Why do us Brits love to hate?

[Wales]

Wales is on the rampage today, duck for cover......

[Captain Hook]

He's a complete twat because he made a jokey remark about English football and is a bit dour?

Ok, but he is still a cracking player. Federer will go down as best of all time, so it was no disgrace.

It wasnt a joke, it was hi being a grumpy scotsman. Paraguay were the nation in question, wasnt it? Regardless, yes, dont like him. Seemed to get injured at appropriate times too at one point, over that now granted. Federer may go down as being the best of all time, or will nadal could catch him up in the coming years.

Mark Thompson: I certainarly dont care for tennis, neither do most till bloody Wimbledon crops up once a year. Then the country goes tennis crazy with that horse woman and ruddy sue barker. Ah well.

I thought you were with me in agreement that we don't want England to win anything because they are sub-human scum?

Especially Emerson. It must just be me then

I'm joking, I'm joking......I'm a quarter English (my arse, eyebrows and left elbow included)

[banjo]

but the level of dislike for him as a person that I've heard, from people who don't even have a good reason to base it on, is very distasteful to me and typically British.

Hate to say it but a lot of that is down to his skin colour, I was in a bar in town watching the Limond fight and the level of racial abuse screamed at the big screen was unbelievable, even Khans family when they were shown on the TV were targets as well.

[Wales]

Long given up on any home country winning just about anything mate. Find it ard not to support the English footy team when I support an english club who had (hmph) a couple of players in the set up. Obviosuly support Wales over them, but very rare we play each other, plus we're truly crap and I cant be arsed watching Welsh internationals. Might watch on weds as we've got russia...

[Wales]

but the level of dislike for him as a person that I've heard, from people who don't even have a good reason to base it on, is very distasteful to me and typically British.

Actualy was a nice kid when I met him in person, really quiet. Must be the people behind him?

[mark thompson]

Andy Murray for sports non personality of the year !!!!

[Poncey]

As I text you on Sunday night Wales, for a allegedly fighter to state what they did about him must say a lot about what fighters within Frank's stable think of him.

Either that or it was just him.

Either way I was surprised.

[Captain Hook]

Long given up on any home country winning just about anything mate. Find it ard not to support the English footy team when I support an english club who had (hmph) a couple of players in the set up. Obviosuly support Wales over them, but very rare we play each other, plus we're truly crap and I cant be arsed watching Welsh internationals. Might watch on weds as we've got russia...

Are you getting Poyet by the way? Noticed Terry Mc went yesterday. Shame, the guy bleeds black and white.

You Toon fans are in for yet another rollercoaster ride.

I don't mind seeing any of the home countries do well, though as a member of the smallest nation it does sometimes get your goat seeing all the England flags around the place come a major tournament.

Doesn't make me bitter though, just a little sad we've not made it for such a long time, especially when you consider some of the talent we've produced in the last 20/30 years - Southall, Hughes, Giggs, Rush, Thomas, Ratcliffe, Bellamy etc etc. But we're used to it.

Got a good crop now though, just need to get rid of Tosh.

Ah well......

[Wales]

As I text you on Sunday night Wales, for a allegedly allegedly fighter to state what they did about him must say a lot about what fighters within Frank's stable think of him.

Either that or it was just him.

Either way I was surprised.

Did you text me on Sunday night? Hmph, I was on the lash, mustve forgot that one. Talking of which have you spoke to terrence lately? he left a voicemail at 2am on sat night

[Counter-puncher]

for a allegedly allegedly fighter to state what they did about him must say a lot about what fighters within Frank's stable think of him.

Either that or it was just him.

Either way I was surprised.

may i ask you to elaborate just a little bit, I am intrigued.

[Loftgroov]

Sadly you’ll always get the low life racist brigade screaming obscenities at a TV screen. It makes them look even harder in front of their pond life mates.

And its true that racism is still rife in this country today, be it in the pubs, the football terraces, or from your own family around the table during the Sunday roast. The fact is most people just don’t say things publicly because it’s “not allowed” and you’d get ostracised or sacked. Consequently lots of people have hoped Khan would get beaten simply because he’s Asian. Sad but true.

However, perhaps it’s just my imagination, but there is also a certain behaviour that always seems to occur amongst the families and friends of Asian sportsmen which never helps matters. Firstly the sheer number of ‘hangers on’ is unbelievable, and secondly everything ALWAYS seems to be money, money, money orientated. The managers and advisors always seem to be the fathers or brothers of the sportsman in question and you can’t help but feel the sportsman themselves just becomes some sort of pawn in an attempt to make the wider family money.

Couple that with the equally xenophobic attitude of “the Khan following” in the crowd at previous fights, some of whom look liked they’d happily stab you given the chance, and it’s not hard to see why Khan himself quickly becomes unpopular.

Personally I’m pretty neutral on Khan. I neither like him, nor dislike him.

[Poncey]

for a allegedly allegedly allegedly fighter to state what they did about him must say a lot about what fighters within Frank's stable think of him.

Either that or it was just him.

Either way I was surprised.

may i ask you to elaborate just a little bit, I am intrigued.

PM me.

[yiddo14]

Brits hating winner's and loving plucky loser's is a myth.

Khan and Murray get stick for different reasons, but neither is a pure winner are they so it cannot be that?
Khan just got splattered before he reached Euro class and his claim to fame is finishing 2nd at The Olympics and Murray will now be the guy who reached a major final and managed to beat a tired Nadal en route to 2nd place.
Hardly the stuff of legend is it?

Look at Tim Henman and the English Football Teams. These guys were/are perrenial loser's and seem to be hated by the vast majority!

Lewis and Eubank were my favourite two fighters growing up and I only ever see a Brit rooting against them when they faced another Brit, so too much is placed on them being hated.
Hamed had a major personality problem, much worse than even Mayweather who is widely hated by US fight fans, so it's not surprising that "The Prince" had a few who wanted to see him lose.

Bruno was loved by British fight fans because he was a nice guy who gave his all, similar to Arturo Gatti in the States for instance. That man is adored by US fight fans, who apparently only love winners!

[Poncey]

As I text you on Sunday night Wales, for a allegedly allegedly allegedly fighter to state what they did about him must say a lot about what fighters within Frank's stable think of him.

Either that or it was just him.

Either way I was surprised.

Did you text me on Sunday night? Hmph, I was on the lash, mustve forgot that one. Talking of which have you spoke to terrence lately? he left a voicemail at 2am on sat night

He never phones

I figured you were pissed by the fact what you said you wanted to do to my underwear drawer.

[observer1]

It's The Typical British attitude, which is why often Britain fail at most sports, or don't get very Far.

Be it Boxing, Football, Cricket etc.

Terry D, Khan indeed made some Poingent remarks now and again, But surely it was small stuff compared to what other boxers do/did.

I thought a little trash-talk now and again was important for a Boxers Career.

[Loftgroov]

It's The Typical British attitude, which is why often Britain fail at most sports, or don't get very Far.

No - we usually fail because we are crap. I'm sure Roger Federer would win plenty of top tennis tournaments with or without the backing of the Swiss public.

Our problem is a refusal to simply accept that we aren't as good as we think we are - the England football team being about the most obvious example. There are still thousands upon thousands of cretins out there that think we're actually as good as Brazil, Italy and Argentina - we're just somehow unlucky each time...

[oliverfennell]

it's an accurate "generalization"... just the same as NOT all Brit's are negative!

I'm a positive person and like to look at most things from the positive angle. Therefore I'm often disappointed at how hard people seem to be trying to be negative. I think negative commentary on the Khan situation is fair enough, but when reading these boards I'd swear sometimes the entire sport is doomed, since every single boxer in it is so obviously shit! (With stats, quotes and references to back it all up)

[Ezzard]

I agree with other poster who said that Khan's fights were like watching a big bully beat up a little kid. I think that and his attitude made him unpopular.

As for Brits... We're an old nation. We know all about the ebb and flow of history and the corruption that comes with it. USA is a relatively young country. They still believe in the fairy-tales.

[Priff]

but the level of dislike for him as a person that I've heard, from people who don't even have a good reason to base it on, is very distasteful to me and typically British.

Hate to say it but a lot of that is down to his skin colour, I was in a bar in town watching the Limond fight and the level of racial abuse screamed at the big screen was unbelievable, even Khans family when they were shown on the TV were targets as well.

Skin Colour? I can't disagree.
The YouTube fight clip comments are full of "Die Paki Scum" and "White Power" comments.
"White Power"? Prescott isn't exactly WASP.

Quite frankly, I was disgusted.

However, I wouldn't tar the users of this site with the same brush. Boxrec users are a pretty fair bunch.
Khan said he was ready for a title fight 2/3 fights ago. He clearly wasn't.
This damaged his credibility. The fact he is a Warren fighter doesn't help as the hype gets on our nerves.
We don't like being told a guy who got knocked down by Limond and a past-it Gomez is world class.
We don't like big draws masking weak cards, poor fights etc.

Tbh, I was rooting for him to loose too.

[banjo]

No I'm not saying boxrec posters are disliking him for his skin colour but I mean haters of him in general, those racist pricks(who, you may be suprised to know weren't all white either) who were in the same bar as me probably don't even know what boxrec is never mind post on it.

[Wax On]

No I'm not saying boxrec posters are disliking him for his skin colour but I mean haters of him in general, those racist pricks(who, you may be suprised to know weren't all white either) who were in the same bar as me probably don't even know what boxrec is never mind post on it.

I once saw a black lad tell an Eastern European immigrant that "No one wants you in this country, so f**k off home" outside a club in front of all his mates.

The poor immigrant looked like he was going to cry.

It was one of those Joe Pesci - I wish I was big just once moments when I'd have loved to say something - but decided 10 stone v 10 black lads was not a good idea after 10 pints.

But racism / xenophobia? like that really pisses me off. I'm sure it's a factor in Amir being hated, but not the main one. He was popular at the Olympics when he was fighting for Britain and a humble young lad. Now he's a millionaire, big mouth who talks about himself in the 3rd person (a la Ricky Hatton) the General Public seem to have turned against him.

[Autobarn]

I agree mostly with David Payne's post. Khan was bashing up smaller or past it men, and the media were telling the laymen that Khan was doing something spectacular and world class. Maybe Brits don't like bullies. (Interestingly, the first boxing match I ever got compelled by was Holyfield-Bowe II - muscular smaller man backing up fat lazy so and so.)

I think with Naz Hamed, the guy was so cocky, and so serious (no Ali style tongue in cheek or anything) that ppl wanted to see him get beaten. Naz was genuinely obnoxious. I don't see race having anything to do with disliking a boxer, or wanting a boxer to lose. At least it's something that doesn't motivate me. I just hate the "beat up the midget in front of the home fans" mentality.

With Khan, I have to say my own negative feelings were closer to those I had toward Audley. Whom I also considered to be a bully. Whose opposition always made me feel pisse doff (though Khan's has been better and Amir's won a Commonwealth belt).

Britain has had an excellent lightweight division of recent, but becaue Khan "is world class", that meant he didn't have to fight any of these guys. That they could be dismissed (Thaxton, Murray). If they were offered a fight, they were dead at the weight non punchers (Fewkes) or similar. It was predictable.

Prescott wasn't predictable and IMO gave us all a breath of fresh air.

Now that Khan has been annihilated, it will be harder to lie to the public. Maybe the matchmaking will be more direct, the progression up the rankings a tad more honest. The learning curve more sensible, with gradually steeper increments. We saw David Haye rebound really well from a loss, and he was then tested in all the ways he needed to be tested.

Khan still has a big name, and if rehabilitated properly, can maybe still go far. There can be very big nights for him in the future and this will be for the good of UK boxing. Presently, he's in a cracking lightweight scene. What say we see some of these domestic fights, for a starter?

[johnswan1]

The simple truth of the matter is that the majority of boxers are arrogant, and/or incredibly thick/deluded, and therefore unlikeable.

True, a successful boxer has to be confident in his abilities - but look at the most popular fighters over the past couple of decades. There is a big difference between being a popular champion and being a fighter a lot of people are interested in.

Consider the following: Naz, Calzaghe, Bruno, Lewis, Hatton, Benn, Eubank, Khan.

These were all fighters the public were hugely interested in. But who was the most popular to the average dunce on the street? Probably Naz, Bruno, Hatton & Benn.

Naz because his humour and ability to back up his arrogance made him a "love him or hate him" attraction - but there were still always people wishing defeat on him. Eubank did likewise.

Bruno, Benn & Hatton (to some extent) were loved because they were passionate, humble, generally respectful and fan-friendly. Lewis was never really universally accepted as a true Brit.

Calzaghe was popular because he was (half) Welsh which gave him a strong patriotic support from a country with little sporting achievements outside of rugby. But he was still considered a boring and arrogant character and many Brits wanted to see him lose (until he start fighting Americans).

Khan was generally supported throughout the Olympics but then went on to disrespect multiple opponents, and regularly talk himself up into something he was not, despite being fed soft hand picked opponents who at times troubled him. Nothing to do with him being Asian. Sure Benn and Bruno were black and there weren't many who hated on them purely for that.

[overhand_right]

Bruno and Benn just seemed like nice blokes.

Khan, Hamed, Lewis, Audley, just came across as arrogant.

In Hameds case, his behaviour before fights and during post fight interviews was unbearable.

Khan was mouthing off despite being steered around Jon Thaxton.

Eubank was just a pantomime villain.

Lewis backed himself up in the ring but his general aloof demeanor and third-person speak makes him easy to dislike if you dont appreciate his boxing.

Khan is like Audley he was running his mouth when his performances weren't anywhere near up to scracth.

Dont think hate comes into it though, i dislike his padded record and disrespecting good old pros like Thaxton, was glad to see him exposed but i'm sure i'd like the guy if i was stood having a general banter with him.

[Gray-Fox]

I really could write an essay on this subject, and I just bloody well might (not here).

Different groups of people wanted Khan to lose for different reasons. Deep down I suspect nearly everyone apart from some Muslims and some female fans wanted to see him lose.