BoxRec

'WHY ALWAYS THE BLACK FIGHTERS EXPECTED TO ACT A CERTAIN WAY TO SELL A FIGHT?' - TERENCE CRAWFORD



How did Terence Crawford manage to make a perfectly valid question posed by Max Kellerman sound like something race-related?

Max simply stated that “there’s a sense that in boxing, you need to have showmanship outside the ring in order to help your business. You are a much more soft-spoken person.” And then Crawford was asked for his thoughts?

Most fighters feel compelled to find a way to sell their bouts to the mainstream masses. And if they’re unwilling to do this, then they’re far less likely to attract a viewing audience.

There’s no need to adhere to racial stereotypes, since we’ve seen the likes of Tyson Fury, Conor McGregor, Carl Froch, George Groves etc. employ all sorts of dodgy shenanigans to successfully sell their bouts.

There’s no need to bring race into things! Bud's headlining a PPV event and Crawford’s own lack of charisma that could potentially adversely affect the amount of buys this event achieves.

Thoughts?

seemed a bit overly sensitive there didnt he

the irony that he was being called soft spoken

Crawford always seems like an angry guy with a chip on his shoulder.

He's not fan friendly or especially charismatic outside the ring.

He may or may not be boxing's P4P #1. But it's unlikely that he'll ever become a huge attraction.

Crawford blew a self centered hissy fit last year when Lomachenko was viewed by most as the FOTY instead of him.

In the US, it's not unusual any longer for innocent topics to somehow turn into a forum for addressing racial gripes.

Crawford is just following American form.

Showmanship helping to build you as a star applies to any fighter. Not just Black ones

And I don't think anybody expects Black fighters to all act the same way either. Several famous Black fighters had widely differing personalities, and nothing more in common than the color of their skin. Showmanship comes in many forms, and of course for the hardcore fans like us if you deliver the goods in the ring we'll keep watching whether you ever get mainstream attention or not.

Actualy, i think black fighter, who will act nice outside of ring will get a lot of nonblack fans IMO and that eman a lot of money.

Crawford was definitely was a little sensitive there, but I think he makes somewhat of a valid point.

Black fighters are almost expected to be more loud and obnoxious outside of the ring. Mayweather Jnr is a big reason for that though.

He might be right. The most intelligent black fighters like Hopkins and babyfaces like Timothy Bradley never sell as well as the criminal scoundrels and cocky antagonists like Broner, Mayweather, Tyson, Jack Johnson, and Ali. Then again, the most religious babyfaces were also the biggest headbutters and grapplers. Maybe this pattern only happens in America; because in England, you can be Lennox Lewis and still sell a fight.

Crawford should face Spence, as I know the both of them are Afro-Americans. This fight would be lucrative, undoubtedly, regardless of the colour. For me, the quality of this match would be the decisive factor. Period.

where would mcgregor be if he didnt talk? talk generally helps get attention whatever the color

at least in da west

jamamb wrote: ↑23 Jan 2019, 13:11 where would mcgregor be if he didnt talk?

A "less wealthy" thug.

jamamb wrote: ↑23 Jan 2019, 13:11 where would mcgregor be if he didnt talk? talk generally helps get attention whatever the color

at least in da west

100% agree. Loud mouth fools sell tickets.
You either buy into their hype or you pay to see them lose.

Too bad Crawford's ring IQ doesn't translate elsewhere. Pretty dumb and insecure guy from what I've seen.

Good on ya Crawford.
Having a personality helps sell a fight, being dynamic and exciting in the ring helps too. You don't have to be a knob head either.
Joshua and Alvaroid make tons of money and neither sell fights by mouthing off. In fact, Canelo has the personality of a wet dishcloth.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑23 Jan 2019, 14:17 Good on ya Crawford.
Having a personality helps sell a fight, being dynamic and exciting in the ring helps too. You don't have to be a knob head either.
Joshua and Alvaroid make tons of money and neither sell fights by mouthing off. In fact, Canelo has the personality of a wet dishcloth.

A redheaded, freckle faced Mexican “wet dishcloth” sells well in North America. His prima dona image combined with his PED infraction has created an impressive hater base.

Crawford has deep seeded anger issues that I believe are rooted in his mother’s nastiness. He projects those onto anyone who he detects setting expectations for him, as well as anyone he faces off against.

I suspect that his angry response is subconsciously aimed at his mother, who I further suspect of attempting to influence him to be more of the stereotypical arrogant, mouthy black boxer, i.e. FMJ, Charlos, Ali.

I like Bud just the way he is; supremely skilled with a massive mommy chip on his shoulder.

ironbeard wrote: ↑23 Jan 2019, 16:32

KiwiRider wrote: ↑23 Jan 2019, 14:17 Good on ya Crawford.
Having a personality helps sell a fight, being dynamic and exciting in the ring helps too. You don't have to be a knob head either.
Joshua and Alvaroid make tons of money and neither sell fights by mouthing off. In fact, Canelo has the personality of a wet dishcloth.

A redheaded, freckle faced Mexican “wet dishcloth” sells well in North America. His prima dona image combined with his PED infraction has created an impressive hater base.

Canelo has that strange hater/ lover fan base.

Regardless of race fighters need to understand that the fight alone is not enough anymore for people to care and tune in. If you are not a KO artist you better come up with something to make your self interesting. Might be a weird thing to say , even sound WWE esque but i think trainers should give special attention to developing charisma as important as working the mitts for fighters with high hopes. Have a day to practice your public speaking, even develop a character. Not an extreme gimmick but something that makes people care. Some have the national pride thing going like Pacquiao and Canelo but that doesnt seem to be a thing for american fighters. Some choose the stereotype template. You have the Charlos, Gervonta, Broner etc going for the Trap King kind of vibe but it doesnt have to be just that. Come up with your own gimmick but you need to come up with something if you want to get more than just the hardcore fans watching.

Out of interest, are the Charlos actually a draw?

ironbeard wrote: ↑23 Jan 2019, 16:49 Crawford has deep seeded anger issues that I believe are rooted in his mother’s nastiness. He projects those onto anyone who he detects setting expectations for him, as well as anyone he faces off against.

I suspect that his angry response is subconsciously aimed at his mother, who I further suspect of attempting to influence him to be more of the stereotypical arrogant, mouthy black boxer, i.e. FMJ, Charlos, Ali.

I like Bud just the way he is; supremely skilled with a massive mommy chip on his shoulder.

What mother issues are you referring to?

It ain’t easy for sista to raise black kids on her own. 2-Pac sang about that in one of his rhymes

I have an issue with the word, "Always." It's used by small thinkers.

How the heck can you take TC’s response any other way then genuine and honest. He’s absolutely right. I love what he said and anyone that has issue with what he said is reading into it. He’s a quiet guy so I assume that he’s heard a lot of people ask him the question and his answer was perfect. Get bent you honkies that take issue with it.

And that question has never been asked to any whitish boxers that I’d ever heard. So the question is in itself has a hint of racism if you ask me.

Nondescript wrote: ↑23 Jan 2019, 12:04 Black fighters are almost expected to be more loud and obnoxious outside of the ring.

Who by? People that believe in derogatory racial stereotypes? If that’s the case, you’re referring to a very tiny minority.

caldo2025 wrote: ↑23 Jan 2019, 20:07 And that question has never been asked to any whitish boxers that I’d ever heard. So the question is in itself has a hint of racism if you ask me.

And how do you know this? Have you attended every single interview with every single white fighter throughout the course of history?

There’s nothing racist about asking a fighter the reason why they don’t try to sell their fights using a certain amount of showmanship!

This forum has to have the highest loon ratio to regular members.