That goes a long way, especially in the old days when fighters often fought at least once a month. But often fighters just fight through it.
James Braddock went 11-20-2 over a period due in large part to frequent reinjuries to his right hand after breaking it in his loss to Tommy Loughran. Probably a lot of other good fighters never had the bounce-back that Braddock did and thus we don’t know about them and their career downturns owing to injuries, especially hand problems. Then there are the bleeders, guys who could have been champions or stayed champions longer if not for having a propensity for getting cut. Genetics plays a part in success or lack thereof, no doubt, as does (in some cases) dumb luck (especially concerning injuries).
I do find it interesting that you never ever ever see professional athletes sneeze during games, or seem to have colds at any point.
I don't believe in excuses, excuses are like everybody's behind, everyone has one. Either you are properly prepared or your not. If not, reschedule your fight. Some of my favorite fighters have lost but I never make excuses for them. The other guy was the best fighter in that win.
It’s kind of funny (ironic) the number of excuses made for Duran for the second Leonard fight (when he quit without being debilitated, without being hurt, with no real reason in a fight where he was only narrowly behind) especially centered around his weight loss … but Leonard had to go running on the morning of the day-of-fight weigh-in to make weight.
Duran lost fair and square, he did not train for the fight, entered overconfident, his own fault, Leonard was prepared, he was the better fighter that night.
You've just proved my point lol. MJ is sick once in his entire career and it's such a rare occurrence that it's become it's own saga in basketball history. Like at least 1% of all sports interviews should just be people sniffling but you never seem to see it.
Believing your favourite fighters or athletes excuses is great. Believing your own personal excuses is the ultimate, you just have to keep saying them till you forget what really happened. That’s why smarter people are sometimes plagued more by anxiety or depression, they are to smart to believe their own excuses.
I just watched Billy Irwin vs Diaz. The kid (bill) said after that he had a cold a week before the fight that made him not feel strong. I was waiting WAITING for ring side interviewer teddy atlas to rip him a new one! To much of my surprise, teddy stayed classy! Good sportsmanship is nice to see. Btw someone once said "teddy sounds like he has a speech impediment that makes him only to be able to answer questions with deep metaphors" lol that had me dying, in laughter lol. But I'll tell you this, on the Juan diaz- Irwin telecast was Roger Clemens, and some of that goofy teddy stuff oozed out of his mouth, lol he asked: "they say 75% of this business is mental and 25% physical. What about in your sport baseball? Is it 75 % mental and 25% mental? How much of your sport is mental? And is it mental in baseball?" He asked. With some of that atlas speech impediment haha. Then later on the broadcast, a sad sad I terview knowing chico was gone (rip) with Diego Corrales who was one of the champions at lightweight. His last words on Juan diaz: "I wouldn't fight him like that-" conservatively he meant. God bless you chico.
I almost always believe what a fighter says. If he says there was something wrong with him, I tend to believe him. But it doesn't have to mean what he says it means. It's an inherently risky business and whatever he has to tell himself to get himself back in that ring, prevent the ego death, fair enough. But most fighters get in the ring with some sort of conern, a bad night's sleep, a tough camp for weight-making, a sore back. Harold Johnson claims a sore back for his first fight with Archie Moore and I believe him. It's helped becaue he produces no alibi for his second fight with Moore - why would he lie about the first one but not the second one? Fighters very rarely outright lie IMO.
I’m more likely to believe the updated, revised excuse they give at least 20 years into retirement. Why? Because I firmly believe (and it’s not just boxing) that honesty tends to emerge more easily when it doesn’t matter anymore and has little consequence. When there’s no more money at stake, and no more fights or promotions to line up and therefore no pressure from promoters and managers,I’m more inclined to believe there was a hand injury etc
I remember seeing film clips of Duran training for that fight and even the reporter remarked that Duran seemed disinterested and listless sloppily hitting the speed bag. Later Arcel said he tried to get the fight postponed because he knew Duran was a mess but was told Duran would be stripped of the title and his manager thought, well if he loses we'll get more money in a 3rd fight. Like many of the losses Duran had only himself to blame.