Is boxing more mental toughness than physical?

Both the fighters you have mentioned only lost to all time greats. But I get your point.

 

I don't really see your point regarding Hatton unless you are saying after getting KTFO v Mayweather he had the mental toughness to return v Pac , if that is the case then fair enough he did show a mental toughness to climb back through the ropes , i do 100% agree with you on this sport not being for everyone though .

Good Thread mate ...

 

Its not the fighters faults entirely...The culture of boxing these days has changed a lot.

Back in the day a loss meant nothing..a ko loss wasnt even a big deal. You dealt with it, learnt from it and moved on.

But in an age where fans and networks are so fickle, where fighters train 3-4 months to fight twice in a year, where the emphasis is about keeping the 0..there can be no room for a bad night, a fluke or a mishap .

Yes some fighters just cant take the loss mentally, its certainly not nice and it certainly cant be nice for the egos that some fighters have and need to have to take a hit like that...but even if a fighter can mentally deal with it these days..the powers at be can not tolerate failure and a fighter may never be able to get back the heights they were once at, even if mentally and physically they are able to...A loss in the modern era is like leprosy, no fighter wants it, they avoid risks that may lead to it and no network boss wants to touch a tainted fighter.

 

I think alot of it has to do with the kind of athlete you are - you are either a results orientated athlete or a skills orientated athlete. The first fights opponents for wins and record - money and recognition etc, they are athletes for competition.

The other fights internally with themself to be the best. They pick and pick and pick away at their skills until they perfect them. The struggle is with themselves to be the best they can be, not necessarily better than someone else.

 

This pork chop dude is some kind of visionary.

 

One of the very best posts ever! Blame the US TV network that looked after the '84 Olympians for starting this trend...

 

Good posts, Rock & Pork Chop in particular.

The times are certainly well gone where a 'respectable' defeat was nothing to be ashamed of.

The 'protecting the zero' syndrome is very damaging to boxing as it strongly encourages mismatches, and Australian boxing has been as effected by it just as badly as everywhere else in the world.

There were many great champs who started with early losses on their records, and in some cases multiple ones. Sadly these days, those same guys may not have been granted second chances.

 

Ask Kelly Pavlik right now. I think he's definately soul searching in the way Bhop schooled him. Meldrick Taylor was never the same fighter after losing to the tko to chavez. In saying that though I think thats what seperates the good fighters from the great ones. All the greats had to soul search after their initial loss & come back stronger.

 

Actually Taylor managed a good win against Aaron Superman Davis after Chavez. IMO, just as much to blame was Terry Norris giving him an absolute arse kicking at catchweight.

 

I think it shows Ippy that Taylor was a great fighter to comeback & beat Davis but the Chavez loss haunted him for most of the later of his career. One wonders what he could have become had he survived the remaining 2 secs & got the decision.

 

Remember how well Zab Judah 'accepted' his first loss (against Kostya) - went off his scone! Would not believe it, and was more intent on assaulting the referee than congratulating Kostya on the win.

...did win 7 of his next 8 fights though.

 

More mental. I have seen boxers go distance against superior boxers because of their mental toughness.

 

Mental toughness is all in the mind.....over rated.

If you a physically at your peak in the ring then it is one less thing eating away at you come fight nite.
Hours of training driven by the the thought that %90 of the fight is gonna be won in the later rounds indirectly adds to menatal toughness.
Train hard, fight easy.