lpinoy
09-23-2010, 04:17 AM
C/P
By Dave Carlson
Lately, for boxing fans, it's a familiar pattern: another day, another piece of "news" or speculation on the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao situation.
As a fan, it gets frustrating. Some people say they'll stop following boxing because of it. Some say that this shows what's wrong with boxing today, and that people will start moving over to MMA.
Don't believe it.
We’re still talking. They’re playing us, and in some ways we want to be played. True, there could be some legitimate differences of opinion between Mayweather and Pacquiao, and some things could be taken at face value, but if we know one thing about boxing, we know it all comes down to marketing and psychology.
Boxing promoters are masters at using psychological tricks to sell fights, and it is in full force here. Here’s what they’re doing, why it works, and how the Mayweather-Pacquiao situation might unfold.
First thing: They want to sell more fights, and they’ll milk this for all it’s worth
This is obvious. The hunger for this match is palpable, and for good reason. It’s a once-in-a-generation boxing event, pairing up the two greatest fighters in the world in their prime.
It’s Ali vs. Frazier, it’s Ali vs. Foreman, it’s Tyson vs. Holyfield. It will be the best-selling pay-per-view in the history of boxing, and fights like this don’t come along often.
Joe Louis KOs Max Schmeling Boxing thrives on storylines, and this is the climax, the culmination of an ongoing narrative.
Even if the fighters don’t know it, they’re in this together.
More than any other sport, boxing is about storytelling.
The reason we follow it is because we need to see the story unfold. Because of this, boxing history is tied to our cultural history.
When you think of great moments and figures in boxing, they are the ones that carry our collective history. They embody the American dream.
Boxers represent each of us, and the American dream. Before every major fight, they try to build a storyline. The history of boxing is the history of our heroes, told in matches rather than pages.
Muhammad Ali, Julio Cesar Chavez, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, Max Schmeling, Sugar Ray Robinson, Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz.
Beyond mere talent, these fighters have captured our imagination because they are vanguards of a social and economic group, symbols of a struggle that we can all associate with on some level. They tell our story.
Manny Pacquiao is the clear protagonist
It is becoming lucidly clear that Manny Pacquiao is the protagonist of this tale. He is likeable and reinforces our view of what is just.
As a poor child selling cigarettes on the streets of the Philippines, he found his way into a boxing gym and a way out of poverty through his athletic ability.
He had clear talent and promise, but dropped a few early fights as an unpolished early fighter. He was an imperfect fighter, but Freddie Roach saw a diamond in the rough.
So in steps Freddie Roach, a likeable, humble former fighter afflicted with an incurable disease. He speaks softly, but no one can doubt his prowess as a trainer.
He and Pacquiao have a union of teacher and student that brought Manny where he is today. Under Roach’s tutelage, Pacquiao overcame innumerable obstacles.
After an early loss to Morales and a draw with Marquez, he then won his series against Morales, Barrera, and Marquez.
He defeated Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto. He seemingly takes on bigger and stronger foes every fight, now competing for a world title in an eighth division against one of the biggest villains in boxing, Antonio Margarito.
And throughout all this, he perseveres with an angelic smile and fists that seem unfitting for such a diminutive fighter. He has risen from poverty to become a political leader in his home country and is loved by his people, and by the world.
We know he is the good guy because we hope that every poor, small child in the Philippines has the heart that Manny Pacquiao has displayed.
Mayweather is quickly becoming the villain
The difference between a hero and a villain isn’t cut and dried. Both are impressive and awe-inspiring, but we can’t help but feel like the villain made a bad choice somewhere down the line.
Mayweather was once an admirable fighter. “Pretty Boy” Floyd was a smooth, technical, undefeated fighter with bright eyes, a winning smile, and a “good guys finish last” fate. He couldn’t get the big fights until he became “Money” Mayweather, and now he looks like he sold his soul to the dark side for fame and profit.
Mayweather knows this. Every time Mayweather is on HBO’s 24/7, we see a decent, but misled soul who is prone to cocky behavior, arrogant declarations, deceptive practices and an insatiable lust for power and fame.
His team is continuously beset with criminal investigations. He knows that bad news travels seven times further than good news. And he uses that to his advantage.
We want to like Mayweather because of his talent, but we find him offensive. He offends the values we hold dear. If we buy into the stereotype of the arrogant, foul-mouthed, selfish, greedy “gangsta rap” figure, then he offends us.
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images If we don’t believe this stereotype, then he offends us because he reinforces a faulty, harmful stereotype. Yes, he appeals to our rebellious side, but it’s always an afterthought. He is meant to be the bad guy.
We know this because we fear that every talented, promising kid who has made a few mistakes in life will end up being like Floyd Mayweather Jr.
By Dave Carlson
Lately, for boxing fans, it's a familiar pattern: another day, another piece of "news" or speculation on the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao situation.
As a fan, it gets frustrating. Some people say they'll stop following boxing because of it. Some say that this shows what's wrong with boxing today, and that people will start moving over to MMA.
Don't believe it.
We’re still talking. They’re playing us, and in some ways we want to be played. True, there could be some legitimate differences of opinion between Mayweather and Pacquiao, and some things could be taken at face value, but if we know one thing about boxing, we know it all comes down to marketing and psychology.
Boxing promoters are masters at using psychological tricks to sell fights, and it is in full force here. Here’s what they’re doing, why it works, and how the Mayweather-Pacquiao situation might unfold.
First thing: They want to sell more fights, and they’ll milk this for all it’s worth
This is obvious. The hunger for this match is palpable, and for good reason. It’s a once-in-a-generation boxing event, pairing up the two greatest fighters in the world in their prime.
It’s Ali vs. Frazier, it’s Ali vs. Foreman, it’s Tyson vs. Holyfield. It will be the best-selling pay-per-view in the history of boxing, and fights like this don’t come along often.
Joe Louis KOs Max Schmeling Boxing thrives on storylines, and this is the climax, the culmination of an ongoing narrative.
Even if the fighters don’t know it, they’re in this together.
More than any other sport, boxing is about storytelling.
The reason we follow it is because we need to see the story unfold. Because of this, boxing history is tied to our cultural history.
When you think of great moments and figures in boxing, they are the ones that carry our collective history. They embody the American dream.
Boxers represent each of us, and the American dream. Before every major fight, they try to build a storyline. The history of boxing is the history of our heroes, told in matches rather than pages.
Muhammad Ali, Julio Cesar Chavez, Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, Max Schmeling, Sugar Ray Robinson, Manny Pacquiao, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz.
Beyond mere talent, these fighters have captured our imagination because they are vanguards of a social and economic group, symbols of a struggle that we can all associate with on some level. They tell our story.
Manny Pacquiao is the clear protagonist
It is becoming lucidly clear that Manny Pacquiao is the protagonist of this tale. He is likeable and reinforces our view of what is just.
As a poor child selling cigarettes on the streets of the Philippines, he found his way into a boxing gym and a way out of poverty through his athletic ability.
He had clear talent and promise, but dropped a few early fights as an unpolished early fighter. He was an imperfect fighter, but Freddie Roach saw a diamond in the rough.
So in steps Freddie Roach, a likeable, humble former fighter afflicted with an incurable disease. He speaks softly, but no one can doubt his prowess as a trainer.
He and Pacquiao have a union of teacher and student that brought Manny where he is today. Under Roach’s tutelage, Pacquiao overcame innumerable obstacles.
After an early loss to Morales and a draw with Marquez, he then won his series against Morales, Barrera, and Marquez.
He defeated Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto. He seemingly takes on bigger and stronger foes every fight, now competing for a world title in an eighth division against one of the biggest villains in boxing, Antonio Margarito.
And throughout all this, he perseveres with an angelic smile and fists that seem unfitting for such a diminutive fighter. He has risen from poverty to become a political leader in his home country and is loved by his people, and by the world.
We know he is the good guy because we hope that every poor, small child in the Philippines has the heart that Manny Pacquiao has displayed.
Mayweather is quickly becoming the villain
The difference between a hero and a villain isn’t cut and dried. Both are impressive and awe-inspiring, but we can’t help but feel like the villain made a bad choice somewhere down the line.
Mayweather was once an admirable fighter. “Pretty Boy” Floyd was a smooth, technical, undefeated fighter with bright eyes, a winning smile, and a “good guys finish last” fate. He couldn’t get the big fights until he became “Money” Mayweather, and now he looks like he sold his soul to the dark side for fame and profit.
Mayweather knows this. Every time Mayweather is on HBO’s 24/7, we see a decent, but misled soul who is prone to cocky behavior, arrogant declarations, deceptive practices and an insatiable lust for power and fame.
His team is continuously beset with criminal investigations. He knows that bad news travels seven times further than good news. And he uses that to his advantage.
We want to like Mayweather because of his talent, but we find him offensive. He offends the values we hold dear. If we buy into the stereotype of the arrogant, foul-mouthed, selfish, greedy “gangsta rap” figure, then he offends us.
Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images If we don’t believe this stereotype, then he offends us because he reinforces a faulty, harmful stereotype. Yes, he appeals to our rebellious side, but it’s always an afterthought. He is meant to be the bad guy.
We know this because we fear that every talented, promising kid who has made a few mistakes in life will end up being like Floyd Mayweather Jr.