Anthony Joshua vs Jarrell Miller one of the biggest fights in history?

[candyslim]

With some huge fights coming over the period of some 6 weeks (all of them in the US) we'll soon find out where power balance in world boxing is.

Does it matter? Why?

[Thomastearns]

Does it matter? Why?

Well it matters if you want boxing to regain its former place as a major sport once more.

The recent huge investment/gamble by the DAZN can only be good for the sport (inc the fans) if they can make it work.

Quite a bit of that might depend upon Anthony Joshua breaking America.

[oogiebe]

Well it matters if you want boxing to regain its former place as a major sport once more.

The recent huge investment/gamble by the DAZN can only be good for the sport (inc the fans) if they can make it work.

Quite a bit of that might depend upon Anthony Joshua breaking America.

You may be right. Fans in the US, especially casual fans need to know who is out there. I think AJ can spur on some added popularity in the states as he gets more exposure. While I hate we are dependent on casual support, it is a reality we have to live with and they are becoming few and far between, I'm afraid.

[SenorPipino]

You may be right. Fans in the US, especially casual fans need to know who is out there. I think AJ can spur on some added popularity in the states as he gets more exposure. While I hate we are dependent on casual support, it is a reality we have to live with and they are becoming few and far between, I'm afraid.

But by appearing on DAZN, is it likely that casuals will become familiar with him?

It's a pay streaming service that appears to be targeted at a hard core audience.

I would think that practically everyone who purchases DAZN already recognizes Joshua's name.

Everyone else simply isn't interested.

[oogiebe]

But by appearing on DAZN, is it likely that casuals will become familiar with him?

It's a pay streaming service that appears to be targeted at a hard core audience.

I would think that practically everyone who purchases DAZN already recognizes Joshua's name.

Everyone else simply isn't interested.

Somehow several major fights need to be telecast on free tv as an investment of sorts to casual fans, otherwise, as you allude to, nothing will change.

[greg]

With some huge fights coming over the period of some 6 weeks (all of them in the US) we'll soon find out where power balance in world boxing is.

April 20: Madison Square Garden, New York - Amir Khan v Terence Crawford (WBO world welterweight title)

May 4: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas - Saul Alvarez v Daniel Jacobs (WBC, WBA Super, IBF world middleweight titles)

May 18: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York - Deontay Wilder v Dominic Breazeale (WBC world heavyweight title

May 25: MGM National Harbor, Maryland - Oleksandr Usyk v Carlos Takam (heavyweight)

June 1: Madison Square Garden, New York - Anthony Joshua v Jarrell Miller (WBA Super, WBO, IBF world heavyweight titles).

Great to see the legendary Madison Square Garden regularly featuring such big fights once more.

..good, but I'd still prefer to see half of them in Europe..

[ValMar]

..good, but I'd still prefer to see half of them in Europe..

x2..............

[SenorPipino]

Somehow several major fights need to be telecast on free tv as an investment of sorts to casual fans, otherwise, as you allude to, nothing will change.

Free, over the air tv hasn't been overly enthusiastic for years about boxing.

Or maybe more accurately, sponsors aren't thrilled about boxing. Many don't want to be associated with a so-called blood sport.

It's one reason Olympic boxing has disappeared from network and instead buried on obscure cable channels.

There's also a feeling that the average boxing fan isn't as prosperous as those who might tune in for golf.

We're supposedly more the beer crowd rather than Ferrari drivers.

High ticket items aren't directed at us.

Big time boxing is expensive to carry. And if sponsors are wary of the sport, it's forced to find a home on cable and lightly viewed streaming services.

[Thomastearns]

..good, but I'd still prefer to see half of them in Europe..

Me too, not being used to shift work, these 4/5 am fights knock the stuffing out of me.

However, I still think we need to keep the US on board before they forget what Boxing is. They're a very parochial lot who only seem to be interested in winners and winning.

Right now I feel there's still some hunger left there but if they don't find a replacement for Mayweather soon they may lose interest altogether.

Letting Wilder win is going too far but perhaps AJ (and maybe Fury too) can start waving the Stars and Stripes a bit to show some solidarity with our cousins. Remember Mayweather in the Mexican colours?

[Onetimeonly]

We don't care where a fighters from. Sadly, what we really don't care about is boxing. Great time to be a fan with full broadcasts being aired for the first time ever.

[SenorPipino]

It's always amusing to read that our overseas buddies actually feel that Americans are on an anguished 24/7 quest to discover some Great Black or White Hope who will keep the red, white and blue proudly flying high over the sport.

Or that there's any plot to keep UK fighters from winning when they travel to our shores.

Most Americans have no clue where Fury or Joshua are from. And if they somehow do, it's hardly a concern.

Few profess any interest in finding a Mayweather replacement. There's not many here who even realize that he's gone.

I'd say that there's about 116 native born Americans (give or take 12) who concern themselves with the sport.

Everyone else who cares is a transplant, with the majority coming from Mexico.

And they too have limited, if any, interest in the plight of Joshua, Fury, Wilder and Miller.

Or even Mayweather. Their focus is more restricted to Luis Nery and his countryman.

[oogiebe]

It's always amusing to read that our overseas buddies actually feel that Americans are on an anguished 24/7 quest to discover some Great Black or White Hope who will keep the red, white and blue proudly flying high over the sport.

Or that there's any plot to keep UK fighters from winning when they travel to our shores.

Most Americans have no clue where Fury or Joshua are from. And if they somehow do, it's hardly a concern.

Few profess any interest in finding a Mayweather replacement. There's not many here who even realize that he's gone.

I'd say that there's about 116 native born Americans (give or take 12) who concern themselves with the sport.

Everyone else who cares is a transplant, with the majority coming from Mexico.

And they too have limited, if any, interest in the plight of Joshua, Fury, Wilder and Miller.

Or even Mayweather. Their focus is more restricted to Luis Nery and his countryman.

I agree. It's interesting that it's a one way discussion when it comes to loyalty. US fans don't seem to care where a fighter is from, but UK fans are more rabid with their own countrymen. Sometimes I find myself lost in an argument where the firing lines are drawn up by national boundaries and I just don't get it. Most of my favorite boxers of all time and even current, are not Americans. In fact my top five favorites are Lennox Lewis (UK); Roberto Duran (Panama); Ruben Olivares (Mexico); Carlos Monzon (Argentina); and Marvin Hagler (USA..oh there it is!) Oh well!

[SenorPipino]

I agree. It's interesting that it's a one way discussion when it comes to loyalty. US fans don't seem to care where a fighter is from, but UK fans are more rabid with their own countrymen. Sometimes I find myself lost in an argument where the firing lines are drawn up by national boundaries and I just don't get it. Most of my favorite boxers of all time and even current, are not Americans. In fact my top five favorites are Lennox Lewis (UK); Roberto Duran (Panama); Ruben Olivares (Mexico); Carlos Monzon (Argentina); and Marvin Hagler (USA..oh there it is!) Oh well!

There's no question that US sports fans in general don't have anywhere near the same patriotic and nationalistic fervor that you find in other countries.

I barely even have any immediate knee jerk consciousness of a fighter's nationality when a bout is announced. It's really not important to me and I suspect American boxing fans overall feel the same.

You'll get fervent support here for a US fighter when he's boxing in his hometown, but that's just local pride.

Other country's witness boxing matches as UK vs US, or Mexico vs US, or Ukraine vs US.

We just see it as Fury vs Wilder, or Canelo vs Jacobs, or Klitschko vs Jennings. We don't attach any convoluted international subplots to these fights.

American don't gather to invent scenarios that will ensure a championship stays in this country and no dastardly foreigner goes home with the belt.

Overall, it's just not on the American radar.

[tiny_acres]

There's no question that US sports fans in general don't have anywhere near the same patriotic and nationalistic fervor that you find in other countries.

I barely even have any immediate knee jerk consciousness of a fighter's nationality when a bout is announced. It's really not important to me and I suspect American boxing fans overall feel the same.

You'll get fervent support here for a US fighter when he's boxing in his hometown, but that's just local pride.

Other country's witness boxing matches as UK vs US, or Mexico vs US, or Ukraine vs US.

We just see it as Fury vs Wilder, or Canelo vs Jacobs, or Klitschko vs Jennings. We don't attach any convoluted international subplots to these fights.

American don't gather to invent scenarios that will ensure a championship stays in this country and no dastardly foreigner goes home with the belt.

Overall, it's just not on the American radar.

exactly

[jamamb]

us fans certanly care, its just broken down not purely based on being american, but what type of hyphenated american they are. your see mexican flags in the crowd all the time for example. and a fight in texas or la between a mexican and a frenchmen is not some neutral crowd response chances are. or go to chicago and the pole americans are going crazy.

i do hear 'usa usa' chants still though, like in brant vs murata for example

[candyslim]

I agree. It's interesting that it's a one way discussion when it comes to loyalty. US fans don't seem to care where a fighter is from, but UK fans are more rabid with their own countrymen. Sometimes I find myself lost in an argument where the firing lines are drawn up by national boundaries and I just don't get it. Most of my favorite boxers of all time and even current, are not Americans. In fact my top five favorites are Lennox Lewis (UK); Roberto Duran (Panama); Ruben Olivares (Mexico); Carlos Monzon (Argentina); and Marvin Hagler (USA..oh there it is!) Oh well!

Well I can only speak for myself but I plead guilty to being a patriotic Brit who will almost always root for my countryman however as much as I Iove boxing in general, I have always had a special love of the heavyweight division, and most of my boxing heroes are in fact American not British.

How many times have I seen the usual suspects making the same ironic comment about "Wilder runs the whole world" or "Wilder caused cancer" or what's the latest "Wilder is the anti-christ" (ho ho ho) but what do all the members of this clique have in common?

Similarly the invective that is reserved for Povetkin is vicious at times. It seems to me as someone who respects Povetkin's achievements and talents as a boxer, that at least half of the abuse stems from the fact he is Russian, and most of those who have no time for him tend to be an ocean away from him.

I often wonder just how many more great deals Deontay Wilder is going to turn down before his apologists on here accept that he (or his team) really don't want any part of Joshua nor Dillian Whyte for that matter. Would you be so forgiving of him if he were French, say?

I get it. He's your man, he's American and there is nothing wrong in my eyes with a little bias towards one's compatriots, but please spare us this sanctimonious crap about how Americans don't care where a boxer comes from, because that is not my experience from coming on here.

Where's my tin helmet I figure I'm going to need it

[Enlightened-One]

There's no question that US sports fans in general don't have anywhere near the same patriotic and nationalistic fervor that you find in other countries.

I barely even have any immediate knee jerk consciousness of a fighter's nationality when a bout is announced. It's really not important to me and I suspect American boxing fans overall feel the same.

You'll get fervent support here for a US fighter when he's boxing in his hometown, but that's just local pride.

Other country's witness boxing matches as UK vs US, or Mexico vs US, or Ukraine vs US.

We just see it as Fury vs Wilder, or Canelo vs Jacobs, or Klitschko vs Jennings. We don't attach any convoluted international subplots to these fights.

American don't gather to invent scenarios that will ensure a championship stays in this country and no dastardly foreigner goes home with the belt.

Overall, it's just not on the American radar.

From a historical perspective, isn’t the American population mainly comprised of immigrants? Don’t most people on US shores currently identify their nationality based on their ancestry/ethnicity rather than their place of birth?

For instance: many American’s consider themselves as “Irish” or “Italian”, even though they really aren’t.

It seems that individualism is a highly-valued trait in the US. It helps people stand out in the crowd if they claim to be something other than being just another “American”.

If the entire human species adopted the same approach to identifying their nationality, even single one of us would claim to be Moroccan (or some other country in North Africa), since that's where the oldest homo sapien fossils were found.

This might explain the reason why the US boxing audience are able to maintain their interest in bouts involving fighters that weren’t born on American shores.

[caldo2025]

I thought that this was a joke post. Does someone really think that this ranks as one of the greatest fights? Ridiculous. Or is it? The matchup does intrigue me and could end up being a dud or dandy but in no way is it a “great” fight on its existing merits. No.

[oogiebe]

I thought that this was a joke post. Does someone really think that this ranks as one of the greatest fights? Ridiculous. Or is it? The matchup does intrigue me and could end up being a dud or dandy but in no way is it a “great” fight on its existing merits. No.

The OP was serious. Most of the initial replies ridiculed him. Then we went off the reservation a bit.

[Thomastearns]

I thought that this was a joke post. Does someone really think that this ranks as one of the greatest fights? Ridiculous. Or is it? The matchup does intrigue me and could end up being a dud or dandy but in no way is it a “great” fight on its existing merits. No.

No one's saying it's a great fight (although who knows, it might be). It's just an important one for the future of the division as far as America might be concerned.

We can't allow them to wait until another Dempsey, Louis, Marciano, Ali or Tyson to appear. By then they might be done with boxing altogether. This is about repeating Anthony Joshua's UK success in the US.

Some very big rollers are counting on it.

[Onetimeonly]

Boxing will NEVER be a big sport in the US again. Joshua could become an attraction but not like he is at home. This about years realization that my first statement is true. He's pulling out all the stops to try and derail the epic rate of losing money that dazn is setting a precedent for.

[caldo2025]

Boxing will NEVER be a big sport in the US again. Joshua could become an attraction but not like he is at home. This about years realization that my first statement is true. He's pulling out all the stops to try and derail the epic rate of losing money that dazn is setting a precedent for.

I disagree with you. What America needs is for a special boxer to come along who can flip the script on how America views these boxers. Floyd, as great as he was, was everything that America hates about its pro athletes. He threw money in our faces while most people hump out rent money here and treated women horribly. He was not the inspiring figure like Jordan, Griffey Jr or Tom Brady. A boxer will come along soon who will be a better example and the sport will again gain attention. But Floyd’s ripple effect wil take years to get past. The sport needs Floyd to go away for a while.

[Onetimeonly]

There won't be another the size of Floyd. Americans prefer mma.

[oogiebe]

There won't be another the size of Floyd. Americans prefer mma.

Never.

[tiny_acres]

I disagree with you. What America needs is for a special boxer to come along who can flip the script on how America views these boxers. Floyd, as great as he was, was everything that America hates about its pro athletes. He threw money in our faces while most people hump out rent money here and treated women horribly. He was not the inspiring figure like Jordan, Griffey Jr or Tom Brady. A boxer will come along soon who will be a better example and the sport will again gain attention. But Floyd’s ripple effect wil take years to get past. The sport needs Floyd to go away for a while.

Boxing was on life support long before Floyd.
And to blame a guy for a dying sport who had more ppv buys than any athlete in history is crazy