Boxing fans-Why do you insist on making boxing into a racial thing when it should be about the sport itself?

Question

It's good to root for your guy but I think you cheat the spirit of great competition with borderline fanaticism. Honor the sport by respecting by fighters and instead of putting all your hopes into a boxer(who is just a man), put your hopes into seeing a good fair fight. When you do that then everyone wins instead of just the person with their hands raised? Please discuss

Answer 1

well all the talk leading up to the fight is just back and forth banter like RedSox and Yankee fans.... nothing personal but i love it when fights get built up like this one has,with Filipinos and Mexicans, to bring a little national pride into the mix....every Mexican fights for his country and Manny is the same with Filipinos and the song Manny wrote about fighting for his country actually made me like Him more, which is confusing lol....... but the race thing has come into action because a lot of us including me are too gung ho proud of our fighters and our Countries ...i just hope phillipines boxing does not go away when Manny does because this rivalry with Mexicans and Filipinios is actually very interesting and could be awesome for the sport ....look how many people, Mexican or Filipino, will swear that their fighter won and this kind of passion has been missing from boxing since the days of Joe Louis vs Max Schemling (best example i could think of) ....but your are right race has been too big a thing when the fight is more important.... i do think Marquez won the fight again but with Mexicans just showing Heart is enough  and both fighters did so hats off to both ...... with mexicans there is always the underdog feeling but thats what usually leads to great fights because Mexicans are also very proud ...

Answer 2

it is about the sport people only see it this way when they feel this way. it's a reflection on the fans not on the sport itself

Answer 3

first off i think boxing actually brings diffrent raices together rather than apart and as far as getting behind one guy if u didnt half the exitement would be gone just because u back a guy dont mean u dont respect the other

Answer 4

Well theres two points, one is Nationalism, meaning support for a fighter from your own country, and the other is Racism, meaning support based on ethnic orgin or colour.

I think theres nothing wrong with Nationalism, supporting the fighter from your own country is fine, so long as you are realistic and dont denigrate the other fighter.

Being British i support British fighters, but i try to be realistic about it, if i think a British fighter will lose, ill say so, i will still support him, but ill be realistic. Example i think Calzaghe will beat Hopkins, i also think Gary Lockett will lose to Pavlik, and i wont rubbish Pavlik because he is not British.

Racism is different, comments made by Hopkins, and in the past by Alan Minter etc are disgusting. Sport should bring people together, and boxing generally does that.

But for obvious reasons, racism has pretty nasty undertones.

I do think the obsession with White American heavyweights in the USA is a little pathetic though.

So in short, respectful nationalism is fine, racism is for a holes!

Answer 5

There are times when a fighter can lose a fight and still come out a winner by showing a lot of heart and determination. But there is nothing wrong with rooting on your hometown fighter or a boxer you have grown to appreciate. Every sport is more exciting to watch if you follow a particular team or individual - it is no fun to be indifferent when it comes to competition. I don't watch a football game solely to see two teams compete I watch in hopes that my team wins and goes to the superbowl. The same goes for boxing I want my favorite fighters to make it as far as they can. If a fighter is a black eye for the  sport like Zab Judah has been when he threw a chair at the referee, and when he hit Carlos Baldimor below the belt instead of shaking hands before fight then I will root against him. It isn't a racial thing...he is a solid boxer with very good skills and he shows heart inside the ring most of the time. But when he fights most people like Shane Mosely who is humble and has a great attitude I am going to naturally root for Shane Mosely. I can appreciate a the good fight but I will be dissapointed if Mosely loses.

Answer 6

I am not aware that there is a race issue in boxing.  It is one of the most competitive sports coupled with a little "brutality" in it.  But rooting ferociously for your man does not mean you don't respect the other fellow.  I watch sports for the enjoyment of seeing my team win.  And if your guy loses in boxing, it is especially difficult to swallow because of the judgment call the judges have to make.  

I love to watch boxing and would love for the sports to continue with participants around the world.  I hope the Philippines and Mexico maintain a strong partnership in the promotion of this exciting sport.

I am a fan of Shane Moseley, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Oscar de le Hoya, Pac-Man, etc.  I am a native of the Philippines.  Salamat.  Muchos Gracias.  Thank you.

Answer 7

its the nature of the beast!...be it racism,nationalism,religion or indeed sexism like it or not that is the way we are and I will call any one who says otherwise a big fat liar..I dont consider myself racist and admire fighters of all races its a tribal thing wheather it in boxing or other sports we all back our own its the most natural thing in the world though thankfully the world is becoming more and more multi national in each country and racism is slowly fading into the past..long may it continue

Answer 8

I do not look at it in a racial manner. Realize that the media and America is based on racism it sells. I myself love all races of fighters. I am an African American male who likes Shane Mosley, Pac-Man, Calzghe, Marquez, Berrera, Morrales, Holyfield, Peter, Golden-Boy, Cotto,and any fighter willing to give it his or her all. Race is dead and is an old issue revamped over and over to pump up the hype machine. Do not buy into it.

Answer 9

You're probably one of those guys, that would have us play a game with no score, then award everyone a trophy for showing up.  NO!  YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME!  And to your point(gambling aside), whats wrong with picking some one to root for.  I dont want a good fight, I want MY guy to knock out the other guy in the first round.