BoxRec

It has become common to promote the big shows by highlighting bad feelings between the boxers. Even the last PPV event involving two decent lads, Frampton and Quigg, ended up with the usual nonsense.
Their is a danger in all this, for the promoters, the boxers and the sport in particular. We live in an age where lawyers will sue for any reason at all, and prosecutors will respond to public pressure. If boxers during the build up are making threats about doing this and that to their opponent, and indicating that they hate the other guy, it might leave them in an unenviable position if serious injury , or worse, should occur.
If court proceedings result, how do you explain to a judge or jury, who have no experience of boxing, that it was only a gimmick to sell the event. The touching of gloves before the fight starts is also important. It's supposed to signify mutual respect, and an acknowledgement that it's primarily a sporting contest. When the boxers attempt to walk away and have to be pulled back by the ref it only adds to the problem.
So, promoters, can we give all this animosity a miss please. Who does it actually impress ? A few hundred adolescents, and a similar amount of half-wits who haven't the brains to realise what's going on. What's actually wrong with each boxer complimenting the other, and hoping the best man wins. Do I live in a world which sees this as being 'soft' in some kind of way?

soft

I disagree. In fact I want boxing to go all out with it's shenanigans and become like wrestling... just with actual fights at the end.

Like Tyson Fury clocking AJ with his title belt after AJ beats Martin and then posing over his still body. Or Eddie Hearn distracting the ref so that Degale can hit Bizier with a steel chair giving Brook the win.

I personally like a bit of static between opponents if it is genuine. Some of the stuff recently has been cringeworthy but we have to remember that at the end of the day it's an entertainment as well as a sport and there is a 'showbiz' side to it all. Frampton and Quigg are two decent guys as you say but they are going to have a fight at the end of the day and emotions, nerves etc take their toll and that is evident when they come face to face.

I also find it refreshing when there is a mutual respect there also but on the flip side some guys are far too nice and I find it a bit tedious to be honest. A lot of people recently were on here wanting AJ to show a bit of spite. Just depends what you like I suppose. Promoters can't rely on us hardcore fans to snap up all the tickets so it's their prerogative to target the 'adolescents' and 'half-wits' as you put it. People buy into all that carry on. I hope it never happens where our sport is dragged through the courts and I'm sure if it ever were then common sense would prevail. It would open a massive can of worms and could end up fatal. I'm sure we'll be fine (touch wood).

The more dodgy thing is stoked up the bad feeling between the supporters, and esp with a lot of fighters having football type followers, we could have carnage at an event. And security if never staffed up properly.

Coco wrote:The more dodgy thing is stoked up the bad feeling between the supporters, and esp with a lot of fighters having football type followers, we could have carnage at an event. And security if never staffed up properly.

True. Warrington vs Selby could absolutely explode if they ever fought - Leeds vs Cardiff is generally nasty. I've always said I'd avoid that one if they ever did fight.

Boxerbeetle wrote:

Coco wrote:The more dodgy thing is stoked up the bad feeling between the supporters, and esp with a lot of fighters having football type followers, we could have carnage at an event. And security if never staffed up properly.

True. Warrington vs Selby could absolutely explode if they ever fought - Leeds vs Cardiff is generally nasty. I've always said I'd avoid that one if they ever did fight.

If Cardiff turned up, that would be the worst trouble ever at a British bout. Camp Eddie doesn't have a clue about segregation, etc, either. They'll have to bring in the top football intelligence boys. WYP will be all over it.

Boxerbeetle wrote:

Coco wrote:The more dodgy thing is stoked up the bad feeling between the supporters, and esp with a lot of fighters having football type followers, we could have carnage at an event. And security if never staffed up properly.

True. Warrington vs Selby could absolutely explode if they ever fought - Leeds vs Cardiff is generally nasty. I've always said I'd avoid that one if they ever did fight.

Good point. That wouldn't be for the faint hearted

tigermoth87 wrote:I disagree. In fact I want boxing to go all out with it's shenanigans and become like wrestling... just with actual fights at the end.

Like Tyson Fury clocking AJ with his title belt after AJ beats Martin and then posing over his still body. Or Eddie Hearn distracting the ref so that Degale can hit Bizier with a steel chair giving Brook the win.

boxing stole the wrestling story lines.and lights and showbiz. but didnt back it up with the fights. all this boring got to keep my 0. who cares fighters win and lose sometimes,yes you have an of day where all human , get caught by a punch and lose who cares dont make you a bum. this 0 thing has ruined boxing that and promoters and fake belts