or "real" fans or whatever, and the easiest way of doing that is to pick holes in successful people/things to show the world what a hardcore observer you really are



Also, lets face it, a lot of people on here are not very bright

I beg to differ. I am sure there are some bright people on the forums. Oliver Fenell seems quite literate, and a few others like silkov can actually write properly.

Oliver Fenell, literate?


Last time i saw him he was in a bar full of la.... ahh never-mind!

ho ho ho

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Ricky Hatton has been one of best boxers we have produced

yeah course he is.

definitely the best HUGGER anyway.

amended

[el_grande_mauro_mina]

You know what - it is nothing to do with ' Brits hate a winner' syndrome because it is not true - If you asked
the public of the 4 home nations if they would like their country to win the world cup what do you think they
would say? When England did win the rugby world cup - the public went off the wall as much as any American
reaction to something similar.

I think it is to do with the British national characteristic of not liking pricks - Lewis Hamilton is a fornicating prick
who after one season of F1 is screaming about press intrusion and privacy and moving to Geneva. (which he has
done - so much for waving the flag when he wins though) Robbie Williams did the same thing as Hamlton and was
rightly slagged off for it.

Now if you are an American - because they are so false and arse kissing when it comes to someone they
deem a 'winner' they will overlook negative personality traits as long as you win. (Floyd Mayweather, John
McEnroe, Carl Lewis etc) The British don't care if you win or lose - if you are act up and be pretentious and
rude then you are getting called out on it - Its one of our best traits.

Hatton has been a berk these past few years - his 'man in the street' persona is getting more like monty pythons
'four yorkshiremen' every time he opens his mouth. 'I was a council estate kid me' so he says - no he wasn't!
his dad played for Man City and owned a pub!

Calazghe, I have prayed for a Welsh boxer to be good as him for years - and along comes Calazghe - A list
skills with Z list personality! Khan - nothing against him yet - I think anyone young star who gets involved
with Warren gets ridiculous one sided match ups and gets the abuse by default - he has time to prove himself.

Anyway - the upshot is that the British can see through a pretentious prat - and if you are king or pauper
you will not get away with it! Unlike in America where you can say and do what you want as long as you are
rich/famous/are winning - I know what I would prefer.

[dr_devious]

Because we expect too much of them.

[banjo]

It all depends on your taste IMO, personally I prefer the flash, arrogant and cocky sportsman rather than the humble dickhead who goes down the road for a pie and a pint.

[banjo]

It all depends on your taste IMO, personally I prefer the flash, arrogant and cocky sportsman rather than the humble dickhead who goes down the road for a pie and a pint.

Well some humble guys can come accross really fake if they aren't naturally humble. Still, i find it better than someone like Audley Harrison, or David Haye.

Everyone seems to respect the loudmouth arrogant guys. E.G. Cristiano Ronaldo, a whining piece of shit, and he gets tons of money etc

Why don't the nice people get respect!?

It seems that if you are a decent person, people will not want to know you. Its stupid.

You have to imagine yourself in their shoes though, I mean if you're a world class sportsman you'll be very rich wether you're humble or not. I personally don't see the point in having all that money if you're not going to enjoy yourself, so what if people think you're a prick.

Work hard and play hard because there's no point in being the richest man in the graveyard.