Should we pay more respect to a fighter after losing a fight?

^ Great post

I've tried recently to keep fighters in the same ranking as they were when they lose to the best in the division. It's silly that the number 4 fighter in the division should drop down to number 8 after losing to the number 1 fighter. He just doesn't become the champion if he loses, that's all. I still have Haye at number 3 in the heavyweight division, and unless Adamek wins or looks very good in defeat he'll probably stay there.

 

Yes. Fans are stupid.

 

In the old days of the single champion, and a single line of contenders where you had to beat your way into a champion ship fight by beating all or enough of the contenders rated over you, you got a lot of good stiff fights between men who were =, or nearly so.

In that styles make the fight, some times a man lost a good fight, or lost a home town decision, but it was a good fight.

He then got to fight some one who wanted his spot on the contender's list. If he beat him, he could try again to fight someone higher on the list, work his way back up.

Today a man get up the list and refuses to risk it...so comes in flat from inactivity.


Short armed Bo Bo Olson became universal champ when not expected. He got whipped three times by Robinson. Got whipped by Archie Moore, and by Joey Archer I believe.
The man managed to stay a top 5-8 contender in two weight classes for over a decade. He fought a lot of good men, and beat them or he'd been gone.

The guy who beat Hurricain Jackson, Joy Guard something, lost a few fights, vs good men. That caused him not to get the championship fight until later.
He was worth watching.

I was a Patterson fan from Moore to Ali 2.
He came to fight and was fit, and gave his best...and some times went out on his shield.

Any man who comes in fit and gives his best I'll remain his fan, any that come in a fat sack, has lost me...disrespecting himself and me.

Today, a 'contender' seldom fights a real top contender but just a couple times in his life, as he picks which Champ of four he thinks he can beat.
Often some belts' #1, is no better than an old time #6 or 7 Contender.
In the old days, of one champ and one line of hungry contenders if a Champ reached down to 6 or 7 he was taking a tune up fight...or a keep busy fight.
No one plunked down good money to see a Champion fight some one with out much of a chance. A 6th or 7th rated contender was not seen as having much of a chance, or he'd been higher rated.

Folks today are much too harsh on a #6-7 contender getting beat handily by a Champ, #1,2 or 3 Contenders, the other belt holders.
Then often they have a non manditory vs a #10-12 guy and you are disapointed??? Why? The guy was not a real rated contender....what did you expect?

Back in the old days the contenders advantage was he could and must stay busy. The Champ's advantage was he could hire better sparing partners.

Some where in the early '60s some underdog won the Championship. When asked the sterotype question, "What does it mean to you to be Champ?"....the answer blew my socks off.
"I can now hire better sparing partners."

I remember some American jorneyman once almost a contender...could have been Purity for all I remember, fighting that other Big Russian heavy Sasha before Chambers took him to school. 3-4th round as he came back to his corner, he bitched, "if only I could have afforded 'a' sparing partner I'd beat his ass."
He was fighting a over rated fighter who had good sparing partners and didn't do all that bad for a couple of rounds with out even sparing....in he did not have the money to hire a sparing partner. He got beat in the 6th or so.

Do keep that in mind, when your bum is a bum. He's not getting enough fights to stay active and sharp, and some bums would be better with better sparing partners.

If you bought the hype ...your fault.
Heros....you should not put a fighter on a pedistal, he should climb up there himself.

I want to see a good fight, one is going to lose...perhaps he has the wrong style, or the other man is just that eye blink faster....did he do his best.....fine.

Too much hate today.
Too much hero worship.
Fighters will lose, good fighters come back.

 

Depends on who the loser is and who he lost to.

If a hyped "can crusher" finally steps up against a high level journeyman or gatekeeper and gets outclassed, then I don't have much respect for the loser.

Now on the other hand take the abuse Pavlik took for losing to Hopkins (current #1 LHW) 3 years ago, and Martinez (current #1 MW) last year.
I'm no Pav fan by any stretch, but that's at the other side of the scale.

If for instance Floyd (who I really can't stand personally) by any chance loses his fight against Ortiz, than it's just that... A loss on his record. I would laugh my ass off if it happened, but it wouldn't reduce Floyd to bum status or something, he would still be considered A+ class.

Respect for fighters who put it on the line against good other fighters and lose the odd fight here and there. Nothing wrong with that, we can't all be the best. Less respect for guys with big mouths, disrespecting other fighters and refuse to fight anyone who remotely has a chance against them, and then when stepping up getting schooled in the process.

 

Yes.

 

Good Read! Good Points!

Some times we are to hard on these guys.

If you looked at Amir for example since that shocking loss look what he has achieved! Its crazy!

For a guy like Floyd to stay undeafeted! AMAZING!

Pac moving up so much in weight and knocking these guys out! AMAZING (his singing sucks)

Some great tallent out there at the minute.

 

No. they should be hung or electrocuted for being failures.....

 

Agreed. The "0" is a marketing tool more than any sort of indication of dominance. I've yet to see a guy with a long standing "0" who is without questions about his match making.