Losing in boxing vs losing in MMA

[The tucker]

Every time a fighter loses boxing “fans” come running saying that fighter needs to retire or hang it up. I see this all too often on boxing forums and even sometimes analysts say a fighter needs to retire after a loss or only their 2nd loss.

I noticed ever since mayweather reigned once a fighter loses he is basically done to the public. I think that’s because if floyd was to lose his 0 no matter at what age even his late 20’s or early 30’s casual fans even some real so called boxing fans would think he is finished and his career is over because he can’t say he is undefeated no more. So they apply that to every boxer now.

In mma you have guys that have 5 or more losses or been KTFO before and become stars AFTER that.

[famicommander]

There are a lot more variables in MMA and MMA guys generally have 0-5 amateur fights. They are all learning multiple martial arts on the fly, on top of generally being matched more evenly.

There are differences of course in style and rulesets depending on where you go and the amateur vs pro distinctions, but for the most part boxing is boxing and everyone competing in it has been specializing in it since they were 8-12 years old.

In MMA most fighters specialized in one or two different styles and then quickly became pro. So they may be able to win certain fights with their boxing background or their BJJ background, but then get tossed on their head by a Judoka or eat a knee to the dome from a Muay Thai guy.

Look at Holly Holm. When she first started in MMA, all she really had was her boxing combinations and a good head kick from her limited kickboxing background. Fast forward to her most recent two fights and she was pushing people against the cage and actually going for takedowns of her own rather than just trying to stay at range and land strikes. She's an entirely different beast right now than the one who knocked out Rousey, who herself looked unbeatable with her Judo until she got punched (then kicked, then punched again) in the face.

[Charlie Zelenoff]

Because Boxing fans want you to keep your 0 while giving the fans quality fights.

[The tucker]

There are a lot more variables in MMA and MMA guys generally have 0-5 amateur fights. They are all learning multiple martial arts on the fly, on top of generally being matched more evenly.

There are differences of course in style and rulesets depending on where you go and the amateur vs pro distinctions, but for the most part boxing is boxing and everyone competing in it has been specializing in it since they were 8-12 years old.

In MMA most fighters specialized in one or two different styles and then quickly became pro. So they may be able to win certain fights with their boxing background or their BJJ background, but then get tossed on their head by a Judoka or eat a knee to the dome from a Muay Thai guy.

Look at Holly Holm. When she first started in MMA, all she really had was her boxing combinations and a good head kick from her limited kickboxing background. Fast forward to her most recent two fights and she was pushing people against the cage and actually going for takedowns of her own rather than just trying to stay at range and land strikes. She's an entirely different beast right now than the one who knocked out Rousey, who herself looked unbeatable with her Judo until she got punched (then kicked, then punched again) in the face.

I can see the chance of them losing might be higher but still the doesn’t change how fans still support them after they lose unlike boxing.

[jaded]

In MMA the best fight the best and somebody has to lose...in boxing the best seldom fight the best to protect that "0".

[Earl-Hickey]

MMA is a rock paper scissors game where its more about styles than talent. It's very rare you see someone dominant because usually it doesn't take long for someone to come along with the style to beat you.

Top elite boxers are more proficient at their art.

[TMLT87]

1) More variables in MMA so more ways to lose.
2) Smaller gloves, no counts after a KD etc so fights can end out of nowhere from one split second decision, meaning more upsets.
3) Far more areas of your game you could look to improve after a loss, and more possible gameplans you could use next time.

Combine all that with the relative frequency of elite level opponents being matched together in MMA and of course losses are going to be more acceptable. Its pretty much standard promotional tactic in boxing to engineer undefeated records for practically anyone halfway decent so the 0 can be cashed out years later.

[TMLT87]

Top elite boxers are more proficient at their art.

Its an unfair comparison because they're not equal skillsets, Its checkers vs chess. Of course its easier to master a much more narrow skillset especially when the sport is much older as well. In order to master MMA you'd need to simultaneously be a world champion level boxer/kickboxer/MT guy and an ADCC champ level grappler and/or olympic medallist level wrestler...its not possible.

[Clegg]

Fans are partly to blame, but more so promoters and fighters themselves. There is so much careful matchmaking, you have guys who don't take a big risk until they are 30+ years old so when they lose it's clear the only way is down because they are past their physical prime and they spent so many years cherry picking that they have permanent bad habits.

A prospect with potential is usually built up in a low risk way that if they lose you do have to wonder how good they really are. The best prospect in the world right now is probably Ennis and he's about to fight a guy who lost his last 2 fights and is 1-3-1 in his last 5. If he wins it won't prove much, if he loses everybody will call him a hypejob fraud. Boxing does this to itself.

Also it seems MMA guys come back from a loss quicker. Boxers get beat and take 6-12 month break, then comeback to fight an easy opponent. That's very unconvincing to fans trying to judge if they're still at their best. Mikey Garcia has always been an excellent technician but in the last 4 years he fought once per year so he's not the same guy anymore. Somebody who said "he should just retire" after he lost to Spence would've had a point tbh. He's doing nothing for the sport, nothing for his own career, just for his bank balance.

[Szef]

MMA is a sport of losers and is watched by losers. Losing is what these people know, what they're used to. This is why they embrace their stars losing. To them it's normal.

Boxing is a sport of winners.