Does having religious faith give you an edge in boxing?

ask Salita

 

Exactly! Surely it's got more important things to be worrying about?

 

I respect people and them wanting to believe in a higher power, but when I hear athletes thanking god and acting all religious it just comes off wrong. First of all, 95% of athletes are ****ed up individuals. Why people still get surprised when an athlete is found cheating on their wife, hitting their baby mama, or any of the other ****ed up **** they do I'll never know. Most of these guys go against what most religions preach. These guys make **** loads of money, do shady things out the public eye, and aren't good individuals unless the camera is on them and they want attention. If you believe in God, do you honestly think he wants you in a ring bashing someones brains in for millions of dollars. Really?

 

Religious faith has given Robert Guererro the edge in winning and losing

 

Depends on the person. Some people find confidence through it and some don't. A fighter would pretty much use any psychological advantage he could find and if religion is a quick free source then why not?

 

Good question but that's not the point of this at all. Religion can give certain fighters confidence or some psychological advantage. It might sound ridiculous but it really does.

 

I can see that. It's human nature to believe in a higher power and believing that your talent may be a gift from God. My thing is, if you really are that religious how could you honestly believe that God wants you in the ring bashing another mans face in?

 

Having belief in God can make a fighter have added courage and confidence knowing there is a greater transcendental power they answer to over being afraid of their opponent. Praying to God, makes them feel tranquil and can calm the nerves and knowing that this greater power is looking out for you can keep you enduring the hardships throughout the fight. It also inspires the fighter and makes him put effort and dedication when his physical 'rational' capacities tell him to stop.

An atheist on the other hand when in a tough situation will probably want to spare his ass to live another day as this life as all that has meaning to him. Also when the 'rational' faculties are floundering in the midst of the fight they will have little to counteract it. Ofcourse the atheist can substitute this belief in God with some other illusory ideas or principles to fight for but I doubt it can be as effective.

This is what can give a staunch believer an added edge. It doesnt mean that an atheist can ever beat a religious dude in a fight because they are many contingencies involved, namely the abilities of the fighter. Ofcourse you are free to believe that this a delusion on the part of the believer if you want...

My two cents..

 

Here we go....... atsch

 

Wow. A little overboard don't you think?

 

I edited it to keep it more balanced:thumbsup

 

Like Sugar Ray Robinson responded to a reporter asking if it helped crossing himself before the opening bell.

"Only if you can fight"

 

They are pretty sure. Like, 95% or something.

 

Fair enough. But saying an atheist's life is the only thing that has meaning to him is silly. Oscar Delahoya and Buster Douglas were motivated by the death and love they had for their mothers. It was a promise they made to an actual person, not a higher power. I think a lot of up and coming fighters are motivated by their families and the fact that this is one of the few ways they can make a decent living with the abilities they have. Again, if your truly religious and practice what you preach then boxing is not a sport you should ever consider being in. It goes against everything religion promotes.

 

Manny Pacquiao doing the prayer act upon instruction of the HBO crew after stopping Hatton.