Mexican national anthem at the fight

[Govie]

Originally Posted by nyctc7

It was right before the main event, Mayweather and Pacquiao. Mexican anthem, then Phillipines, then USA. The ring announcer said it was to commemorate upcoming Cinco de Mayo, but that really doesn't explain to me why they did it. They don't play the Irish national anthem at a US sporting event if it's St Patrick's day.

One person suggested it was because Tecate beer was a big sponsor and the fight was being widely shown for free in Mexico. But I've never heard of a national anthem being played because a sponsor demanded it.

That's insane.


To be honest I'd like to opine on it but the tone of my posts would get radically political (since it is political in nature why they would have played that anthem to begin with).

[UniveseQuality]

it's like they are somehow trying to give the mexico credit for the mayweather (american) and pacquiao (filipino) fight. It doesn't even make sense. It's actually disrespectful not only to mayweather and pacquiao but to other hispanics. When was the last time you heard of other hispanic nationalities' independence days being mentioned by Americans in the US?

[Taiko]

Originally Posted by UniveseQuality

it's like they are somehow trying to give the mexico credit for the mayweather (american) and pacquiao (filipino) fight. It doesn't even make sense. It's actually disrespectful not only to mayweather and pacquiao but to other hispanics. When was the last time you heard of other hispanic nationalities' independence days being mentioned by Americans in the US?

Cinco de Mayo is not even the Mexican Independence Day. It would be like commemorating the Battle of Bunker Hill, or seeing it as a drinking "holiday" St Patrick's Day, at a third nation's sporting event

[samyn on the green]

The reason for the Mexican Anthem is three-fold

1. The fight was sponsored by the Mexican Tourist Ministry
2. The Fight was scheduled on Cinco de Mayo when many Mexican Amerians enjoy a holiday in Las Vegas
3. Per Capita Mexican Americans are the number one consumer of boxing programming

The Mexican-Americans are not like the other ethnic groups that struggle to think independently of television media - Mexicans enjoy activities things like boxing and handball. The anthem was a way to pander to them and ensure that they purchase future PPV boxing events.