Can I just say I am sick of this constant "English Football Fan Bashing" what has English football fans got to do with boxing in America.

Firstly I think it was wrong to boo the National anthem no matter what the reason (political, drunk, to wind up Maywhether). I only hope America dont think this select group of of people are a representitive cross-section of the English public.

English football has changed dramatically in recent years and English fans are amongst the best in modern Europe. Watching football and England can be a family day out (if you ignore the odd bit of bad langauge and cost!!!). No where in Europe has done more then England to eliminate bad behaviour at football. This progress should be congratulated.

Everysport has its core of idiots. Football has done more then any other sport to eliminate this element. I as an England fan am dissapointed that people who make these comments clearly still do so without actually being able to back up their comments

dave, wigan,

They are just jealous.
We beat the crap out of the awhile back and they just can't get over WE ARE BETTER than they are.

Raj , Sunnyvale, USA, CA

Nice to see the Brits defending the booing by attacking American's patriotism and then by saying that we were out supported just because our fans don't get fall down drunk and sing like a bunch of drunken sailors on leave for a night. Just because you think that is the ideal way of supporting your sporting teams and people doesn't mean it is the best way. I find it comical myself. Do what you want in your country but don't act like fools in ours then attack us to defend it.
I know you are desperate for a winner considering you are rubbish at all sports you invented and will now be watching Euro 2008 at home. Deal with it.
That being said I will not paint every Brit with a broad brush. Just because some did it doesn't mean every single one would. To those that don't like when that is done no you know how we take it when Americans are all termed fat and stupid. When the shoe is on the other foot it is not too fun is it?

Kevin, Chicago, IL

I am appalled as most British citizens would be by the booing.I holiday in the US frequently and have great respect for the country. The booing was not politically motivated,it was by a small group of individuals that form an underclass in Britain and use specific sporting events (football mainly) to demonstrate their stupidity and ignorance. All the rest of us can do is condemn it and apologise on their behalf.

As for some of the comments below about the English,unfortunately you are demonstrating your OWN prejudice and ignorance.My girlfriend is Irish and I have a lot of time for the Irish,but I read Darren's comments especially with a smile given the number of times I have witnessed the Irish / Welsh/Scottish booing English teams and the anthem during sporting events, and this by people actually choosing to live in London of which believe me there are many, unfortunately the irony seems entirely lost on them!

christopher thompson, london, UK

Jock, don't even go beyond justifying. Just accept the fact that it was really classless. Period. Don't even blame the sport, or the intesity of the introduction. Etiquette is not taught, it is common sense and man's adaptation towards morals and society.

Kevin, Boracay, Philippines

This article is pretty disjointed. What does the fact that the judges were from Nevada have to do with the booing? The match hadn't started yet and the fighters were still in the dressing room when the louts drowned out the anthem. Were the fans that much of defeatists that they predicted an unfair fight? Or is it just that they lacked class and were booing the anthem of the host nation of the match?

And as it turns out, the judges did not have a say in the fight, since Hatton got TKO'd. The referee practically saved his life on the second KO when he stopped it while Hatton was stumbling (and before he just collapsed). You should be grateful he didn't allow Mayweather to give the coup de grace.

As for the point he deducted, Hatton did hit Mayweather on the top of the head which sent him face first through the ropes... and he tried to hit mayweather again while he was through the ropes (and again in the back of the head). I agree that Mayweather was turning, but that was blatant

Jon, New Haven, CT USA

booing and jeering has been part of boxing since it began and the the fans were doing as much as possible to make themselves heard. This has been talked about far too much. America just don't like the fact that they were out numbered and out sang. To be honest I quite enjoyed seeing the American anthem jeered, it represents most people's feelings toward this 'land of the free' that was built on slavery and ENGLISH pilgrims.
USA get over your selves. It's not like the precious star spangled banner was burnt. It may have been a bit over the top I do agree, but any boxer would have loved to have that kind of support behind him. Try and argue different.

Sean, nottingham, UK

What bothered me most was that these loudmouths had probably been treated like kings while in Las Vegas. A fine "thank you" to their hosts.
Nobody in the States saw this as USA v. Great Britain - it was Mayweather v. Hatton. Likewise, there were alot of Americans who were pulling for Ricky before the fight - many don't care for Mayweather's antics. Now, I'm afraid what's going to happen is everytime God Save the Queen is played at an American venue you're going to hear some booing. It's really a stupid, stupid shame..

Jeff, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

DRUNK SPORTS FANS IN INSENSITIVE BEHAVIOUR SHOCK!

It was a little embarrassing yes but lets not pretend we are the only country with drunken idiots and lets not pretend US sports are somehow immune from idiotic drunken behaviour. God Save the Queen gets booed all around Europe as do most other anthems, its not very nice but it is not personal and no one really gets hurt do they. If you're generally proud of your country you should be secure enough to laugh it off.

Alan, Chi, UK

yeah, darren, sure. and maybe those low class scum were booing the u.s. anthem because they were sick that americans funded the i.r.a. for so many years.

so, most of europe dislilkes the english? ha! they'd be what the americans call eurotrash then?

for god's sake... all this fuss about about a ridiculous nationalistic song. I'm surprised they weren't too busy rolling in the aisles laughing at the sentiment. land of the free and home of the brave, my ass. everyone loves the u.s., of course.

jem, london, uk

those idiots booing didn't *represent* britain any more than the boneheads who post on here represent our two countries.

and floyd wasn't representing the u.s., he was representing floyd. I'm not sure why the anthem was even played. it was a contest between individuals, not countries. if you want the u.s. to be represented by rapists, drug adicts, cheats, murderers, etc... then just pin your colours to your sportsmen.

nationalism is far more embarrassing than a few drunken fools.

jem, london, uk

Whatever happened to Free Speech?

If the crowd wanted to boo Mayweather \ the choice of officials \ George Bush \ the american flag or whatever, then its their free choice.

Every country England play at home gets their anthem boo'd too, but no one mentions that.

Most English people wouldn't do the same, regardless of their own views on America. Its just purile. But lets keep it as our own choice not to.

Great fight to watch mind.

Rich, Sussex, England

I seriously doubt that the boo boys were deliberately disrespecting the anthem. More likely they were simply trying to upset Mayweather and put him off his stride. It's akin to the sledging which I believe professional baseball players also do to put off the guy with the bat.

It did come across badly but it shouldn't be regarded as any more than unfortunate and ill considered sledging. British sport fans are very vocal and passionate. I personally would not want it any other way.

Richard , Jersey, CI,

Disgraceful!!
This is part of the reason why I no longer support England in football. The fans are yobs and a gross embarrasment to my nation
You dont deserve to call yourself English.

Phill , The Wirral, England

The booing certainly isn't through malice or hatred, it's all part of the pantomime of ‘them against us’ which often applies to sports with a tribal following. A tiny minority take this pantomime of sporting 'enemies' seriously. Although the booing of the US anthem is made particularly worthwhile by the po-faced seriousness of US patriotism and how nauseating their anthem is in the first place (one of the few to rival God Save the Queen in the terrible anthem league table).

The reaction of some Americans here seems completely disproportionate and illustrates the country’s unfamiliarity with international sporting rivalry. In the three principal sports in the US, international competition is meaningless and Olympic competition doesn’t breed the same amount of inter-country rivalry. If they really want to see their anthem disrespected, they need to play a vital (real) football match against the hosts in Eastern Europe or deep into South America.

Al, London, UK

Few in the US even took notice of the booing. Its a non-story, kind of like soccer...just kidding. Hatton got beat by a superior fighter. No way around it, no excuses. Until the next time!

John La Fontaine, Detroit, USA

Typical British fans or should I say yobs? I suppose that they completely forgot that they were there represneting the country?

Jessica , Coventry, UK

I wouldn't get to het up about it frankly - it's just light hearted I am sure!

Our own Anthem is so bad I normally boo it....

For those that turn nasty though: get stuffed, you're the reason people dislike America, your so opinionated and objectionable - get a life.

paul, Milton Keynes,

I feel deeply saddened that English boxing supporters have disrespected the national anthem of the USA and embarrassed my fellow Brits.

I believe when it comes to the crunch there is no nation in the world that the British people value more highly than the United States; none to which they feel deeper personal and moral kinship; none for which they would sacrifice more.

Britain spent two centuries fighting despotism around the globe (Tsar Nicolas, Napoleon, Kaiser Wilhelm et al) America then picked up this mantle, after Britain fell exhausted after WWII, and revitalised we played a supporting role to the USA against modern despots (USSR, Taliban, Saddam et al).

This was a sporting event so the untoward events hopefully will be quickly forgivrn and forgotten. Because when working together these two great nations remain (like Mayweather) undefeated. Long live the special relationship.

Rob, London,

sorry but you can't have it both ways - take 20,000 men, hype them up with prefight chat and advertising and let/encourage them to drink/gamble for days on end and then expect them to behave themselves like sunday school children - I was there and apart from the panto booing we behaved very well. Nobody is perfect and some of these comments are massively hysterical and hypocritical. It was not Minter Hagler put it that way.

Jock, London, UK

I think the sport in question gives part of the answer to the problem.
I don't go to football matches due to crowd troubles and the general bad atmosphere and having worked at a boxing match or two feel the crowd there is the same with very hostile attitudes between the camps.

If you come to the UK (or happen to see the USA play) go to a Rugby match for a lesion in how to behave as a fan.
Screaminf mobs yes but friendly and happy to sit next to opposition fans and clap at a good display from the oppising team.

Even in Cardiff at the France NZ game in the world cup the English and Welsh fans were polite and quiet during the anthems and we love to abuse the French!

Damian, Leamington spa, England

To all Americans I apologise for the disgraceful behaviour of these scum. They are clearly the bottle of the pile when it comes to manners and respect. What an embarrassment for the rest of us who would never dream of behaving this rude way. Please known they are not representative of most Britons.

Tricia McCafferty, London, UK

was this anything new? i dont think so! at least the americans now see why most of europe dislikes the english. dont get me wrong, most english are well behaved, polite and friendly but when it comes to sport they let themselves down nearly every time. being irish we see this disrespect to other nations on a regular basis. when ireland played england at croke park( stadium where british army murdered many supporters in the crowd) for the first time, there was a real fear that god saved the queen would be booed. it was in fact quite the oppositte. the crowd remained perfectly quiet and then sang our own anthem with great passion(most of the players could not stop crying). this moment has become more historic than the match itself. it showed we were bigger than them and would never ever drop to their level. these people are a very small minority in england but most countries low-lifes would not even resort to this. grow up england. your bully boy tatics no longer work.

darren, galway, ireland

Guys, i am certainly not one to defend the British in instances such as this, Myself am Irish and well accustomed to the chanting and singing of songs that are meant to cause offense.

BUT, I do not imagine that the source of the booing was in fact the USA, the flag of the USA or even the anthem of the USA. I imagine that the booing was aimed at Mayweather. As these matches so often are nowadays this was billed as a Britain vs USA clash and so when the anthems started and the match was about to get underway the crowd got animated and started booing.

I think that people are making a little too much of this, everyone chill a bit.

I would add however that if i was there and realised that ALL THREE JUDGES came from Mayweathers home state then i myself might have started booing too!

GM, Brisbane,

I was 13 rows back at the fight and unfortunately let all the hype get to me by jeering the national anthem. no matter all the rhetoric that mayweather and his uncle said before the fight and the amount i despise george bush and his government, i would still like to offer my apologies to the american people. the booing was not aimed at them but i can obviously understand how they would be offended.

Sorry

Danny, Southend, England

I will say that I was disgusted with the act, but I spent a week in London this past year and had nothing but the best and most polite treatment, so I as an American do not judge the British as a whole for the incident. Besides, regardless of our political differences, sporting events are the time we celebrate and put politics aside. God knows it is in our face 365 days of the year.

Chris, Tampa, USA

I watch a lot of fights and generally admire British boxers who seem to be hard working humble types. However, every boxing match I have seen with a British and American fighter, the British fans boo the National Anthem (previous Hatton and Calzaghe fights). So for those that say the booing is a result of the PBF personbality is nonesense. Obviously, its a generalized dislike of the US (I know not everyone but generalized). Hey, I get that most people don't like George Bush, count me as one of them. However, I guess I'm surprised our supposed friends would boo one of their steadfast allies anthems. I can tell you this, the UK is admired in this country. I don't know of one person, low class yob or not, who would boo any countries anthem (maybe the USSR back in the day during a hockey match). ...and particularly not the UK's.

I guess for those of you that hate the US, you will find a better friend in China, the new empire....right?

Johnny, Columbus, Ohio

Hey, I love Britain. The Brits in Vegas acted foolishly but they are certainly not a reflection on the whole of the UK. Don't forget, Britain has been our greatest ally and friend since Churchill and Roosevelt brought our two great English speaking nations together. I think those two intelligent and great men knew what they were doing. Hey Britain, let's sit down and laugh over this whole ordeal over a beer or two.

Ryan, Wisconsin, USA

We can only appologise for their conduct, simply embarrasing.

Although some of the Americans above arn't showing the class and being as humble as they claim to be with the anti-British sniping.

These Oik's that booed are of the lowest class, please don't join them.

Gerry, London, UK

gain, the Brits provedf themselves to be class-less loosers

Kenny, Long Beach, ca

I am as ashamed of the clearly Americaphobe Sylvester, London, as I am of the witless yobs who booed the National Anthem of a country they were visiting. I have been at England matches with them, not a pretty sight, or sound.

And you're proud, eh, Sylvester?

Barry , London, UK

Gee Sylvester, then shouldn't they have booed both anthems?

Khongor, Nottingham, UK

Psst... Sylvester... The UK invaded Iraq too.

Andrea, Nottingham ,

to sylvester
if you and your kind hate the united states so much, do not come and enjoy the hospitality of our country. i guarantee you i wouldn't come to your country and act so horribly, no matter what my political views.

miltchocklit, san diego, united states

Give it a rest, if PBF wasn't such an objectionable idiot, do you really think there would have been booing at the Star Spangled Banner?

And what was the outfit he was wearing, a play on the St George's flag? The last time he turned up dressed as a Mexican, out of disrespect for his opponent, and you expect English fans to be on their best behaviour. Boorish yes, but it was hardly an international incident.

Andy Coxon, New York, USA

To Irv No one can doubt that the booing of any national anthem is disrespectful. However to streotype British people as 24hour beer drinkers and louts just demonstrates both stupidity and ignorance on your part.

Michael De Souza, London, England

I too was disgusted by the booing, but I feel equally disgusted by the way the Americans posting here seem to think that everyone from Britain is like that. What you have to understand is that Britain, like America, has an underclass of scumbags living here. I say living here because these sort of people only become patriotic over meaningless little sporting events because they are far too unintelligent to appreciate the rich culture and history of our country and are therefore only 'British' by virtue of being lucky enough to be born here.

Please DO NOT tar the rest of us with the same brush. I like America and Americans in general, I have American relatives and nobody I know in this country would ever be so disrespectful in someone else's country. The vast majority of Brits are polite, reserved and pleasant people.

J Roberts, Manchester, UK

Las Vegas got a taste of what cities throughout Europe have had to put up with for years every time the England football team play there. This was as depressing as it was predictable.

Tony, Brighton, England

I would have to agree that the booing of any national anthem is a disgrace and cannot be condoned under any circumstances, and for that i would like to apologise to American citizens - unfortunately the British drunk these days has no respect for anything.
However, before all you decent Americans get too carried away with the injustice of it all, it will soon be time for The Ryder Cup again, and i have no doubt that your top golfers and their groupies will get their own back and some.

colin, london,

Just watching it on TV i wanted to hide under a rock it was so shameful. Ruined my enjoyment of the occasion afterwards. Such a let down to Hatton after he had behaved to well, had done all the interviews and befriended so many Americans. IF there is such as a thing as karma it's no wonder we never win anything. Something is seriously wrong in our country.

Simon, London,

I was at the fight as a boxing fan with great interest in the match. I was looking foward to a good fight, and initially didn't care who won. After seeing nothing but seriously drunk Brits walking around chanting like hoodlums in OUR streets, I definately wanted Mayweather to win - not because I don't like Hatton - but because I was disgusted by the Brits. Then, when those same drunk Brit fans booed our National Anthem - I've never rooted for someone as hard as I rooted for Mayweather.

I have nothing but respect for Hatton, and in the end he was beaten by a clearly superior boxer. But you British should be disgusted by how your fans acted in OUR country. What a complete, classless act by those representing your country. You should be very, very embarrassed. Your "fans" in Las Vegas were nothing but lowlife, loudmouthed, abnoxious, disgusting representatives of YOUR country. It was very nice to see them shut up when Mayweather knocked out Hatton.

Robert, Fort Lauderdale, Florida / USA

The situtation reminded me of my time as a university and graduate student in London. i remembered that we used to hold all kinds of multi-national sporting games from snooker to basketball, and the British students presiding the matches have taunted and disrespected us all the time, yet each year the British teams rarely won any titles. It's almost emblematic with what's happening to the British national teams or individual players whether of football, cricket, tennis or rugby. Each time the British athelets come on along with a robust and over-enthusiastic fans that show no respect to their opponents, and got ruthlessly punished on the real battlefields.

James, Taipei, Taiwan

That was the appropriate reception for the anthem of a country involved in the illegal invasion and occupation of another country.

I am proud of the British fans!

Sylvester, London, UK

Spot on Highbury put more money on training than lager!!
I am English in Johannesburg and got up at 4am to go see the fight what a disgrace the English fans were and what a great boxer and gentleman Floyd Mayweather was.
Lots of courage from Ricky but he lost the plot and Floyd just picked him off at random....great champion and a nice guy too.

Paul Houghton, johannesburg, south africa

If Mayweather was caucasian he be regarded as an hero and everyone knows it. Mayweather is a extremely skilled fighter its crazy to believe for a second a brawler can even stand chance aganist a fighter who got six titles

dinari, richmond, ca

What is it about the former Colonies and their inability to laugh at themselves? I witnessed similar incredulity from the Australians at the Ashes cricket tests last Christmas. They thrashed us 5-0 but couldn't handle the English Barmy Army's (largely harmless) rhetoric. You New Worlders whip us at every sport so why not just laugh it off, let us drown our sorrows and let your performances speak for themselves. After all you are the easy-going straight-shooters and we are the stiff-upper-lip humourless bores, right? Or the have the roles reversed now?

Yada, London,

i am from cheshire but i have lived in las vegas for 12 years and i must say what an embarresment these fans are .americans are very proud of there country and rightly so .it is acts like this that remind me of why i left the uk .whenever brits go abroad in large numbers all they do is get drunk and look for trouble .shame on all of you

mark , las vegas, nevada

I want to say that I am a Mexican American and I was really from the bottom of my heart rooting for Hatten, love him and his heart, but when I heard the booing of the flag, I couldnt really believe my ears. I never realized how much I love my country and our proud history until then. With all my dislike for Floyd, I saw myself taking the side of my country, especially with all the crap we have been going through over seas, I guess its natural, but what ever the case, I am pretty sure it was the booze and vegas and the hype and so on that made them boo, so, i forgive you guys.

Jorge, irvine , ca

As an American living in London I was disgusted by the actions and boos of the Brits at the fight. It was of coursejust what yiou would expect from a bunch of drunken louts....just like at football matches abroad. The British have a well deserved rep for acting up at matches...too bad they can never win at sports they claim to have invented...football, tennes rugby, boxing..as a matter of fact when was the lastr time theBrits won at anything besudes darts ;-0 Put more money into training and less into lager. Anyway Ricky Hatton showed the heart of a lion he was good just not good enough. Ricky, Go train in America like Lennox Lewis did

Highbury Islington, London, UK

As a Brit living in the US I have always enjoyed the US national anthem at the start of major sports events. On the other hand, I don't think I ever had the opportunity to take part in a British one while growing up in the UK. Maybe the British song is too outdated, I don't know.

Bruce, Taipei, Taiwan

I was utterly ashamed when watching the fight the other night. I was glad to see Hutton defeated purely because we did not deserve a win if thats the way our people are going to behave...not to mention abroad! What poor ambassadors for our country.
It is worth mentioning though that in England boxing is most popular amongst a certain demographic, the same you see at Premiership football games. I wonder whether it was their intent to upset their American hosts or just laddish banter. Either way totally unacceptable!

James Palmer, London,