No, outside of boxing they are not highly respected.
Boxing still has the smell of corruption and the mafia connections that harmed it before the early 1960's.
Although boxing is relatively clean today, many outside the sport do not think highly of it.
Boxing is also criticized for the fact the fighters are pounding each other and the objective is to render your opponent unconscious.
Only the very popular ones which today there is only a few.
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr-America and top p4p boxer
2. Manny Pacquiao Pride of the philipinnes and has broken records
3. Saul Alvarez-The future of boxing and Mexico's most popular fighter who has a bright future
4. Miguel Cotto one of Puerto Rico's best fighters p4p. Trying to make history by attempting to become Puerto Rico's first 4 division world champion
5. Marcos Maidana and Sergio Martinez - Giving Argentina another chapter of rich boxing history by upsets and being underdogs.
6. Juan Manuel Marquez- One of Mexico's best and most accomplished technically skilled boxers. Still trying to add to his legacy by becoming a 5 division world champion
7. Klitschko's 2 Olympic medalist who have dominated the game for over 10 years and not only admired in Ukraine but all of Eastern Europe.
The best athletes of a popular sport are always respected but I guess boxing gets an extra nudge because they're athletes who have to try to knock each other out, not simply athletes who shoot a ball in a hoop or goal.
Boxing also has a very long history and tradition, much older than most other sports.
When you're within arms reach, certainly.
No they are not respected, most people look at them as rock em' sock em' robots. That's not good at all, I respect boxers.
It seems to me that when a good boxer is produced they become the pride of thier country they get the women the money the respect its just badass
