Holding on to your zero!

[DELETED ACCOUNT 06]

I reckon that too many fighters and promoters are too desperate to hang on to their zeroes. Fighters are scared to have a loss on there record. And that is wrong.

However it is NOT the fault of the fighters or promoters. The fault lies in us. The boxing fan.

We must learn to understand and comprehend one notion: IT IS OK TO LOSE.

Once the fans begin to understand that, then the sport of boxing will be able to benefit. In tennis when the Federer is beaten, do people say he is finished, written off or he's had it? No. They are left alone to recover and in many respects keep there dignity and nobody doubts there career. In fact in all individual sports and team sports BUT boxing, when you lose it is acceptable and you are allowed to carry on in peoples high esteems. Just because you were beaten - doesn't mean your a bad boxer. Just because you are beaten doesn't mean that your career is over.

This fear of losing, makes promoters and managers only put punch-bag opponents infront of there prospect and never allow big even fights. Padding records has always existed, i understand that. But in the past it was more to do with protecting the fighters health by not allowing better fighters to battle with the champ. Nowadays its in order to keep the cash trail going as long as possible.

This is why ODH and PBF was so huge ... people were amazed to see a fight that they could not see an absolute winner from the start.

Just imagine, if fighters were not scared of losing. We could have ODH and PBF sized bouts every weekend.

It is OK to lose.

[Scottie2Hottie]

good post man and definitely true.

[oldgringo]

i completely agree. just saw some **** awhile ago around the time of floyd/oscar saying floyd wasn't **** if he lost to a "washed up de la hoya".

now i just read something saying that cotto should be ashamed of himself if he loses to judah...he wouldn't be the real deal if he lost to judah....

get your knowledge up people. pretty much anyone whos anyone in boxing has suffered a loss, sometimes to a lesser fighter, at some point in their careers.

good post thread starter.

[me2007]

thats what alot of these people dont undertstand. Retiring with 0 losses doesn`t gain you any respect. Marciano retired with zero losses, but people always say he fought old men and was never tested.

I agree in that if you have zero losses, then you've never really been tested. It takes a man to come back from defeat. Eubank said something similar.

[DELETED ACCOUNT 06]

just saw some **** awhile ago around the time of floyd/oscar saying floyd wasn't **** if he lost to a "washed up de la hoya".

This is exactly the kind of **** attitude thats ruining the sport.

PBF and DLH are both fine and great athletes. They both put there necks on the line to go and make a brilliant fight and a brilliant show. DLH knew there was a chance he'd go out there and get beat...and respect to Floydd, he must have known also. Thats the what the sport is about - i didn't think any less of DLH after the fight. I actually was proud for the guy, he put up a good fight but lossed, and lossed gracefully.

I want to see some challenges, i want to see a competition. I don't want to see a prospect go out and beat the ****e out of a journeyman boxer, who knows he's only there to lose. What exciting about that.

DLH and PBF has been one of the rare times as of late where i've been left for days wondering WHO is going to win!!?

Luckilly my mind is doing the same for Ricky Hatton and Costillo. I'm glad that Hatton is also taking some career risks.

More boxers need to make career risks. Then we'll know who really IS the best.

[ophqui]

the difference between boxing and the tennis example u gave is that boxers have a management team to make their fights, tennis payers just get who their given in tournaments so u cant really blame a guy for losing.

If boxing had a regulatory body which organised fights, ranking tournaments etc the kind of 'its ok to lose' culture would be unavoidable as virtually every big name fighter would have L's on the record. As well as having the effect of making bigger fights more regular this would also make a '0' on somebodies record a much more valuable thing. If Cotto, Hatton, mayweather etc (the fighters at 40-47 that parade a zero around to make some extra money) all entered an organised ranking tournament then only one of the would leave with a zero, then it would be a much more special thing.

On the other hand, in the words of the promoter from cinderella man 'we all know the name of this game, and it sure as hell aint pugilism'