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Originally Posted by sam_mrskincash
One major difference between Tyson and the Klitchcko's is the excitement and entertainment value and that's what I'm talking about. Their careful nature might win fights but it doesn't win fans. They are beloved in their home countries of course but most of the world including the US can't be bothered to watch them fight and this will effect how history remembers them.
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The problem there is they aren't American, and even if they were most of the US no longer cares about boxing. Even if an exciting American heavyweight like Tyson were to emerge in today's climate most American's wouldn't give a shit, and boxing has no one to blame but itself for years of corruption and piss poor matchmaking. Take a guy like Deontay Wilder, 6'7" and an Olympic Bronze Medalist, and 25-0 with 25 KO's. He's tall, American, charismatic, has a shit ton of power, and is KO'ing the same level of stiffs that Tyson was on his way up. But even a casual boxing fan couldn't pick him out of a lineup, because with the exception of Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquaio American's would much rather watch MMA than boxing. It's a severely declining sport in the US and I doubt that will ever change.
But you go to Germany and the Klitschko's sell out giant soccer stadiums. In England they are still mad for boxing and followed a mediocre boxer like Ricky Hatton around from country to country and made even his US fights seem like he was fighting a home fight in the UK. But here a few big names make money, and boxing still draws well among the older high roller fans in Vegas, and that's about it...