Do we focus on undefeated records too much?

Yes, that's exactly it, Bit.

 

Yes, we do focus on the records nowadays too much. Look at the old guys, Johnson, Dempsey, Fitz, Walcott, Charles etc. Guys that were absolutely brilliant, but with out a gleaming record.

 

Dempsey was unbeaten in his prime, Johnson was unbeaten in his prime outside of the dq against Jeannette and the controversial loss to Hart, and Fitz was unbeaten in his prime, and significantly past it, other than the dubious dq against Sharkey and when he conceded about 40-50Ibs to Jeffries.

 

It is worse today, agreed. However, undefeated records have always been fetishized (which is natural, as it appears immediately impressive) and, in some cases, protected until they absolutely couldn't. For example, there is a reason Kid Chocolate lied about having an undefeated amateur record (good promotion, just like today), and his first loss to Berg (an upset) caused quite the stir (as Chocolate at the time was regarded as unbeatable around his weight). The problem today is simply the competition level of these records more than anything - some guys can, and do, get to 30 - 0 etc. without even facing a stiff national or international opponent. Then they're cashed out in a loss to make a better prospect look good, so it leads to a lot of smoke and mirrors. Meanwhile, guys like Packey McFarland or Ruben Oliavres were getting to 40 - 0 or 60 - 0 whilst beating the best guys at all levels, so their records were rightly promoted as fantastical as, well, they were.

 

But neither JD or JJ were unbeaten when they hit the jack pot and got the title.
That's the point I was making, that some focus on the champ being unbeaten. Especially on here it's the Marciano affect. And now Mayweather.
The guys I mentioned, Dempsey, Johnson, Walcott, Charles, they all had imperfect records at the time of becoming champ but aren't seen as any less for that?

 

The casual fans like undefeated records, or long winning streaks of knock-outs, etc.
That's how managers and promoters build fighters into a massive attraction and create an illusion that there's no one around to beat them.
Usually there's always someone around who can beat someone else, very few fighters are actually unbeatable, even in their primes.
Although we talk as if they almost are.

 

Absolutely yes its focused on too much