Separating The Serious From The Casual.

[lefty]

My boxing life is similar to yours. Been to MSG, been to the The Palace at Auburn Hills, The Blue Horizon in Phillie. Been to tons of ABAs. In this country, been to big shows, small shows and plenty inbetween. Been to loads of gyms, met tons of boxers, met trainers and promoters. Sparred more than 100 rounds, collected all sorts of books, magazines, interviewed boxers, covered fights, attended weigh ins etc etc.

I hate the term 'casual', when you've got people on here, Horse for example, who've never been to a show and streams Boxn4tion, SKY and PPV.

Loads of people on here call boxers 'bums' or 'useless', but don't have the guts to step in the ring themselves.

They criticize David Haye because he's taking the Bellew fight 'just for the money' - it's called prizefighting for a reason. Every fight could be a boxers last, so money and savvy management should be the two most important things for a boxer.

Some of the bellends on here think that I'm a 'fanboy' or a 'nuthugger' because I dare to defend a boxer, who I'm not even a fan off in the first place.

But enough, I love your Jack Johnson story. I visited Stanley Ketchel's grave mate. Some of these pudenda have never even left their mam's house.

If actually going to shows and paying a few quid every month to watch a 24 hour boxing channel makes me a 'casual', then I'm proud to be called one.

That was savage

It's how I feel mate. You know what some of these characters are like. You're awesome though.

You're too kind mate .... I try not to call fighters bums. It's not something I can recall doing much but I probably have been guilty of it at times when being frustrated with certain mismatches you get. Any professional fighter though has more bollocks than then majority of us, that's for sure.

[lefty]

I would say I'm a casual football fan and a hardcore boxing fan.

The difference being I watch a fair bit of football and also know a fair bit of knowledge, I can have a conversation with other football fans but when pushed on conversations regarding tactics, managers and players histories outside the UK etc I don't have a clue what I'm talking about (once I start talking to my mates with season tickets etc they just start giving me funny looks when I say certain things). Now that's fine with me I am happy to admit where my football knowledge ends, however; plenty of casuals don't seem to know where their knowledge ends and just come across as ill informed. This is the issue with the boxing casuals their opinions are based on a lack of knowledge and what ever Eddie Hearn tells them, they then chat untold amounts of poo...... but they do keep the sport going.

At least you admit to being a casual football fan. I personally reckon 99% of football fans are actually casual (and I include myself in that figure), but they would either never admit to it or just wouldn't even realise. Most of the blokes I know who like football don't actually know anything outside of the Premier League or their own specific club, and a lot of them have never been to more than a handful of live games.

I grew up with a dad & brother who are proper hardcore fans (i.e. football anoraks) - they can both pretty much name every player in every squad of all the professional British league teams. In fact, they can probably also name all of the managers and all of the referees! My dad even turned down an amazing career opportunity when I was a kid because he didn't want to relocate and have to start missing games. Even though I'm a long-standing season ticket holder at my club and have attended literally hundreds of games, to them I'm just a casual

Abroad or? That's some bloody dedication lol.

[Like a Boss]

After being involved in boxing for over 50 years , in one way or another , I'm happy to announce I'm a casual , and intend to remain that way. Big fights that interest me, and the odd boxer, i've took a shine to and want to follow ,, Other than that i'm not lining a promoters pockets , when he serves up shite

Its simple really i would'nt go to the local store and buy his veg , when i know its always rotten , would'nt go buy 2 day old bread for the same price has fresh bread.

And i certainly would'nt buy a ppv or a tcket to watch AJ destroy a handpicked opponent in 2 rnds , .

So....... I'M A CASUAL AND PROUD

[Taansend]

I would say I'm a casual football fan and a hardcore boxing fan.

The difference being I watch a fair bit of football and also know a fair bit of knowledge, I can have a conversation with other football fans but when pushed on conversations regarding tactics, managers and players histories outside the UK etc I don't have a clue what I'm talking about (once I start talking to my mates with season tickets etc they just start giving me funny looks when I say certain things). Now that's fine with me I am happy to admit where my football knowledge ends, however; plenty of casuals don't seem to know where their knowledge ends and just come across as ill informed. This is the issue with the boxing casuals their opinions are based on a lack of knowledge and what ever Eddie Hearn tells them, they then chat untold amounts of poo...... but they do keep the sport going.

At least you admit to being a casual football fan. I personally reckon 99% of football fans are actually casual (and I include myself in that figure), but they would either never admit to it or just wouldn't even realise. Most of the blokes I know who like football don't actually know anything outside of the Premier League or their own specific club, and a lot of them have never been to more than a handful of live games.

I grew up with a dad & brother who are proper hardcore fans (i.e. football anoraks) - they can both pretty much name every player in every squad of all the professional British league teams. In fact, they can probably also name all of the managers and all of the referees! My dad even turned down an amazing career opportunity when I was a kid because he didn't want to relocate and have to start missing games. Even though I'm a long-standing season ticket holder at my club and have attended literally hundreds of games, to them I'm just a casual

Similar here. My dad played for East Ham and as a kid in the 70's I would watch games with him & he knew John Lyall (in passing) & the back room staff of West Ham - which why I'm a fan.

My brother was a decent Right Back who played for Greenwich Borough.

I, on the other hand, never made it to the school team, despite playing every night on the little dog shite green on our council estate

I was also shite at boxing, cricket, judo, trampolining & rugby. I wasn't bad at Table Tennis & Cross Country Running though.

I view a West Ham forum on which every other c@nt is an expert, although most know nowt more than me. A lot of them go to all the West Ham home games. As I live in a quiet town in Florida & work 3pm-11pm (including weekends) I don't get to ANY sporting events although as a casual I do take days off for boxing events that catch my eye like Joshua fights & Haye Bellew

[keithmoonhangover]

I did my first one last month & didn't train at all for it. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Very Zen.

So now I want to do one with some training. I have 10 weeks til my next one. Me & the Missus also use it as a mini break so we'll be visiting Savannah & Charleston & I'll also be looking for Joe Fraziers family farm in Beaufort.

Sounds like a great trip. I've always wanted to go to Savannah.

Boxing related side trips when you are on the road somewhere else are always great.

My wife arranged lunch this summer with an old friend of hers just outside Boston when we were there. Didn't pay much attention until we got in the hire car, and she said we were going to Brockton.

Cue: drop wife and kids off for the lunch, and have an awesome time finding the Marciano statue and other nonsense.

Incidentally, to be a true boxing historian, you need to be able to find Sonny Liston's grave without a guidebook.

[johnswan1]

You can be serious without being fanatical.

I used to be a fanatic - watching every televised card in its entirety.

Now with young children in the house I have had no choice but to become a connoisseur of premium boxing - which means main events only and very occasional undercard bouts.

And let's face it, being a fanatic is a torturous experience - unlike UFC the majority of cards are boring, but we continue to live in hope of catching the next Corrales-Castillo without already knowing the outcome beforehand.

[Loynesy]

You can be serious without being fanatical.

I used to be a fanatic - watching every televised card in its entirety.

Now with young children in the house I have had no choice but to become a connoisseur of premium boxing - which means main events only and very occasional undercard bouts.

And let's face it, being a fanatic is a torturous experience - unlike UFC the majority of cards are boring, but we continue to live in hope of catching the next Corrales-Castillo without already knowing the outcome beforehand.

6 of the 14 lads who came to my stag in Vegas have only seen one fight - Corales v Castillo. The ultimate boxing casuals.

[mickey1975]

It's easy to blag bring a hardcore fan nowadays, every stat is just a second away. Some of the most knowledgeable boxing people I know couldn't tell you a thing about current champions records, etc...

[Kilburn]

There was a time when I could definitely name you every (big four) world champion from all 17 weight divisions without having to think about it, just from the time I spent reading, watching and discussing. But I've gradually started caring less and less over recent years to the point where half the time I don't even know a fight is happening until the final week.

So I suppose I must be getting near the casual banding now if I'm not there already, although having said that if I hear a pair of uninformed boneheads in a pub talking shite about boxing I'm still going to shake my head like a snob.

Was reading today about Lebedev's fight coming up on Friday. Never heard of the young kid he is defending against but it looks an interesting match. Shame it's not showing over here, although hang on wasn't Lebedev live on YouTube last time?

Charlo v Williams is another one I'd been looking forward to but unfortunately no UK tv.

[bruthead]

I bet even in train spotting there are snobs who snort at trainspotters who have never logged the 5:30 am from Inverness to mctweedles or whatever.

It's the 05:37.

[Taansend]

I bet even in train spotting there are snobs who snort at trainspotters who have never logged the 5:30 am from Inverness to mctweedles or whatever.

It's the 05:37.

[boxingknockout]

I bet even in train spotting there are snobs who snort at trainspotters who have never logged the 5:30 am from Inverness to mctweedles or whatever.

It's the 05:37.

And I WILL catch that b@stard! If I die on the attempt I will GET IT!

[ALI]

If you keep up with the news every day, or at least every other day, thats a serious boxing fan right there.

I never go to shows, only been to one event in my life, Adamek vs Klit, yet i visit here daily, read boxing news daily, watch youtube video's daily, and watch live tv or online replays of all fights i'm interested in. I pay very little attention to any other sports. Its been like that for 15+ years now, and prior i was always interested in the sport from a young age. Got to consider myself a serious fan.

Would be even more intense if i did not have such a busy work schedule and 2 young kids at home, hard to find time to be interested in anything other than work and family these days!

[boxingknockout]

Two names should illustrate:

Casual: Adam Smith
Hardcore: Steve Bunce

[Loynesy]

Two names should illustrate:

Casual: Adam Smith
Hardcore: Steve Bunce

I'm pleased you didn't call Bunce serious.....

[nitro5912]

Hardcore - hate v bellew is a mismatch that hate should win comfortably by KO/TKO

Casual - it is a 50/50 fight because bellew knocked out Hayes mate and makubu at cruiserweight the same weight hate was.

[boxingknockout]

Two names should illustrate:

Casual: Adam Smith
Hardcore: Steve Bunce

I'm pleased you didn't call Bunce serious.....

Yeah I was uncomfortable using Bunce's name but I couldn't think of any major boxing presenter who is hardcore...

Maybe the Sky Goblin, but he's fornicating useless as a presenter or commentator.....

[Andrew]

Two names should illustrate:

Casual: Adam Smith
Hardcore: Steve Bunce

I'm pleased you didn't call Bunce serious.....

Yeah I was uncomfortable using Bunce's name but I couldn't think of any major boxing presenter who is hardcore...

Maybe the Sky Goblin, but he's effing useless as a presenter or commentator.....

Lillis knows his stuff so does Ed Robinson

[Taansend]

Hardcore - hate v bellew is a mismatch that hate should win comfortably by KO/TKO

Casual - it is a 50/50 fight because bellew knocked out Hayes mate and makubu at cruiserweight the same weight hate was.

I haven't heard anyone say it's a 50/50 fight.

They may have done and I missed it though.

[Loynesy]

Ronald is a boxing nerd.

[Boxerbeetle]

Ronald is a boxing nerd.

Don't get them started on Ronald. I've always liked him, but that's an unpopular position on here.

[Andrew]

You're hard core if you are watching a stream of commey v shafikov in Russian right now like me

[Tangerine]

You're hard core if you are watching a stream of commey v shafikov in Russian right now like me

corrupt bastards have taken the stream down.expect to see a W in Shafikov's boxrec later on....

[Andrew]

You're hard core if you are watching a stream of commey v shafikov in Russian right now like me

corrupt bastards have taken the stream down.expect to see a W in Shafikov's boxrec later on....

I know looked a great fight as well missed the first few

Will catch it on YouTube tomorrow hopefully