Sometimes boxing is more than just what occurs inside the ring.
There are a lot of intangible factors that play a role in creating the type of big-fight atmosphere and electric jolt that leaves you giddy with excitement. At the forefront of those factors are those spectators that have shelled out their hard earned money to luckily be in attendance.
The past several years I?ve had the pleasure of attending some of the largest and some of the most publicized bouts of recent times as well as some local shows in which the attendance numbered in the hundreds rather than thousands.
While this past weekend the boxing world experienced the magnificent and energy-filled crowd that flooded Las Vegas for the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch, I thought it?d be interesting to go ahead and dissect some of the most lively and loyal supporters that the sweet science has to offer.
Here it goes?
5. Joe Calzaghe ? The ?Pride of Wales? battled with the ?Viking Warrior?, Mikkel Kessler last November drawing over 50,000 spectators to the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. It was sight to behold on television as it looked like a sea of people rather than a normal boxing crowd on the other side of the Atlantic. The most mind-boggling aspect of this crowd was the fact that the super-middleweight showdown took place at the ungodly hour of 4 a.m. in the United Kingdom. Talk about your hardcore fanatics people?
4. Miguel Cotto ? Puerto Rico has long been a boxing powerhouse when it comes to producing some fistic warriors that captivate the crowd. As the torch has recently been passed on from the long-standing icon in Felix ?Tito? Trinidad to the new bully on the block, Miguel Cotto, these passionate fans have made their presence felt. While Cotto has recently started to gain comparable notoriety as to that of a prime Trinidad, he still has room to grow and expand his ever rabid fan base to other locations across the states. As seen in his recent bouts with Zab Judah and Shane Mosley? when Cotto fights in New York, it?s a one-sided affair as to who is definitely the crowd favorite.
3. Oscar De la Hoya ? For the majority of his career, the ?Golden Boy? has fought in his backyard of Las Vegas, Nevada drawing in nothing but A-list celebrities and other casual but wealthy fans of his. It?s difficult to gauge whether these people in attendance are fans of boxing or are just there to catch a glimpse of themselves on television. Either way, there?s no denying the fact that Oscar De la Hoya can fill up a stadium quicker and more financially lucrative than most being that his most recent bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. never seemed to reach the hands of the regular public. You could probably stage a Julio Cesar Chavez trilogy bout with Oscar and still sell out most major venues today.
2. Manny Pacquiao ? Bigger than Elvis, a living legend, and a fighter that keeps his country free of crime? at least for the time when he?s tangling with his adversary for the day. He?s quickly becoming a can?t miss feature amongst Filipino as well as Mexican boxing fans. His bouts with Morales, Barrera, and Marquez have all done very well at the box office and he?s only getting bigger(literally) and more popular as each fight progresses. His fans are raucous, rowdy and really enjoy bringing the ruckus. Great fight atmosphere when the ?Pacman? laces em?up.
1. Ricky Hatton ? Over 25,000 fans flying half-way across the world spending thousands upon thousands of dollars to see him fight while continuing to chant his name in the after math of his knockout loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Name one other fighter that could command that type of draw. There?s only one Ricky Hatton. End of story.
