Credit to Rees and Lockett

[BlackBrenny]

Originally Posted by ElCep

So it's brave for a boxer to "do their best?"

I would say that's the least that should be expected.

It's a weak and defeatist mentality that celebrates people not totally capitulating and running all night.

Rees was over-matched but did his job and didn't embarrass himself. All this fawning over him is cringeworthy and embarrassing. He got paid, he doesn't need the sentimentalism displayed here.

Arthur Abraham fighting on with his jaw hanging off was brave.

No, but Rees was disrespected so much in the buildup, THAT is what was embarrassing, like Eddie Hearn said, it was bordering on abuse, many, MANY American fight fans went from "who the fuck is Gavin Rees? some Eurobum?" to "hey that Gavin Rees is one tough little motherfucker isn't he?"

[RICKY BALBOA]

Originally Posted by Jack

I have a feeling that when the tide of hyperbole swoops over the forum, one thing which will get lost is how brave Rees was. He lost, yeah, but he really went up in my estimation tonight. He took some good shots but came back firing. Sadly, he was just not powerful enough, I don't think, but he definitely didn't discredit himself. All a fighter can do, is try his best and Rees did that, so I have nothing but admiration for him. He fought like a warrior and did himself proud.

Lightweight is an open division and I think Rees could win a world title elsewhere. Hopefully he has a small break and when he comes back, he's aiming for another world title shot. It'll be tough but he can definitely get another chance at a world belt.

Credit to Lockett too. He's shown himself to be a very good trainer recently and I was impressed with him here. I thought he did the right thing by telling Rees he was thinking about stopping the fight, and I thought he was right to call it off when he did. Fair play to him.

I wanted Rees to win, so I'm disappointed with the result, but I'm a bigger Rees fan now, than I was before. He's a credit to British boxing.

[nick6]

Originally Posted by ElCep

So it's brave for a boxer to "do their best?"

I would say that's the least that should be expected.

It's a weak and defeatist mentality that celebrates people not totally capitulating and running all night.

Rees was over-matched but did his job and didn't embarrass himself. All this fawning over him is cringeworthy and embarrassing. He got paid, he doesn't need the sentimentalism displayed here.

Arthur Abraham fighting on with his jaw hanging off was brave.

Its easy to sit there and say that from the comfort of your home, its a bit different when your the one in the ring taking a beating.

[Olu G. Rotimi]

This is not a worthy debate frankly. Rees was brave yes but then so are all fighters. I cannot say that he was braver than other fighters out there. Also these comments are not to discredit him or trainer Gary Lockett either. What I would say is that there was no real conceivable way for Rees to win this fight nor did I see a strategy they were employing to win other than to come in and swing away. This was a stay busy fight for Broner who really is a problem for his opponents. I think he has some weaknesses though but want to see how he does with higher calibre opponents. Lets see him in there with Brandon Rios and the winner of the unification fight with the world champion lad from Scotland so we can settle who is the best at 135 before he moves up to 140. I suspect Frank ****** is not keen to make this match though.

[BoxingAnalyst]

Originally Posted by ElCep

I give them little of no extra credit at all.

British underdogs are probably the least gutsy in the world.

I remember Locket's totally feeble "fight" against Pavlik, didn't even try, even if you know you are going to lose, at least show some balls and heart.

Then Jennings against Cotto, give it a little go, got praised to the high heavens for being "brave" etc.

Same thing last night. Rees did okay, didn't embarrass himself but the idea that he did anything brave or courageous beyond what is actually needed to step into the ring, is a fallacy.

You sir, are an absolute bell end.

[BoxingAnalyst]

Thought Rees did ok, he's one tough little bastard, Broner looked 3 weight classes above him.

[AndyPaterson]

Originally Posted by BoxingAnalyst

Thought Rees did ok, he's one tough little bastard, Broner looked 3 weight classes above him.

funnily enough they both entered the ring as light middleweights.

[BoxingAnalyst]

Originally Posted by AndyPaterson

funnily enough they both entered the ring as light middleweights.

Rees came In at 154? I find that hard to believe, Broner is huge compared to Rees.