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Boxing fans are advocates for the sports by default.

They want to see the sweet science back in the spotlight, they preach the Gospel of boxing whenever they can; whenever a big fight is on the horizon.

In America at least, boxing’s fan-base has been shrinking since the start of the new millennium. The sport has shed a chunk of casual fans over the last tens years or so and has struggled to get them back.

It is true, however, that the bowing out by many casual fans in the US has left the boxing community with arguably the most knowledgable, passionate, and engaging fan-base in all of sport. But the fact of the matter is — for the sport to thrive like it did only some time ago, the casual fan needs to pay attention again.

Not all fans of boxing should know who Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym is.

Like any fight involving Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, Saturday’s heavyweight unification bout was a chance perhaps win back a few of those fans — especially the one’s who fell in love with the heavyweight division watching Ali or Tyson.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye was being billed as the most important heavyweight bout in at least the last eight years. So when the HBO telecast went live at 4:45 EST, everyone gathered around the television set, hardcore and casual fans, alike. We were dutifully fulfilling our duty as loyal sheep — sheep herded by the Shepard that is boxing.

It blew. I blame Haye. Haye blames his foot.

I don’t care that Klitschko didn’t look amazing. It’s not his job to put himself in harms way when he doesn’t have to. He’ll sell 50,000 tickets in Germany if he was fighting a corpse. He keeps winning, people keep watching — just not in the US. It’s as simple as that. If I were him, I’d do the same thing. Keep opponents at bay, get the job done. Leave with my belt and my marbles.

It’s Haye who failed to make this exciting. He didn’t take risks. Even when he had to know he was down big in the later rounds, Haye continued keep at distance, only letting his right hand fly two or three times per round.

I was and still am a bit angry. I wanted a hearty heavyweight meal. Instead me and everyone else, including hundreds of thousands who probably haven’t watched a heavyweight fight in years, got served a side salad.

There’s hope that Tomasz Adamek – Vitali Klitschko in September will create some fireworks, but I won’t try to convince the world it’s a great fight like I did for this one.

Instead, I’ll once again suggest to those looking to come back to boxing or enjoy a change of pace from UFC, watch Manny Pacquiao.

While there are a ton of great fights sets for the rest of the calendar year, there is one in particular that stands out for me. That fight is the third installment Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez.

Sure, you’re probably saying, “Well, of course you are looking forward to watching the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. That’s obvious.”

But, you must remember that not everyone is in love with this fight. Countless members of the media and fans on Twitter have written this fight off already. They say Pacquiao has outgrown Marquez; that when Marquez came up to 142 lbs. to fight Floyd Mayweather he wasn’t himself — too big, too slow; and that since their last bout in early 2008 years, Manny has fought his best boxing.

To those people, I say: I agree whole-heartedly. But to me, that’s not a reason to hate this fight. It’s a reason to love it.

First and foremost, Marquez is Mexican and is used to eating Mexican food. Therefore it’s unlikely he’ll claim he was holding in diarrhea like Joshua Clottey did after he was thoroughly dominated for twelve rounds in the ring with the Pacman. Second, Marquez is still Mexican and will undoubtedly show more heart and take more risks against Pacquiao than Mosley did.

Once Marquez starts taking those necessary risks in the mid-to-late rounds, he’ll probably end up with his back on the mat, staring up at the MGM ceiling.

It’s exactly what boxing needs. They were in two wars already, that much we know. It’s unlikely their third go at the rodeo will be as competitive as the first two, but I don’t care.

Pacquiao is the most exciting fighter in boxing — and at the time of the fight, it will be two years since he’s won a fight by knockout. That will change. I’m looking forward to it.

To the casual fans, the ones who decided the open up the boxing door last weekend only to find the stinker that was Klitschko-Haye behind it: Wait until the world’s number one ranked fighter returns in November. Check back then, please.

Klitschko-Haye was another swing and a miss for boxing to regain momentum. But no worries. When in doubt, watch the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Sure it’s a wait, but all good things require some patience.

Everyone loves a home run, everyone loves a knockout. Like Babe Ruth, I’m calling this shot. Pacquiao-Marquez will be a four-bagger.

Kyle Kinder can be reached via Twitter @ Twitter.com/KyleKinder

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