Steve Bunce

Steve Bunce (boxnation, espn UK). He said on his podcast that Devon Alexander isn't a draw. Lamont Peterson isn't a draw, etc.... alot of americans aren't draws.
Devon Alexander is a draw-in Missouri.

Lamont Peterson is a draw-in Washington DC

American fighters aren't often draws outside their home areas.

It is just that promotional companies in the US like to stick with atlantic city or vegas way too often. Which makes no sense.

It is easy for Brits to draw at home. England is about the size of Louisiana, with a population 10 times its size.

If a fight is in Manchester, it is only 200 miles from London. Only about 260 miles to Scotland. Almost the entire population is within 200 miles in any direction.


US has 320 million people in a very large area. England has 50 million people in a small area. He doesn't seem to get the fact that the US is not homogenous. When a fight is in an area, then 90% of the country is precluded from going to it unless they want to get on a plane.

Fuck the brits LOL

I agree. I think the heart of the sport should move away from Vegas, and go on an international stage. Make big mega fights that people travel across the globe to go to with stacked cards to get a world cup/Olympic type atmosphere. Let local fighters build their reputation and skills locally. Put the fans and fighters first. Put the best against the best and go wherever people are willing to pay $ to pack a stadium, or somewhere more remote where the world would take notice because of the attention it would bring.

how about this fight card:

Peterson vs Matthyse

Devon Alexander vs Lee Purdy (I believe that is the Brit that he is fighting against).

Where: Atlantic City


-Matthyse has drawn 10,000 Argentines when fighting in his home country.
-Peterson drew 10,000 against Khan and a decent crowd against Holt, when fighting in Washington DC, where he is from.
-Alexander has drawn 5-10 thousand for some fights in St. Louis, where he is from
-Purdy isn't a big name British fighter, but I would guess he could still draw 1000-1500 at home headlining a small card.

-For those in St. Louis, it is like traveling from Sheffield, England, to Poland for the fight. There is a reason Khan will fight in Sheffield, not Poland. His fans can come to the fight in Sheffield.

For those in Washington DC, it is about 190 miles to Atlantic City. Not a distance many will travel the night of the fight. About the same distance as Manchester to London. Ricky Hatton used to fight in Manchester. Why didn't they have him fight in London? He was from Manchester and could draw the most fans there.

For those in Argentina, forget about it. Same for the UK.

Peterson vs Matthyse should have ended up in D.C. It would have sucked for Matthyse, but it is the logical US fighting place for them.

Soonermark890 wrote:Fuck the brits LOL

Whoa bit harsh... Bunce is alright, he's a massive fanboy though and sometimes makes daft comments

i do agree with the assessment that its because other countries are so small. when a fighter comes from britain, it becomes their fighter. if a fighter comes from the US, its really not our fighter. mayweather is the perfect example. most amercians hate him. if it were a british or german guy that was that good and acted like floyd, they would all still love him.