Random question...but I've been wondering about this because of the Ring "Best I Ever Fought" installations, where fighters routinely talk about fights they had 30-40-50 years ago, and in some instances compare them to fights they had more than a decade later. Based on what we know about the limits of human memory, it would seem that even what fighters themselves remember about their own fights and opponents would in many instances be eventually end up reflecting after-the-fact discussions rather than their actual distinctive memories of specific evenings 40 years ago. I'd bet that in many instances, fighters come to hold false or extremely vague memories about some of their fights. Has anyone heard anything suggesting that older fighters rewatch their old fights decades later, or on a regular basis?
My dad used to from time to time. It was great watching with him and listening to his memories of them.
I've wondered about this myself. Maybe years down the line some of em think ..ahh let's stick a few fights on and see how good I really was ! But only the good fight s of course lol .Not sure Ricky Hatton keeps playing his fight with Pac Man over and over ...
I think you're probably right, that's just human nature. I said to me dad once that the Olivares fight just doesn't seem to exist. He said with a smile on his face "Let's hope it f...... stays like that"
I’d imagine most do. I spoke to Oscar Muniz a few years ago and he watched his win over Chandler often. I remember seeing an interview with Matthew Saad Muhammad on a TV show around 2011 and they were showing him footage of fights like the Lopez re-match and he said it was his first time watching in like 20 years. So I’d imagine most do but I’m sure there’s a few who’ve watched their own fights for less than their fans do.
I talked to a former boxer who fought a lot of the big names at 175 in the late 70s/early 80s a week ago. He could barely even remember their names but spoke very highly of John Conteh.
Jerry Quarry, unfortunately watched a lot of his old fights at the end of his life. When asked about his boxing career, he said "he would change nothing".
Fergy, a little birdy told me that you fell asleep last night listening to Steve Lott’s interview with Tris Dixon for the 8th time !
You should write a book or publish an article in a magazine or something...I would love to hear some of the stories you could share.
I have been thinking about doing a biography and have been interviewing people from the day and getting my thoughts and anecdotes down on paper.
