Elite fighters getting beat up or KO'd by sparring partners big deal or not?

No elite level fighter should be getting their ass kicked in sparring regardless of who they were in with.
Could have just been an off day though.

One of the better known ones is apparently Erislandy Lara gave Ricky Hatton a bit of a beating in sparring before the Pacman fight, however seeing what Lara has gone on to do and how we now know Hatton was pretty much at the end of the road it doesn't seem such a big deal.
It's all got to be taken in context.

 

I think some fighters will be better sparrers than they are actual fighters in the ring and vice versa.

Dirrell is a good example. I think he's the quickest boxer in the sport right now. And also an incredible boxer from range. And i could see him beating dawson in sparing.

But then stick smaller gloves on and no head gear, and put them out in the light and Dawson would more than likely beat dirrell.

 

It's not a big deal, but when the fighter who got beat up then boots the other guy out of his gym and steals from him, that's a big deal.

 

If I was a boxer, i'd rather get my arse kicked in sparring rather than in an actual fight. Sparring is all about trying things out, getting sharp, and learning from your mistakes. So it wouldnt bother me, so long as i learned what i did wrong, and kicked his arse a week later

 

Not such a big deal.
A lot depends on the type of fighter, the mindset and the circumstances.
Also the already mentioned headgear and bigger gloves make a huge difference, like gunshy and glass real life fighters who suddenly get brave when they're wearing extra protection.

 

I don't think it's a good thing at all, unless your practicing "getting beat up."

You should be able to work on whatever you prefer with your sparring partner; he definitely should not be able to get his way with you in sparring.

 

in SRL book he mentions his sparring partners getting the better of him in the first week or so at the beginning of a training camp

 

Then what happened here? :yep

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKU9PzLwEIM[/ame]