21st Century Fighters - Is It Just Me...

They just don't make them like they used to.

Haha

 

Part of the problem is that they can.

The old timers were lucky if they got to retire when they were an empty shell taking progresively worse beatings for the raw end of progresivley smaller purses.

I don't think that a fighter being broken psychologicaly after a major loss which came close to their aparent peak is anything new. What is new is fighters retiring after such a loss while aparently at the top of their game.

The recent events you mention have given me a renewed apreciation of old time fighters and indeed some newer ones.

How the hell did Jersey Joe Walcott and Chalky Wright keep coming back and giving it 110% after all those setbacks?

How might history have been diferent if Joe Louis had never recovered psychologicaly from the horific beating he took at the hands of Max Schmeling?

Even some fighters who are not exactly renowned for their mental strength on this board like Mike Tyson came back from horendous losses to dominate top teir opponents.

 

I'm not enjoying the recent trend of quitting on the stool. I don't have a problem with Miguel Cotto succumbing while in a moment of intense pressure whilst already severely injured and shipping punishment, I actually think he was heroic to last so long, but instances like Sam Peter against Vitali are becoming too frequent for my liking. If you don't think you can win, why not just earn your money and thrill the fans by going hell for leather for a KO win, and then if you get dropped on your pants, take the count? I very much hope I don't sound like a bloodthirsty sadist, I am nothing of the sort, but am I the only one who feels a little cheated when a guy decides to tamely surrender on his stool and not at least have a ****ing go for a KO first??

 

I try not to be too critical from my armchair of a man taking punches from a world class fighter.

For my part if a fighter is taking a beating and has no realistic prospect of winning I don't have a problem if he wants to quit on his stool.

 

I see your point. I've never felt that kind of pain.

On the other hand, I don't get paid hundreds of thousands or even millions in my job.

I suppose I am wrong in all seriousness. Safety is the most important thing. There is so much more to admire in the going-out-on-your-shield mentality though. I guess not everyone should be expected to show that kind of bravery/stupidity, and we should merely appreciate those that do and not judge those that don't.

 

It could be that they simply have more options to do something less difficult in their lives than old-time fighters. In terms of normal 9-5 jobs that is.

 

To be frank, I agree with you entirely.

This was a big fight. A big fight. You have millions of fans back home, and you carry their dreams on your shoulders. You're getting paid millions.

I could understand if this was a relatively meaningless 4 or 6 rounder, where you're out of the spotlight and still learning. I still wouldn't advocate it, but to me that's more understandable.

Peter was shipping some punishment, but he was never in serious trouble. He hadn't been down, seriously wobbled or anything like that. To me it seemed an easy way to make a few million to be honest...and I do understand that this is a very, very difficult profession and a painful one oftentimes.

Nevertheless, considering what was at stake and the money involved, not to mention personal pride, Peter took the coward's way out.
Fighters in the lower weight classes sometimes half kill each other for a fraction of what he got financially.
It's also a slap in the face of all the fighters who fought tooth and nail to the bitter end just for the glory of being called champ the next day. Or to prove a point, like Tex Cobb did.

 

This articulates my feelings on the subject a little better than I did. :good

 

I remember people railing against Kostya when he stopped on his stool. Then we find out he had bleeding on the brain.

I'm fine if a champion knows when it's time to stop. They know far more of the sport than us internet enthusiasts.

 

The old timers were bound to lose fights.

Hell, fighting 2x or 3x a month, a loss could be expected.

Nowadays there is so much emphasis on that golden 0. That seems to make or break a fighter.

 

the **** is Donaire doing in that list? Doesn't fit in at all. All those other guys you are talking about how they failed to bounce back from a loss, and then you throw in donaire and his win of Darchinyan for no reason?

:wtf

 

i agree, in fact i thought McLellan was brave taking a knee against Benn because when he did it the first time people were shouting at him to get up and he did but second time he stood up to people for his own safety, just sad he didnt do it earlier

but from taking punches myself i know you have pride and you want to win no matter what. Eevn from speaking to journymen they have pride also and would never quit.

Boxers now quit abit too early as they are lazy now, they dont need to risk there life now there probably set up for life now.

 

I think Sam Peter got paid too much for his fight against Vitali. I remember he was paid much more than he probably should have been although I don't remember the sum.

He likely thought it was better to go home and enjoy the money than actually give it a 100 % effort. He got out of shape and looked terrible against Chambers. There are rumours that he is down to 240 lbs now but I'm not sure if I believe them.

 

Are we talking about quiting on the stool or retiring? Fighters retire early because boxing pays handsomely and getting well paid fights isnt always easy once you lose. Fighters quit on their stool or mid fight because they go 20-0 against tomato cans and get the shock of their life when they're in a real fight. They neither know how to defend themselves or take the pain.