by David P. Greisman - This much is a fact: We cannot have it both ways.
We expect fighters to challenge themselves at the highest level against top-rated opponents. And then we write them off once they lose. We treat that sole defeat as if it renders all that came before it as meaningless, and anything that is still to come as pointless.
Fighters lose. Sometimes that loss symbolizes overall shortcomings. And sometimes that loss is just what happened against one person on one night.
These are also facts: Abner Mares lost to Jhonny Gonzalez in a featherweight bout this past Saturday. It was a stunning result. Gonzalez was a former titleholder with eight losses on his record. Mares was undefeated and had captured belts in three divisions. Yet within less than three minutes, Mares was sitting on the canvas for the second time while Gonzalez stood tall, celebrating his victory. [Click Here To Read More]
We expect fighters to challenge themselves at the highest level against top-rated opponents. And then we write them off once they lose. We treat that sole defeat as if it renders all that came before it as meaningless, and anything that is still to come as pointless.
Fighters lose. Sometimes that loss symbolizes overall shortcomings. And sometimes that loss is just what happened against one person on one night.
These are also facts: Abner Mares lost to Jhonny Gonzalez in a featherweight bout this past Saturday. It was a stunning result. Gonzalez was a former titleholder with eight losses on his record. Mares was undefeated and had captured belts in three divisions. Yet within less than three minutes, Mares was sitting on the canvas for the second time while Gonzalez stood tall, celebrating his victory. [Click Here To Read More]
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