Patriotic rooting ?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

@Saad: This is completely off-topic sorry, but I've only ever been to NYC and Connecticut, but I have a real affinity/interest call it what you like in Baltimore based on - Saad you must be sick of hearing this, and I'm sure you know what's coming, that's right - my adoration for the absolute best tv show or film ever made or likely to ever be made. I refer of course to "The Wire" and I had the pleasure of telling David Simon exactly that to his face..

It's funny in one scene Englishman Dominic West, playing Bawlmer Cop McNulty, who is pretending to be an English tourist customer, in a raid on a whorehouse, is meant to call in the bust before/instead of hiding the salami, ( he's wearing a wire, his fellow cops are listening) and the code phrase they decide to use to call the cops in without causing the hookers to realize and make a run for it, is "Spot on" which is a phrase only an Englishman would use. What made me relate this is my fellow Brit, Ossyrules using that very phrase a few posts back.

McNulty being McNulty doesn't quite follow the plan in that he delays calling for back up until he's finished with the front up, if you catch my drift.

You gotta watch it people if you haven't already and if you have, you gotta watch it again.

Fantastic show, spot on(we say that too), I grew up near the main area in season one. I've bought drugs as an adult right by the market McNulty is trailing stringer at.

Ssssshhhh! you don't know who's looking in I want to try those crabs ... you can keep the lake-trout.

@davie Season two was superb I thought, but I know a lot of fans see it as you do. I though 4 was the best and 5 while still excellent, was the weakest probably because Simon was told he had to restrict it to 10 episodes - it felt a bit rushed.

Lmao at lake trout. That's a joke a friend of mine have had for years. There isn't a lake in Baltimore City.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

PS. Those crabs are the world's greatest food.

[candyslim]

PS. Those crabs are the world's greatest food.

I heard that. I'd like to put it to the test one day.

They aren't trout and there's no lake but there is a Baltimore ... er, delicacy for want of a better word called lake-trout isn't there I mean it's a joke but Simon didn't make it up, right?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

PS. Those crabs are the world's greatest food.

I heard that. I'd like to put it to the test one day.

They aren't trout and there's no lake but there is a Baltimore ... er, delicacy for want of a better word called lake-trout isn't there I mean it's a joke but Simon didn't make it up, right?

Not a delicacy, cheap city subshop food that I've never eaten. It's there though. If you can get crab meat where you are I can give my crab cake recipe.

[ValMar]

I would be really thankful if some of American explain me (generally, of course) some things about average US fans.
- Does average white American boxing fan root for Afro-American fighter (decent, devoted like Spence) against let us say white British fighter ?
-Does average Latino American boxing fan make difference between Mexican and let us say Nicaraguan fighter, and does he root for white American or Afro-American against Spanish or German fighter ?
-Are there any American fighters accepted from the majority of American fans ?
-Who is the most popular foreign boxer in USA ?

Thanks in advance !

As a long-time boxing fan who happens to be white, I generally root for the black American fighter over ANY foreign fighter, be they black, white, Latino or Asian. Growing up, most of my favorite athletes were black, especially in boxing because there have always been more good black fighters than white ones. There are a lot of Latino American fighters these days and I root for most of them over foreign fighters too. The only black fighters I've rooted against are thugs like Tyson. Mayweather has kind of turned thuggish too but I still have a bias for him because I interviewed him twice early in his career. I was still glad to see him do jail time after beating down his "baby mama" and the time behind bars seemed to quell his domestic violence problems.

All though I didnt grow up near the Mexican border I now live 8 miles away and most of my boxing buddies now are Mexican/Mex-American. Mexican fans root for Mexican fighters and have no loyalty to other Latino fighters, be they Puerto RIcan, Dominican, Nicaraguan, etc. As the 2 most common Latino nations, Mexican & Puerto Rican fighters tend to have a more natural rivalry than other Latino boxers.

Among white boxing fans, 90+% probably have some favorite black fighters (Holyfield, Leonard, etc) or they wouldnt follow a sport like boxing that traditionally has had so many good black fighters. White fight fans who dont like black or Latino fighters seem to gravitate more to UFC/MMA because there are a lot more white stars there than in boxing. I've met very few racist boxing fans, even though there is one who posts here. But he's Canadian not American.

THE most popular foreign fighter in the US is clearly Manny Pacquiao. He's got lots of white, black and Latino fans to go along with Asian-American fans. As his talent fades with age his popularity is gradually fading too, but he is still THE most popular foreign fighter in America (quite possibly of ALL TIME)!!

There are over 35 million Mexican-Americans living in the US (over 10% of US population) and more Mexicans like boxing than just about any other ethnic group. There is no reason NOT count Americans of Mexican descent (including half-white/half-Mexican) so I would have to say the second most popular foreign fighter in US after Pac is probably Canelo Alvarez.

After that I would say GGG is very popular in the US too. Admired especially by Mexican fans but also lots of white & black American fans to because of his exciting style.

Thank you very much !

[Boxing Prospect]

Styles, match making, desire, and excitement mean more to me than race or nationality. I love to see the talented guys show how good they are from day 1 (and folks will have seen me rave about the current Japanese super youngsters like Inoue, Tanaka, Maruta, Ken Shiro for that reason).

Despite being British I can't think of many British fighters that REALLY excite me. We're often too protective of our prospects, or they are a bit fake and dull (or obnoxious and irritating). By that same token however I have been won over massively by James DeGale who has shown he's not the pillock he was early in his career, real credit to him.

Give me a limited but thrilling guy like Jamie Conlan or Rex Tso, any day ahead of the super talents who fight no one for years.

[candyslim]

PS. Those crabs are the world's greatest food.

I heard that. I'd like to put it to the test one day.

They aren't trout and there's no lake but there is a Baltimore ... er, delicacy for want of a better word called lake-trout isn't there I mean it's a joke but Simon didn't make it up, right?

Not a delicacy, cheap city subshop food that I've never eaten. It's there though. If you can get crab meat where you are I can give my crab cake recipe.

No. I knew it was cheap stuff, delicacy was a bit tongue-in-cheek.

Yeah I guess so. We have plenty of seafood stalls but you tend to see crabs mainly on display in the fishmonger section of supermarkets. Yes please, I'll give it a go.

[candyslim]

I would be really thankful if some of American explain me (generally, of course) some things about average US fans.
- Does average white American boxing fan root for Afro-American fighter (decent, devoted like Spence) against let us say white British fighter ?
-Does average Latino American boxing fan make difference between Mexican and let us say Nicaraguan fighter, and does he root for white American or Afro-American against Spanish or German fighter ?
-Are there any American fighters accepted from the majority of American fans ?
-Who is the most popular foreign boxer in USA ?

Thanks in advance !

As a long-time boxing fan who happens to be white, I generally root for the black American fighter over ANY foreign fighter, be they black, white, Latino or Asian. Growing up, most of my favorite athletes were black, especially in boxing because there have always been more good black fighters than white ones. There are a lot of Latino American fighters these days and I root for most of them over foreign fighters too. The only black fighters I've rooted against are thugs like Tyson. Mayweather has kind of turned thuggish too but I still have a bias for him because I interviewed him twice early in his career. I was still glad to see him do jail time after beating down his "baby mama" and the time behind bars seemed to quell his domestic violence problems.

All though I didnt grow up near the Mexican border I now live 8 miles away and most of my boxing buddies now are Mexican/Mex-American. Mexican fans root for Mexican fighters and have no loyalty to other Latino fighters, be they Puerto RIcan, Dominican, Nicaraguan, etc. As the 2 most common Latino nations, Mexican & Puerto Rican fighters tend to have a more natural rivalry than other Latino boxers.

Among white boxing fans, 90+% probably have some favorite black fighters (Holyfield, Leonard, etc) or they wouldnt follow a sport like boxing that traditionally has had so many good black fighters. White fight fans who dont like black or Latino fighters seem to gravitate more to UFC/MMA because there are a lot more white stars there than in boxing. I've met very few racist boxing fans, even though there is one who posts here. But he's Canadian not American.

THE most popular foreign fighter in the US is clearly Manny Pacquiao. He's got lots of white, black and Latino fans to go along with Asian-American fans. As his talent fades with age his popularity is gradually fading too, but he is still THE most popular foreign fighter in America (quite possibly of ALL TIME)!!

There are over 35 million Mexican-Americans living in the US (over 10% of US population) and more Mexicans like boxing than just about any other ethnic group. There is no reason NOT count Americans of Mexican descent (including half-white/half-Mexican) so I would have to say the second most popular foreign fighter in US after Pac is probably Canelo Alvarez.

After that I would say GGG is very popular in the US too. Admired especially by Mexican fans but also lots of white & black American fans to because of his exciting style.

That's a very informative post Best Coast, thanks for that. It's encouraging don't you think how race seems to matter less and less to fewer and fewer people as time moves on. That has to be progress. I don't see supporting your compatriot as an issue. Provided it's healthy friendly competition between nations and not in a 1936 Munich Olympics kind of way.

[Best Coast]

I would be really thankful if some of American explain me (generally, of course) some things about average US fans.
- Does average white American boxing fan root for Afro-American fighter (decent, devoted like Spence) against let us say white British fighter ?
-Does average Latino American boxing fan make difference between Mexican and let us say Nicaraguan fighter, and does he root for white American or Afro-American against Spanish or German fighter ?
-Are there any American fighters accepted from the majority of American fans ?
-Who is the most popular foreign boxer in USA ?

Thanks in advance !

As a long-time boxing fan who happens to be white, I generally root for the black American fighter over ANY foreign fighter, be they black, white, Latino or Asian. Growing up, most of my favorite athletes were black, especially in boxing because there have always been more good black fighters than white ones. There are a lot of Latino American fighters these days and I root for most of them over foreign fighters too. The only black fighters I've rooted against are thugs like Tyson. Mayweather has kind of turned thuggish too but I still have a bias for him because I interviewed him twice early in his career. I was still glad to see him do jail time after beating down his "baby mama" and the time behind bars seemed to quell his domestic violence problems.

All though I didnt grow up near the Mexican border I now live 8 miles away and most of my boxing buddies now are Mexican/Mex-American. Mexican fans root for Mexican fighters and have no loyalty to other Latino fighters, be they Puerto RIcan, Dominican, Nicaraguan, etc. As the 2 most common Latino nations, Mexican & Puerto Rican fighters tend to have a more natural rivalry than other Latino boxers.

Among white boxing fans, 90+% probably have some favorite black fighters (Holyfield, Leonard, etc) or they wouldnt follow a sport like boxing that traditionally has had so many good black fighters. White fight fans who dont like black or Latino fighters seem to gravitate more to UFC/MMA because there are a lot more white stars there than in boxing. I've met very few racist boxing fans, even though there is one who posts here. But he's Canadian not American.

THE most popular foreign fighter in the US is clearly Manny Pacquiao. He's got lots of white, black and Latino fans to go along with Asian-American fans. As his talent fades with age his popularity is gradually fading too, but he is still THE most popular foreign fighter in America (quite possibly of ALL TIME)!!

There are over 35 million Mexican-Americans living in the US (over 10% of US population) and more Mexicans like boxing than just about any other ethnic group. There is no reason NOT count Americans of Mexican descent (including half-white/half-Mexican) so I would have to say the second most popular foreign fighter in US after Pac is probably Canelo Alvarez.

After that I would say GGG is very popular in the US too. Admired especially by Mexican fans but also lots of white & black American fans too because of his exciting style.

That's a very informative post Best Coast, thanks for that. It's encouraging don't you think how race seems to matter less and less to fewer and fewer people as time moves on. That has to be progress. I don't see supporting your compatriot as an issue. Provided it's healthy friendly competition between nations and not in a 1936 Munich Olympics kind of way.

My pleasure. I dont even see it as patriotic or nationalistic rooting, it's more geography-based. Most people today have athletic loyalty that starts with the school they attend(ed), and extends from there to their hometown team, their home state team (if their hometown doesnt have a team), their country, etc.

In my case that extends to region. I GENERALLY tend to root for athletes/teams from the Americas against European or Asian teams/athletes. Of course there are athletes I like from every part of the world. I was a big Azumah Nelson fan and rooted for him vs Americans like Leija or Ruelas.

Many Mexican/Mex-American boxing fans automatically root for other Mexicans, whether they are fighting Americans, Puerto Ricans, Euros or whatever. In most cases that's not necessarily racist, just nationalistic/patriotic. The racism comes in when you root AGAINST a specific race or ethnic group.

I've been to 2 Olympics and to me there's nothing like rooting for your team/athlete AND your country at the same time. Some of my most memorable sports moments were the Olympic victories in 1996 Atlanta Games by David Reid, Michael Johnson and USA relay teams!!

[candyslim]

I can't disagree with that.

You mentioned Azumah Nelson. He was a hell of a featherweight. I remember when he and Barry McGuiggan held the versions of the title and it was just crying out for a unification. As a boxing fan I really wanted to see it, although I felt Nelson would be very likely to beat our man. Just another example of a fight that should have been made that never was.

Great fights that never got made. (Leaving tragedy aside) is that the most disappointing thing in boxing?

[Best Coast]

I can't disagree with that.

You mentioned Azumah Nelson. He was a hell of a featherweight. I remember when he and Barry McGuiggan held the versions of the title and it was just crying out for a unification. As a boxing fan I really wanted to see it, although I felt Nelson would be very likely to beat our man. Just another example of a fight that should have been made that never was.

Great fights that never got made. (Leaving tragedy aside) is that the most disappointing thing in boxing?

That is one of the letdowns of the sport but I try not to sweat the potentially epic fights that never got made. It just goes with the territory of boxing because it is an individual sport without a single governing body like UFC has. At least Floyd-Pac got made, even though it was later than hoped. Plus Ward-Kovalev and GGG-Canelo.

I think there is more public pressure these days that is helping megafights like those take place.

[candyslim]

Wise words BC but sadly I seem much better at giving good advice than taking it. Having said that it's not easy. Like telling yourself there's no point beating yourself up for inexplicably making some excuse when you look back at the time that gorgeous woman invited you in for coffee.

At least I'm not guilty of that one ... she told me piss off

That's also not true but you get the point - hard not to feel regret about fights that desperately needed to be made, yet weren't.

[ValMar]

I feel we will never see M. Garcia vs Crawford at 140, nor Beterbiev vs Ward-Kovalev winner at 175.

[boxing_rocks]

I feel we will never see M. Garcia vs Crawford at 140, nor Beterbiev vs Ward-Kovalev winner at 175.

If Kovalev wins, Beterbiev fight is quite likely. I feel that Ward will be retiring regardless of an outcome.

[ValMar]

I feel we will never see M. Garcia vs Crawford at 140, nor Beterbiev vs Ward-Kovalev winner at 175.

If Kovalev wins, Beterbiev fight is quite likely. I feel that Ward will be retiring regardless of an outcome.

I don't think so. If Kovalev wins, he will face Stevenson. Ward will avoid Beterbiev, in any case.....

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I feel we will never see M. Garcia vs Crawford at 140, nor Beterbiev vs Ward-Kovalev winner at 175.

If Kovalev wins, Beterbiev fight is quite likely. I feel that Ward will be retiring regardless of an outcome.

I don't think so. If Kovalev wins, he will face Stevenson. Ward will avoid Beterbiev, in any case.....

Stevenson will never fight kovalev. 0% chance that's his next fight.

[ValMar]

If Kovalev wins, Beterbiev fight is quite likely. I feel that Ward will be retiring regardless of an outcome.

I don't think so. If Kovalev wins, he will face Stevenson. Ward will avoid Beterbiev, in any case.....

Stevenson will never fight kovalev. 0% chance that's his next fight.

Let us wait untill tomorrow.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I don't think so. If Kovalev wins, he will face Stevenson. Ward will avoid Beterbiev, in any case.....

Stevenson will never fight kovalev. 0% chance that's his next fight.

Let us wait untill tomorrow.

We don't have to wait, zero chance.

[ValMar]

Stevenson will never fight kovalev. 0% chance that's his next fight.

Let us wait untill tomorrow.

We don't have to wait, zero chance.

I don't know, but I hope you are wrong.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Let us wait untill tomorrow.

We don't have to wait, zero chance.

I don't know, but I hope you are wrong.

I'd enjoy being wrong, I'm not. Adonis is finally going to have to face his mandatory. So even past his ducking of Kovalev, he's already obliged.

[Kalan]

The first time Joshua fights in the United States he'll load a ballpark... Against Wilder.. Klitscko.. Ortiz.. Parker.. any top Heavyweight, it doesn't matter.

The US fans are hungry for a great Heavyweight... It's been a long time.

It has been a long time but I beg to differ on Joshua's ability to pack out a ballpark in the US. Neither Lennox Lewis or the Klitschkos ever packed out a ballpark and the Klitschkos were such a mediocre draw that they eventually went back to Europe for most of their late careers.

Only time will tell but IMO the only way Anthony Joshua draws over 30,000 in America is if he fights Wilder in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama (where Crimson Tide plays their football games in a 100K stadium). Even then they would probably get only 40,000, which is less than half of capacity.

Short of that, the only way Joshua exceeds 30,000 in the US is if he brings 20,000 British fans with him like Ricky Hatton used to do!!

Joshua will pull over 100,000 US fans if he's in the right venue versus the right opponent... They put Dempsey and Louis fights into massive ballparks when they had the right opponent... They could have accommodated more than 130,000 asses for Joshua-Klitschko if they had the seats.

[ValMar]

The first time Joshua fights in the United States he'll load a ballpark... Against Wilder.. Klitscko.. Ortiz.. Parker.. any top Heavyweight, it doesn't matter.

The US fans are hungry for a great Heavyweight... It's been a long time.

It has been a long time but I beg to differ on Joshua's ability to pack out a ballpark in the US. Neither Lennox Lewis or the Klitschkos ever packed out a ballpark and the Klitschkos were such a mediocre draw that they eventually went back to Europe for most of their late careers.

Only time will tell but IMO the only way Anthony Joshua draws over 30,000 in America is if he fights Wilder in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama (where Crimson Tide plays their football games in a 100K stadium). Even then they would probably get only 40,000, which is less than half of capacity.

Short of that, the only way Joshua exceeds 30,000 in the US is if he brings 20,000 British fans with him like Ricky Hatton used to do!!

Joshua will pull over 100,000 US fans if he's in the right venue versus the right opponent... They put Dempsey and Louis fights into massive ballparks when they had the right opponent... They could have accommodated more than 130,000 asses for Joshua-Klitschko if they had the seats.

I suppose If there is a solid Mexican/Mexican-American HW, it could be more than 100 000....

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Lol, he and wilder might be able to get 20 with a ton of promotion. Maybe 200k on ppv if they're lucky.

[Ossyrules]

The first time Joshua fights in the United States he'll load a ballpark... Against Wilder.. Klitscko.. Ortiz.. Parker.. any top Heavyweight, it doesn't matter.

The US fans are hungry for a great Heavyweight... It's been a long time.

It has been a long time but I beg to differ on Joshua's ability to pack out a ballpark in the US. Neither Lennox Lewis or the Klitschkos ever packed out a ballpark and the Klitschkos were such a mediocre draw that they eventually went back to Europe for most of their late careers.

Only time will tell but IMO the only way Anthony Joshua draws over 30,000 in America is if he fights Wilder in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama (where Crimson Tide plays their football games in a 100K stadium). Even then they would probably get only 40,000, which is less than half of capacity.

Short of that, the only way Joshua exceeds 30,000 in the US is if he brings 20,000 British fans with him like Ricky Hatton used to do!!

Joshua will pull over 100,000 US fans if he's in the right venue versus the right opponent... They put Dempsey and Louis fights into massive ballparks when they had the right opponent... They could have accommodated more than 130,000 asses for Joshua-Klitschko if they had the seats.

At the moment there's no way that happens.

If the second coming of mike Tyson came along for the Americans to get behind, someone to rival Joshua then maybe a big stadium fight would be on.

[thomasjkelley]

I'm guilty of it. I always root for the American, if N/A, then whomever I identify more closely with, if either. I know a lot of guys are decrying the idea but it is in the nature of all humans to identify with other humans. If you don't identify with your civic nationality, then there is something else you identify with. Someone with self esteem problems may identify with underdogs, a bully may identify with favorites, a buddhist buddhists, a southpaw southpaws, an eskimo eskimos. Whether or not you admit it, we all identify with something. Murica....fornicate yeah!!!!!