MMA VS Boxing How important is the 0

Maintaining the 0 is only important to certain boxers. The ones who's ability inside the ring does not match the public's perception outside of it.

You can have losses in boxing and still make millions.

Pac, Cotto, Marquez, Hopkins, etc etc etc

 

Yep, boxing and its fans, promoters are obsessed with perfection in a sport more about flaws than it is about anything else.

I think it's still important in MMA, but its over-appreciated in boxing.

 

Boxing has become ridiculous in the fact that a person has to maintain a perfect record in order to not be labelled a can.

 

No doubt that the 0 means more in boxing. It's embarassing to be honest. It's like Arsenal beating Sunday League teams and being happy about that.

All these guys who lose their 0 only seem to get better from it i.e. Khan and Haye. It makes them assess their game and improve.

 

It's not just the fault of the boxers, alot of the old school promoters still believe it's easier to sell two undefeated fighters for a superfight than if one has a loss on the record, and we as boxing fans must also accept some of the blame because ultimately we buy into it.

It's actually quite amazing considering if you look at the top 10 best selling boxing PPV's, the list only features 1 fight between 2 undefeated boxers: De La Hoya v Trinidad!

It's a mindset thats so ingrained in our brains that it will take alot of work to undo. It's just easier to say they both are undefeated, so they must be the best if nobody can defeat them.

Two undefeated boxers facing off in their prime, knowing they really are the two best used to be an occasional luxury (Ali v Frazier I, Leonard v Hearns I, Chavez v Taylor, Tyson v Spinks, Mayweather v Hatton), but now the undefeated record just raises questions.

 

Well, a good undefeated run in MMA is a surefire way to get into one of the big promotions. Get a record like 10-0 or 12-0 in the smaller shows and you will get a call. So from that perspective keeping the zero can be good for a fighter's career early on.

It's fairly meaningless in the long run though, as everyone loses fights in MMA. Even Fedor these days.

 

Only in boxing is there this stupid emphasis on being undefeated. This is what allowed fighters like Hatton and Calzaghe to build careers picking and choosing their opponents with the most reward for themselves and giving little back to the fans. Fans and promoters alike are equally as bad.
In MMA the undefeated tag is pretty irrelevant. Couture Coleman and Randleman all have close to .500 ledgers and they've all done very well out of MMA. Primarily because they're always in good fights.

 

To me winning is not as important as just getting in the ring and enjoying the punch action. Professional boxers have to worry about their win/loss ratio but since I only do white collar boxing it doesn't matter all that much. I'd rather lose and take a few good punches then have to worry about any spectators not liking my performance.

 

I think there is a bit of confusion here.

Because boxing is a bit more limited in "weapons" and lower level competition is generally weaker, if you are a solid competitor, you SHOULD be able to keep your 0 longer or go on a streak after your initial stumbles. After your talent is recognized no fighter is protecting his 0 because all of these guys are that good. They are more protecting the $. Almost no elite level Boxer has an 0.

MMA is a different animal all together. There are such a vast array of weapons and schools that it is far more likely that a guy can just run into something where, although being the better fighter, he is just not prepared. Ace striker versus a wrestler. Ace wrestler versus a BJJ guy. Losing is a hole in the fighter's game.

I think the fans of each sport recognize it.

 

The 0 means a lot less in MMA. Someone always has your number, it's nigh impossible to keep your zero, knowing you have to be at 100%, one mistake and it could be over. Make a mistake on the ground; submission, try to finish the fight too forcefully; submission, throw a wild punch and get countered; knocked out, can't get the fighter off you; decisioned. There's just so many ways you can be upset.

 

generally loosing in boxing takes more out of you body, than losing in MMA.
its just different sports.

 

Good post.

 

:think