A few notes on boxing and race...
I agree that national loyalties play a large role, more significant than race. Was watching Oquendo vs Castillo last night, and there was alot of animosity between the Puerto Rican and Cuban factions. I don't think that those who favored Oquendo did so because he was lighter-skinned than Castillo, or vice versa. It was all about national pride.
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As an American, I'm subject to regional bias. I might favor a fighter who's from Philly or New Jersey. For example, I'm pulling for B-Hop over Winky tonight. But alot depends on a fighter's style, talent, and showmanship, as well as anything I know about him personally.
But none of this is really about race.
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Back in the day, as you guys know, racial identity was a big part of boxing. Max Baer wore the star of David on his trunks, tho he was only half Jewish. But for fans, it helped link him with the tradition of Jewish fighters like Benny Leonard and Lew Tendler.
Then there's Schmeling vs Baer, billed as a great struggle between the Nazis and Jews. But Schmeling was a half-hearted poster-boy for the Nazis, at best. His manager, afterall, was Jewish. But it made great press and sold lots of tickets. And when Schmeling fought Louis, the Nazis certainly played up the idea of their Aryan hero vs a black fighter.
The last time I remember race being a big factor was when Cooney fought Holmes. That was bad. And the two men, as far as I can tell, had no animosity toward each other, but the race angle was big with the crowd, and Cooney was billed as a "great white hope". But after Holmes put him down, I think that ended alot of it.
I think it's impossible to take the race issue completely out of boxing, because it's always been a part of the American social landscape. True boxing fans, however, aren't interested in seeing a black guy beat up a white guy, or a Spanish guy beat up an Asian guy. We want to see talent, skill, power, and action.
