Colin Kaepernick Booed At Andre Ward Oracle Arena Fight

Jan 31, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors award ceremony at Symphony Hall. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Colin Kaepernick is viewed one of two ways in the Bay Area depending on what side of the Bridge your sports allegiances fall on. For those who cheer for the San Francisco 49ers (of Santa Clara), Kaepernick is a star even if the 2014 season was a disappointment that included a loss to the Bay Area rivals in the Oakland Raiders.

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However in Oakland it is well known that Kaepernick doesn’t quite have the respect of ‘The Town’ like he has the respect of those who reside in San Francisco. Something that was on display during the 2014 season when the Black Hole rudely welcomed the quarterback to Oakland during the Raiders memorable late season win that involved plenty of trash talk and plenty of choice words for the 49ers quarterback.

Those feelings towards Kaepernick from sports fans in Oakland were on display on Saturday night as Oracle Arena played host to a Premier Boxing Championship card that featured the main event of Bay Area native Andre Ward (who fights out of Oakland) going up against Paul Smith of Liverpool. The event brought out Kaepernick and Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry, who was walking Ward to the ring. Curry getting his typical warm reception at the Oracle while Kaepernick got a reaction that felt more at place at the Coliseum than at a boxing event that was supposed to have a Bay Area vibe.

According to San Francisco Chronicle boxing (and Raiders) reporter Vic Tafur, Kaepernick received some boos at Oracle Arena on Saturday night. A rude welcoming with those from Oakland not passing up the opportunity to let Kaepernick know where he was at.

This is pretty standard, in Oakland there is never any love for the 49ers and particularly Kaepernick who has earned his fair share of hate from the Raider Nation. Appearing at the Oracle Arena during the offseason may have looked like a potential neutral situation, but that was not the case with Kaepernick’s Saturday night at the fights getting ruined by a chorus of boos that didn’t go unnoticed.

Editor’s Note: This article has been edited to reflect the fact that Andre Ward’s birthplace was San Francisco and that he fights out of Oakland.