Has a world level fighter ever gone into a fight thinking they'd lose?

Let's discount shot fighters. Danny Williams wasn't even really a world level operator during his peak years.

 

I totally agree that he wasnt getting school by Ray as some make it out. But he didnt train (said so in his book anyway), and had to lose a huge amount of weight in the days leading up to it.

I'm probably being a little unfair. Duran is my favourite fighter of all time, but i dont think he fancied it that night

 

Spinks in the Tyson fight. That wasn't even thinking. He knew he'd lose.

 

I see where you're coming from,but I don't think Duran ever went into a fight thinking he wouldn't find a way.

 

It looks less ugly on this display. Personal preference.

Have any input in regards to the thread question, C?

 

if you include fighters way past their primes that knew they would lose the list could be long.

 

the klit lickers will tell you a peak dany williams is better than a peak george foreman

 

Yeah, Duran almost certainly did train ahead of the fight. Fighters, especially the great ones, always conjure up some reasoning for their shortcomings. Duran has probably convinced himself that he didn't train, but I find that incredibly hard to believe considering how much he hated Ray and how important the fight was on the grandscale. Could he have trained better? Perhaps, but that isn't the same as not training at all.

 

no!

 

I'm a big Marquez fan but, watching the 24/7 with Mayweather, I really didn't think he or Nacho thought they could do it. you can see the twinkle in his eye for the Pac fight tho.

 

Lacy wasnt looking too sure about himself just before the fight, i dont recall Calzaghe being afraid of Lacy beforehand.

 

No, I don't think so, if we are ignoring shot fighters. All boxers need self belief and the guys who become world class are all mentally strong. You could ask any welterweight in the world whether Wlad would knock them out and not one would openly admit that, I don't think. Some might laugh it off, some might not answer but I don't think you'd get a single one admitting they'd have no chance. Boxing fans would call them "deluded", and it is, but boxers need to be deluded sometimes. If fighters like Mayweather was realistic about his abilities, I don't think he would be the fighter he is.

I think the sport relies too much on mental strength for fighters to doubt themselves. Journeyman or lower level fighters do, yes, but elite fighters all have arrogance.

 

Floyd Patterson vs Sonny liston. Poor fella was shitting himself beforehand, as ive ead in David remnicks book. He even had his glasses and beard disguise ready so that he could leave town without anyone knowing.

 

I agree with you, Jack.

I think if Cristian Mijares was fighting Donaire tomorrow, he'd genuinely think he was going to win the fight. Perhaps even comfortably.

 

mosley vs manny