What 5 Boxers meant the most to the sport (since 1950)

[Ambling Alp II]

Keep grasping at that straw.

[Ambling Alp II]

The Klitshkos problem is that they are not Americans

Yeah, that's it. It's all because they aren't Americans.
Their biggest problem is that they aren't that good. The second is that the sport is not nearly as popular as it once was. Compare the popularity of boxing now to when started in the 1990s. It's not even close.

[elmersalsa]

The Klitshkos problem is that they are not Americans

Yeah, that's it. It's all because they aren't Americans.
Their biggest problem is that they aren't that good. The second is that the sport is not nearly as popular as it once was. Compare the popularity of boxing now to when started in the 1990s. It's not even close.

If the Klitchskos were Americans they would've been billionaires by now. They would have been commanding, RIGHT NOW, $100 million dollar a fight figures.

That they aren't that good? They have been champions for almost 10 years, if we can recall?

I need someone to give me the number of title defenses and years as champions that the Klitschkos brothers have done so far.

They got all the ingredients:
They are white
They are big
They are undefeated as champions
They are the best of the crop
They have beaten all American challengers

Their BIGGEST PROBLEM:
They are not Americans.
They share terrible accents while speaking American English.
They are not marketable for Madison Avenue

[gregor]

Their BIGGEST PROBLEM:
They are not Americans.
They are not marketable for Madison Avenue

Their biggest problem are boring fights, though I agree this can make them unmarketable for Madison Avenue

Yes, they (or rather Wlad now) are the best of what is now left of HW... but this still does not make those fights less boring.

(and for the record - I am not American and I do not care about nationality of the fighter).

[Ambling Alp II]

Pretty much agree with that. Their competition is awful, which is one of many reasons that boxing isn't very popular anymore. They are the best around, yet anyone who knows the sport knows that it would not take a great fighter to beat them. They have glaring weaknesses. They are boring. Being an American would not change any of that.

[keithmoonhangover]

Pretty much agree with that. Their competition is awful, which is one of many reasons that boxing isn't very popular anymore. They are the best around, yet anyone who knows the sport knows that it would not take a great fighter to beat them. They have glaring weaknesses. They are boring. Being an American would not change any of that.

Vitali was boring? How?

Wlad wasn't boring to begin with, that's a fairly recent thing.

[Ambling Alp II]

How is Vitali boring? Seriously?

Wladimir used to be more exciting when he was young. He was much more aggressive. He looked his best then. However, it became obvious in his losses that he had a glass jaw and bad stamina. How do you mask that? You fight at a much slower pace and clinch more. That is not enough to beat a really good fighter, but it more than enough to beat the pathetic competition that he has been facing the past several years.

[man]

The Klitshkos problem is that they are not Americans

americans do not seem to have a problem
admiring GGG or pacquiao.

[elmersalsa]

Their BIGGEST PROBLEM:
They are not Americans.
They are not marketable for Madison Avenue

Their biggest problem are boring fights, though I agree this can make them unmarketable for Madison Avenue

Yes, they (or rather Wlad now) are the best of what is now left of HW... but this still does not make those fights less boring.

(and for the record - I am not American and I do not care about nationality of the fighter).

You don't care about the nationality of the fighters, neither do I, but, you cannot be MAIN REASON that American watch boxing by not being one of their own. That's always have been the case when it comes to heavyweight boxing. Once a good American heavyweight comes along, and you'll see the interest in the sport in US soil.

The Klitschkos are the MODERN DAY Ivan Dragos. Americans are still waiting for their Rocky Balboa.

[elmersalsa]

Pretty much agree with that. Their competition is awful, which is one of many reasons that boxing isn't very popular anymore. They are the best around, yet anyone who knows the sport knows that it would not take a great fighter to beat them. They have glaring weaknesses. They are boring. Being an American would not change any of that.

If they were Americans, the Klitschkos would've been BILLIONARES BY NOW. Right now, they would've been in every sport magazine as the savoiurs of heavyweight boxing. And yes, The Ring Magazine would've been compared them with the ATGs of the past. Better believe it. Boring or not.

[elmersalsa]

The Klitshkos problem is that they are not Americans

americans do not seem to have a problem
admiring GGG or pacquiao.

They are not heavyweights, neither Americans. Until this day, I don't know who's the hell is GGG.

You asked the average American who was the great Marvelous Marvin Hagler, and they recognized him in the spot. You asked them about the great Carlos Monzon, and they'll say "Huh?"

You ask them about Michael Cadbajal a Jr. flyweight, and most of them, knew who he was. Ask them about Hilario Zapata, Yoko Gushiken or Ricardo "Finito" Lopez and is like say what?

It is what it is. America got to promote their boxers and try to make as much money out of them. It's the place where the money is in boxing, not because they are the best boxers. I don't consider no country as the best in anything. America is where the capital, fame and powerful media is.

[Ambling Alp II]

The Klitshkos problem is that they are not Americans

americans do not seem to have a problem
admiring GGG or pacquiao.

You are absolutely right.
Actually American boxing fans (and there are dozens of them still out there) probably care less about where a fighter is from than most other countries. You don't see a sea of American flags in the crowd when an American is fighting a fighter from another country in a fight in the United States.

We have no problem rooting for a foreigner against an American if we like the foreigner better.
Most American boxing fans wanted Pacquiao to beat Mayweather.
Most of us wanted Lewis to beat Tyson.

How far do we want to go back?
Many Americans were upset that Sharkey got the decision against Schmeling.
The majority of Americans rooted for Carpentier to beat Dempsey.

Most Americans don't just blindly like a guy better because he is an American.

[elmersalsa]

The media cares, if you're American
The promoters care, if you're American
Madison Avenue cares, if you're American

Germany cares, if you're European like the Klitschkos
Japan cares, if you're Fighting Harada
The British care, if you're Lennox Lewis

Everybody on their own culture, or ethnic background


If the Klitschkos were Americans? They would've been billionaires by now.

[Ambling Alp II]

No.