The Natural
12-05-2007, 10:31 PM
WHAT'S MORE INTRIGUING, FLOYD THE BOXER, OR FLOYD THE RECORD?
thefightnetwork.com
By Gamaliel Ramos
The stark reality of boxing is that it is a violent contact sport.
And unlike other sports, 99 percent of boxing fans have never played the game.
With that in mind, we have to divide those who watch boxing because they love the sweet science and those who just enjoy contact sports and want to see the obvious: blood and guts in the ring.
Which brings me to my point; how many people want to see Mayweather vs. Hatton Saturday night because they enjoy boxing? Or, how many people want to see Pretty Boy Floyd lose?
At the age of 30, with his birthday coming in less than three months, Floyd Mayweather is one of the few undefeated veterans of the sport, and his name is one of the biggest attractions when it comes to prize fighting.
His record is only surpassed by his trash talking, especially compared to the other undefeated welterweight superstars, Hatton, and Miguel Cotto.
In a recent interview with the UK's Mirror, Mayweather’s closest and most loyal advisor Leonard Ellerbe expressed that the majority of the people attending the megafight between Mayweather and Hatton are coming to see the WBC Champion Floyd Mayweather instead of the enormously popular Brit..
Ellerbe went as far as to say that even Ricky Hatton fans, an estimated close to 30,000 willing to make the trip to Las Vegas from the UK are coming to see Floyd and not their champion. In same interview he akcknoledge that when Jose Luis Castillo faced Ricky Hatton, the 10,000 British fans in Vegas came for the Mexican warrior and not Ricky Hatton.
The comments are very bold and provocative, especially when a flight from London to Las Vegas during fight week can cost upwards of $1,000
Besides absurd, provocative comments made by Ellerbe, one question has to be asked; Do people go to see Mayweather fight, or to see him lose?
There is no straight answer to that question. Obviously, if the guy who you are rooting for wins, you want his opponent to lose. But in Mayweather's case, many fight fans just want him to lose his undefeated status more than they care who he fights.
There was recently an on-line poll asking who were fans coming to see for the fight.
As of November 29th, 71.81% of respondants thought Ricky Hatton was the draw.
Floyd Mayweather's undefeated record has surpassed the fighter himself as an attraction.
As Mayweather likes to say, "Thirty-eight have tried, and 38 have failed."
No one has yet to succeed in accomplishing what seems to be the ultimate notch in a boxer's belt, handing the #1 pound per pound boxer his first pro loss .
thefightnetwork.com
By Gamaliel Ramos
The stark reality of boxing is that it is a violent contact sport.
And unlike other sports, 99 percent of boxing fans have never played the game.
With that in mind, we have to divide those who watch boxing because they love the sweet science and those who just enjoy contact sports and want to see the obvious: blood and guts in the ring.
Which brings me to my point; how many people want to see Mayweather vs. Hatton Saturday night because they enjoy boxing? Or, how many people want to see Pretty Boy Floyd lose?
At the age of 30, with his birthday coming in less than three months, Floyd Mayweather is one of the few undefeated veterans of the sport, and his name is one of the biggest attractions when it comes to prize fighting.
His record is only surpassed by his trash talking, especially compared to the other undefeated welterweight superstars, Hatton, and Miguel Cotto.
In a recent interview with the UK's Mirror, Mayweather’s closest and most loyal advisor Leonard Ellerbe expressed that the majority of the people attending the megafight between Mayweather and Hatton are coming to see the WBC Champion Floyd Mayweather instead of the enormously popular Brit..
Ellerbe went as far as to say that even Ricky Hatton fans, an estimated close to 30,000 willing to make the trip to Las Vegas from the UK are coming to see Floyd and not their champion. In same interview he akcknoledge that when Jose Luis Castillo faced Ricky Hatton, the 10,000 British fans in Vegas came for the Mexican warrior and not Ricky Hatton.
The comments are very bold and provocative, especially when a flight from London to Las Vegas during fight week can cost upwards of $1,000
Besides absurd, provocative comments made by Ellerbe, one question has to be asked; Do people go to see Mayweather fight, or to see him lose?
There is no straight answer to that question. Obviously, if the guy who you are rooting for wins, you want his opponent to lose. But in Mayweather's case, many fight fans just want him to lose his undefeated status more than they care who he fights.
There was recently an on-line poll asking who were fans coming to see for the fight.
As of November 29th, 71.81% of respondants thought Ricky Hatton was the draw.
Floyd Mayweather's undefeated record has surpassed the fighter himself as an attraction.
As Mayweather likes to say, "Thirty-eight have tried, and 38 have failed."
No one has yet to succeed in accomplishing what seems to be the ultimate notch in a boxer's belt, handing the #1 pound per pound boxer his first pro loss .