For the Record: Ducking
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I can understand your point in principle but doesn't it seem counterintuitive to pay someone 33% of your purse (a guy you call "manager") and then not take his advise?
Floyd Patterson is your type of guy, they say Patterson broke off with Cus D'Amato just so he could fight Liston. Some would say he should have kept up the duck. (D'Amato refused to deal with the IBC gangsters.)
I actually do give a lot of respect to Patterson for accepting that challenge. It wouldn't be fair to deny Liston his shot. Perhaps not fighting him was better for his career, but wouldn't it amount to a duck, no matter his reasoning, if he hadn't taken the fight?
The business of it all certainly plays a part, but ducking for fear of losing isn't exactly what anyone wants out of a champion.Comment
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I don't follow the game currently; I am purely a history geek, that's why you never encountered me except in this forum, History.
I had no clue who Porter was until I read the post.
First I listened to the interviews and then looked up their records.
(when looking at the two fighter's records I was more impressed with Porter's resume)
But that's actually irrelevant; I went into listening to the videos with no bias at all.
Now, using me as a litmus test, I am not a current fan, so I was surprised I recognized Crawford's name. (I never saw him fight.) This made me conclude that Crawford must be more popular with the casual fans/general sports fans than Porter.
Also Crawford was being interviewed in a more professional surrounding, which looked to be a more important media event than Porter's. Porter's interviewer came across a little amateur.
Taking all this into account I understood Crawford's dismissive and condescending tone.
(Remember, as you pointed out, at this point I thought they were both still champions; but one already looked better positioned than the other.)
In the interview Crawford wouldn't even say Porter's name; he kept referring to "that fight" or something vague like that. Crawford sounded like he was reciting from a prepared statement.
It all sounded like Crawford knew Porter needed him, and not the reverse.
(What I would really like to see a comparison of their fight purses/PPV pays, it would tell us more.)
I don't know how you define "duck" but I am of the mind that it can only be assessed once it is all said and done.
For now all I saw was Crawford using his position to his advantage.
P.S. In regards to me not knowing the chronology of events, you are correct this changes things, it makes it even worse for Porter. Now without a belt, I find no wonder in Crawford refusing to even acknowledge him. Porter will have to reposition himself because it doesn't sound like Crawford is interested.Comment
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Prob a product of growing up unable to fight U way outta bag of popcorn...Comment
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It's nebulous . . but . . . mainly it's when a fighter walks away from a fight that is in his best interest.
Some of the things to look for: if the fight would have allowed the fighter to advance to a title shot; if the fighter takes considerably less money for a different fight; a fighter who does not defend his title in a reasonable amount of time; if a champion consistently avoids tough opponents.
Some things that don't count: the rantings of a sanctioning bodies, media, or fans.Comment
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I think folks complicate it to forgive their heroes of their actions.
If A wanted it and B didn't B is a duck. I don't care the reasons. Business is a reason to duck, not a reason to claim it wasn't a duck.
Make it not boxing and it makes absolutely no sense. Ireland, Switzerland, Turkey, and Da Pope didn't avoid a war against brutal tyranny, they simply avoided a business practice that made no sense. WW2.
When the Brits had Revere and got shook and scattered cause they heard cannons it's not because they were avoiding those cannons, it's just not a smart business move to catch a cannonball.
Criminals don't avoid legal action taken against them, it's just bad business to be sued.Comment
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I think folks complicate it to forgive their heroes of their actions.
If A wanted it and B didn't B is a duck. I don't care the reasons. Business is a reason to duck, not a reason to claim it wasn't a duck.
Make it not boxing and it makes absolutely no sense. Ireland, Switzerland, Turkey, and Da Pope didn't avoid a war against brutal tyranny, they simply avoided a business practice that made no sense. WW2.
When the Brits had Revere and got shook and scattered cause they heard cannons it's not because they were avoiding those cannons, it's just not a smart business move to catch a cannonball.
Criminals don't avoid legal action taken against them, it's just bad business to be sued.Comment
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