I hear this from time to time on the forum -- when, for instance, Marvin Hagler's attitude toward Leonard or Frazier's attitude toward Ali comes up. Larry Holmes' general bitterness also gets this reaction from time to time. I'm not sure that I agree. For us, this is a small piece of boxing history. For them, though, it was a vital piece of the most important part of their lives. Thoughts?
Hagler - Hearns was scheduled for 1982 - happened in 1985. Duran - Benitez was discussed in 1977 - happened in 1982. Tyson - Holyfield was discussed as soon as Holyfield moved into the heavyweight division - happened in 1996. So, the waiting for Pac-Floyd is not that long!
I think Marvin Hagler actually did a very good job of "moving on". He was living in Italy and starring in crappy Italian action films within a year or two of his fighting career. He'd gone through a break up and divorce in the meantime. He thought he was robbed in the Leonard fight in 1987. Thought that then, and still thinks that now. That's perfectly normal. Larry Holmes doesn't strike me as a bitter man at all. He might pretend to be. But he just likes talking about his boxing career and blowing his own trumpet. All that "I had to pay my dues over and over, and still no one gave me credit" stuff is just his angle to talk about his career. He likes to talk a lot. He's immensely proud of his achievements. I don't think he's genuinely bitter at all. He doesn't seem it. People recognize him wherever he goes. he's happy as Larry !
Boxer's bitterness generally shows their lack of guile to have any success post-boxing. Holmes actually did pretty well post retirement though, Frazier didn't and I think that's a big part of his bitterness. It's also about big egos being bruised. I suppose we're all bitter about a few things in our lives whether in our careers or maybe past relationships or friends who screwed us over.
I think some of us mere mortals struggle to understand just how much a "loss", for example, like the one MMH suffered against SRL means to MMH...losing a fight like that, in the circumstances he did, probably eats away at the very core of his being on a lot of levels - the perceived injustice, in front of the whole world, should not be under-estimated to a proud individual like Marvin. The fight with SRL was something he craved for years, he was teased by SRL in '82 ("...but unfortunately, it'll never happen"). When it finally happens, SRL gets a contentious decision, where MMH honestly believes that SRL didn't "take" his title...then doesn't give him a rematch...that's got to hurt. I find this example similar to when Connors lost to Borg at Wimbledon and came out with the (in)famous "I'll follow that SOB Borg to the ends of the Earth...everywhere he turns, he'll see my shadow". Connors got the opportunity at the US Open weeks later...and beat Borg...MMH didn't get that opportunity. Similarly, the abuse heaped on Smoke by Ali where it affected his kids at school etc...then, to add insult to injury, Smoke sees decades of praise heaped on Ali where Joe just suffers in silence. These men are proud, proud champions, not like the average guy on the street. When assessing them and saying they should "just get over it", I think it's really not as simple as that. I think it's difficult to put ourselves in their shoes and understand how these losses/injustices rankle with these guys. I've chosen the above as examples, but there are plenty of others.
**** Ali, **** Leonard and **** Floyd, there is no thing as forgive and forget. These guys have huge ego's and try to 'win'at all costs , (which is fine by me in the ring) but they figure that if they cannot win in the ring than they can win outside the ring but bringing the other guy down by any means nessasry.
They should forget it and move on. But for them, not for us. If they dont want to, hey, their prerogative.
