What does it really mean? Is it more meaningful than winning a 12 round war if it was just a flash KD in a fight you mostly dominated Or a fight where you slipped up against a guy you were supposed to blow away Ali and Holyfield vs Cooper? Does it really mean more than Ali vs Frazier 3? Or Holyfield vs Bowe 2?? Who faced more adversity here... Ali or Holyfield vs the Coopers.... Or Tyson vs Ruddock. Lewis vs Mercer The only time i ever saw JCC knocked down was when he lost vs Randall... is the Taylor fight not a better gauge of his resilience?
It depends on the situation, really. Ali and Frazier showed just as much heart in The Fight of the Century as in Thrilla in Manilla, but with an extra knockdown on Ali's part. I wouldn't say one is better than the other due to the knock down. Getting up from the floor and winning shows guts, toughness, heart and a will to win, but that doesn't necessarily mean that getting beaten half to death, and then coming back to win without going down isn't as good of an example. It just so happened that Ali was floored in the first fight. I think getting off the floor to win is just a clearer and more obvious indication of those qualities, since it indicates brushing off a moment of clear vulnerability to attain victory when there seems to be no hope, and as a result, it just looks and feels better, but it's not necessarily superior or inferior. As far as flash KD's go, then I wouldn't say they matter too much, since the fighter isn't really hurt and can easily get up without too much trouble.
It's not a meaningless statistic. When the likes of Holmes (Shavers fight) or Fury (Wilder fights) are down and seemingly out, yet rise and compose themselves enough to weather the storm and win the bout, it tells you a lot about what kind of a champion they are. Though there is more than one way to show heart and grit, getting off the canvas to win certainly inspires confidence that the fighter can go through hell. It's a good test of professionalism, at the very least.
I never understood the obsession with it. If you get knocked down and get up, wonderful. Floyd Patterson is a great example. But what about guys who were too strong to knock down. Am I supposed to be more impressed by a guy who gets knocked down, takes his time and gets up at the very last second to have a short break vs a guy with an iron chin absolutely refusing to go down? I’ve always been impressed by Larry Holmes surviving the Louis XVI treatment from Ernie shavers, I’ve also always been impressed by Ali in steep decline taking those same shots and never going down.
I didn't realize this was a statistic... But like any game in any sport, rallying back is a great storyline.
Fighters who get up off the canvas to win shouldn't feel proud about the fact they got up and went on to win They should feel thoroughly ashamed and disgusted with themselves for getting dropped in the first place And they should apologize profusely to their fans for getting dropped and promise to do everything within their power to ensure it never happens ever again
You've put me down embarrassed me in front of all these people, I'm gonna hurt you badly - Tyson Fury