When is it OK to duck a fighter?

[Outwest Exp 355]

Depends on what you categorize as a duck. These days fighters are concerned with making the most money possible which is no shame in that. Its about big fights with big names. Theres a reason why Canelo will eventually land a Mayweather fight and Paul Williams never could. It has nothing to do with being scared and everything to do with making money. These fighters arent scared they fight for a living. Its the guy at home who doesnt run a mile, do a situp, or spar a round saying this fighters scared. Its a joke really.

[-Huey-]

It's ok to duck a fighter, only when you suspect foul play.

[Weebler I]

When he swings a punch at your head

[ModernTalking]

When you truly believe that facing this particular fighter you will end up like Ali and you have reoccurring nightmare about him.

[Mr Randy Watson]

When you've climbed to the top of the pfp mountain and considered 1 of the sports best.

Here's a few examples.
Ward
Floyd
Martinez
Pacman

All have climbed the mountain & started ducking.

who did ward duck?

[PAC-BOY]

When you are Floyd Mayweather ...thats when!

[#1Assassin]

when a young pro is on his way up, learning and adapting to the pro ranks you have to match him carefully.

once a fighter wants to get into the title picture he has to be willing and able to take on all comers to earn a title shot. if he becomes champion he has to not only be willing to fight anyone but actively seek out the best.

if a fighter is coming off a layoff or a damaging defeat hes entitled to a tune up.

then again i dont really consider either of these scenarios ducking tbh.

[Scarcaztic]

If you are undefeated and most of your marketability is based on that, then you're allowed to duck, well not so much duck, as pick out the opponent that best suits the risk/reward element that comes into play. You start off good, look promising, maybe even win a few titles. But when you get to making 8 figure paydays each time out, you have to be careful because one loss could mean the end of those 8 figure paydays.

Same goes for team sports. You'll see a guy tear it up for the first several years of his career, and then get the big multi-year, 100 million plus contract, and then some of those guys play to not get injured and get paid.

It's how sports is, at the end of the day, it is a job, a business. There's money to be made, not just for the athlete, but promoters, networks, cornermen, officials, sanctioning bodies. So you do what you gotta do to keep the money flowing and keep the illiusion up that you're in it for the sole purpose of winning.

The prospects of millions and millions of dollars, extremely dillutes ones passion to excel at something.

That's the exact opposite. Once you've gotten your pay day, that's when you need to ramp it up.

On the other hand, a guy like Sergio can "duck" a few opponents, in order to get his money fights. He's a consensus top P4P fighter, and just got done whooping on JCC. He can afford to duck a few fighters in order to get a fight with a guy like Canelo/Floyd.

[$Money]

when a better opportunity presents itself.

[edgarg]

If you're old and past your prime you should retire. If you're still considered one of the best you should be fighting other top rated fighters.

The only time its ok to duck a top challenger is when you've already beaten him as champion and there are stronger fighters to fight. For instance, there was no need for the second Wlad-Thompson fight. I would have been fine with Wlad taking on another top 10 contender.

I think he was a mandatory fight; he had earned his second chance, and Klitschko never duck, mandatories, even though he may not draw such a big paycheck for that particular fight.