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I never understood these certain aspects of boxing. 1. In a sport where the object is to cause serious injury to an opponent, when an opponent quits....he receives scorn. Yet....in tennis, a sport where the object is not to inflict serious injury, quitters are not scorned. 2. In a sport where serious injury is caused, people responding to that serious injury with angst or concern are belittled, whereas responses of glee and delight are deemed normal responses. I think the Filipinos deserve a slight ribbing for the whole "Manny The Living Saint" routine, but I wouldnd't take it much further than that.
I just love it when random people start watching boxing (typically girls) because of a sensation like Pac. It's starts off quiet. Hey the filipino won again. Then the crowds get bigger, the press is more intense and everyone is talking about him. They have no clue about the sport and actually think their fighter is godlike. They get all excited about an event, because their new God is going to fight AND WIN (losing is not even a possibility). Their boyfriends or husbands will be happy and in a good mood and it will just be a devine night. All of this, only to be struck with the realities of boxing and their savior is crushed and KTFO like a mere mortal. The screams and the yells from those same people after their hero has died, brings joy to my heart.
Some of those randoms become hard core fans. Guys like Pac are essential for the growth / survival of the sport.
Agreed. Like a guy I repeated the Leaving with down in South County Dublin. He thought De La Hoya had fought Naz. He knew fuck all....but he had heard of both of them.
I think I know that guy. :: Unless it was Tyson, Pac, Dela Hoya or in recent times Haye I watch most fights alone. My house at the time of Pac V Dela Hoya was packed out, I was sat on the floor. Everyone was interested in seeing that fight. Some of those guys still follow the sport today, not hardcore fans but I get the call every now and then 'hey, you watching the fight'
:: I watched the Haye vs Wlad fight alone...but the phone was hopping with guys asking for tips and predo's
Perhaps NO Sport GALVANIZES Nationalities & Races to Root For "Their Own" the Way BOXING Does...REED Thought it was COOL when Middle Easterners Openly Supported Prince Naseem...Ditto for Phillipinos in Regards to Manny Pac... REED:up:
It might be different in the states but over here we go nuts for talent regardless of the sport. If our football team, boxers, cyclists etc dominate their sport the country goes mental.
Stop defending this staged bullshit Anthony. I know you started this thread and now feel silly but it's okay bro just like Kneel's parents we all make mistakes. And if it were being recorded for that reason...would you really record Pac JMM ? I mean these guys went 36 rounds before and if no one expected anything dramatic happening in a fight it would have been in this one.
I think it has more to do with people seeing "one of their own" excel at a world class level when it's a rarity more than the sport of boxing itself. For example if a guy who was born and raised in Pakistan turned out to be one of the best hockey or basketball players they would get an almost similar following. First off they would get a ton more press which goes hand in hand with their new "fans". Look at all the hype over Jeremy Lin who's not in the same stratosphere as guys like Kobe or Lebron.
I was filipino too that night screaming, "O' my gawd!!" F@#%^*ng mexicans celebrating...I hope Marquez get KO'd cold in his next fight and I want to see a video of 'los chingones' crying like a Tijuana whore who burned her ass in the street stove cooking taquitos al carbon!issed:
