Fighters who were never the same mentally after a loss?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by scarecrow, Jun 4, 2016.


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  1. scarecrow

    scarecrow Boxing Addict Full Member

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    It's got me thinking lately. The advantages of an unblemished record mentally. And the advantages of a blemished record mentally.

    A lot of fighters take a loss while they are green or even prime and it alleviates the pressure of being undefeated.
    And they just go for it from then on.

    Likewise some fighters feed off of an unbeaten record and use that mentally and build up confidence that nobody can defeat them. And once they lose they've lost that mental edge.

    I thought of Prince Naz and George Foreman as two fighters who simply could not stomach defeat mentally.

    George was still a young fighter and didn't take much physical pain in the Ali fight. He was outsmarted and out schooled by the better man that night. He should have had many more years on top. Yet he just couldn't cope with losing. He went on to knockout like 5 men in one night after the loss in an emotional tirade. And simply wasn't the same ever after the loss. He still had all his physical tools but couldn't stomach losing mentally.

    As for Hamed. He was a gimmack. A sideshow. He was exposed by the first great well schooled boxer puncher he fought. He discovered that he simply didn't have it in him to be great. He just wasn't good enough and needed to improve technically to achieve greatness. He couldn't face his own reality. So he retired at 27 or 28 and got fat as hell.
     
    scarecrow, Jun 4, 2016
    scarecrow, Jun 4, 2016
    #1
  2. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Terry McGovern springs to mind.
     
    janitor, Jun 4, 2016
    janitor, Jun 4, 2016
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  3. scarecrow

    scarecrow Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Going way back. Nice.
     
    scarecrow, Jun 4, 2016
    scarecrow, Jun 4, 2016
    #3
  4. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Meldrick Taylor.
     
    Titan1, Jun 4, 2016
    Titan1, Jun 4, 2016
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  5. First Round KO

    First Round KO Well-Known Member Full Member

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    As for Hamed. He was a gimmack. A sideshow. He was exposed by the first great well schooled boxer puncher he fought. He discovered that he simply didn't have it in him to be great. He just wasn't good enough and needed to improve technically to achieve greatness. He couldn't face his own reality. So he retired at 27 or 28 and got fat as hell. Spot on, Hamed was exposed by Barrera as a fraud, he was beat both physically and mentally, he is now just an obese dwarf cokehead.
     
    First Round KO, Jun 4, 2016
    First Round KO, Jun 4, 2016
    #5
  6. ThePlugInBabies

    ThePlugInBabies ♪ ♫ Full Member

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    calling a guy who brought the spotlight to the lighter divisions a gimmick and sideshow is downright disrespectful and plain incorrect.

    naz achieved plenty.
     
    ThePlugInBabies, Jun 4, 2016
    ThePlugInBabies, Jun 4, 2016
    #6
  7. Eddie Ezzard

    Eddie Ezzard Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I find Naz one of the most objectionable sportsmen in my lifetime but have to admit that he was brilliant. Untouchable at his best and undefeated against very good opposition for nearly 7 years. I believe he would have beaten Barrera if he had stayed on track. I hate to agree but it's true that he achieved plenty. Could have been much more but he still achieved a lot.
     
    Eddie Ezzard, Jun 4, 2016
    Eddie Ezzard, Jun 4, 2016
    #7
  8. UFC2015

    UFC2015 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Tyson? His invincible aura ended after douglas

    Sent from my SM-G925W8 using Tapatalk
     
    UFC2015, Jun 4, 2016
    UFC2015, Jun 4, 2016
    #8
  9. steve21

    steve21 Well-Known Member

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    John Tate after the Weaver KO ... saw that as part of an unprecedented ABC four-fight broadcast. Remember when championship fights were free?

    spt
     
    steve21, Jun 4, 2016
    steve21, Jun 4, 2016
    #9
  10. Jacko

    Jacko Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Lacy, Bute, Groves.
     
    Jacko, Jun 4, 2016
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  11. scarecrow

    scarecrow Boxing Addict Full Member

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    His gimmackery is what brought the attention to the very low weight classes.

    Don't you remember the HBO broadcast? The way they were talking about Naz was really negative. They couldn't believe what was gappening. Hamed was being exposed as a gimmack who could counter and finish B level talent.

    But against the elite he was made to look off balance, short, ineffective and raw. Devoid of any technical ability.
     
    scarecrow, Jun 4, 2016
    scarecrow, Jun 4, 2016
    #11
  12. davidjay

    davidjay Well-Known Member Full Member

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    The ultimate example. He ruled by fear and with his first loss that was gone forever.
     
    davidjay, Jun 4, 2016
    davidjay, Jun 4, 2016
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  13. metalmickey

    metalmickey New Member Full Member

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    Hamed's downfall started when he stopped listening to his trainer Brendan Ingle and then dumped him.
    He stopped training properly and started to believe all the hype and praise.
    At his best he had fast feet and hand speed, great defensive reflexes, threw punches from crazy angles and had KO power in both hands.
    Shame on him for his unprofessional attitude by the time he fought Barrera.
     
    metalmickey, Jun 4, 2016
    metalmickey, Jun 4, 2016
    #13
  14. chocolatito

    chocolatito New Member Full Member

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    Wlad after Sanders?
     
    chocolatito, Jun 4, 2016
    chocolatito, Jun 4, 2016
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  15. dinovelvet

    dinovelvet Antifanboi Full Member

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    Bowe ruined Hide , Golota and Gonzalez.

    Gonzalez was dedicated very serious about his career as a pro before Bowe battered him senseless.
    He Buster Douglas'd after that loss.
     
    dinovelvet, Jun 4, 2016
    dinovelvet, Jun 4, 2016
    #15
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