I think too much attention gets put on it. Take Hatton for example - I think he came of worse for fighting Floyd - had he been 44-0 now you would get all manner of people raving on about how great he was. To me unless you have faced the very best out there a 0 means next to nothing. I will give props everytime to boxers who take the challenges (even if they lose) - over those who protect their 0.
If you want to fight punks and get an awesome record all you do is lose the respect of the people who matter and big yourself up to believe your own hype. Look at what happened to Amir. . . The tit.
But when does it end? How long until the fans riot because they fork out their hard earned to see their hero get knocked out before the end of the 1st round?
you're right there's too much emphasis but it's not hurting most promoters - that's the problem. armchair boxing fans don't know the 'mechanics' of world champions, who beat who, and soon - so they are easily carried into the momentum of an 'unbeaten fighter'. it's very common in europe for promoters(and fighters) to milk this option.
Actually it matters a lot to have "0" .. ask Mr Rocky M. But having zero is just one of a few factors for cracking ATG list. Promoters can have always a case that fighter with "0" is a special one and try to sell him high in the PPV events. Not a long time ago Cotto was considered #1 WW, now people ask whether he is broken or if he still can compete at the top level, just after a single lose. If you can compare then "0" is just like a brand new car in the dealer saloon, right after is sold to first buyer car price drops significantly.
This thread had to happen. Here's my example. Bernard Dunne, former European Super-Bantamweight Champion built up a record of 24-0 against hand picked fighters who just about deserve not to be called journeymen. His promoter Brian Peters pick and chose fighters he knew Dunne would beat, and there was much hype about this undefeated champion. Then, Kiko Martinez was made the EBU's mandatory challenger. He was the first fighter Dunne faced who wasn't hand-picked, he was also undefeated and subsequently disposed of Dunne in 86 seconds. Most people were shocked, but some insist they weren't one bit surprised.
I agree with you, but apparently boxing mainstream doesnt for example compare Rocky Juarez to Edwin Valero whose stock is higher right now. The 0 is incredibly overvalued.
Unfortunately a loss in a fighter's career really sidetracks them at the mid and lower levels of the sport, it's why so many prospects are so overprotected, promotors are protceting their investment, there are pros and cons to doing this of course, but major cons are the lack of competitive fights and the spoonfed activities to the prospect, but the prospect may also have great confidence in this way and fight above his level in the big fights, though they could also be destroyed from lack of difficulties and experience. It's certainly not like the old days.