Comments Thread For: Joshua Franco Decides To Retire: Last Night in Tokyo Was Officially My Last Fight

[Damn Wicked]

He seems very young to be contemplating retirement. Lots of people thought he was very lucky to have one of his fights with Andrew Moloney called a No Contest. He was getting his ass beat in that fight. He seems to be a guy that is inconsistent. Maybe a lack of discipline. Maybe the guy just doesn't have the will to deal with being a top fighter. It takes a lot of desire, guts and willingness to put yourself through discomfort and pain.

[BodyBagz]

"For the majority of my career I have been going through a lot of mental problems that I was doing my best to control."



Maybe boxing kept these issues in check

[SteveM]

I don't remember the stars from yesteryear crying about mental health this much. This generation is weak AF. If someone is seriously having problems like McCall that's one thing, but it's like these guys now a days have an argument with their girl and don't fight again for 2 years, or don't get enough IG likes so they take a year off.

You're not wrong but also there was a tremendous stigma around admitting mental health problems. BiPolar and Schizoid diagnoses saw a patient locked up in the local mental hospital, drugged to he point of being comatose and not treated so they could return to society easily - better to keep quiet.

But yeah. One of my favourite words is resilience. Its like a muscle and can be built up by being exposed to trying experiences. If you are sat playing games every day how are you getting those experiences. You are at the mercy of every little wind shift in life.

But who knows what Franco is experiencing. Garcia was sufficiently concerned that he thought to call off the fight.

[MesicoFistology]

This is the same as Mayweather, same as David Haye, same as Robert Guerrero , these guys are not retiring even when they say. They should just say things like they are..they are taking a longer break , period. Just watch Franco come back in 2-3 years saying he’s “in a better place” now

[Boxing2695]

I don't think a lot of people understand. Training is, physically, tough & demanding but doing it on your own makes it much tougher. Iff you are, say, a footballer or a cricketer & surrounded by your team mates that helps a lot. I don't agree that boxers are mentally weak these days. Yes, you could say that guys like Marciano, Frazier or Ali trained hard & got on with it, but guys like Marciano, Frazier or Ali weren't being liked/disliked friended/defriended every single minute on social media. That does take a toll on a man,

Yeah that's true. You make alot of sacrifices as a athlete and fighters say boxing is the loneliest sport in the world because it's on you an only you to make it happen in the ring yeah you have trainers etc but it's up to you to put in the work an for some guys after a while they just don't have it in them anymore and that can be at 27 or 37 it don't matter when it happens it happens

[SweetPbfAli]

I don't remember the stars from yesteryear crying about mental health this much. This generation is weak AF. If someone is seriously having problems like McCall that's one thing, but it's like these guys now a days have an argument with their girl and don't fight again for 2 years, or don't get enough IG likes so they take a year off.

Could be a cause and effect thing. Just because the previous generation did something or didn't do something doesn't validate it.

People are allowed to change their positions when presented with more information. The whole "if you know better, do better" saying. Many people from previous generations carried a lot of trauma and undiagnosed issues throughout their lives and passed those down to the next generation. The prior generation just didn't know or chose not to address it while it is more acceptable and encouraged today. Some people may use it as a copp out but I think there's more good that can come from it than bad.

[ThunderFists]

mental health issues? lets see how better his mental issues will be when he has to work a 9-5 now. hes only 27, just take a break and get back to it.

who remembers when vinnie paz broke his neck/damaged his spine and when the doctor said " you're never gonna box again" and he replied " no doctor i will box again, i don't think you understand what kind of man i am" then went on to win 3 more world titles

[KidDinamita]

I don't remember the stars from yesteryear crying about mental health this much. This generation is weak AF. If someone is seriously having problems like McCall that's one thing, but it's like these guys now a days have an argument with their girl and don't fight again for 2 years, or don't get enough IG likes so they take a year off.

Although you are right that this generation is weak, we have no idea what he is going through. Could be even the punches effected him at an early stage and he is getting depressions with some brain trauma or something, we never know.

Yesteryears fighters used to fight a lot to earn money, this generation makes money easier then before.

[The D3vil]

I always liked him & his brother. They're real warriors.

We probably should've known something was up when he missed weight

[Joe shmo]

Could be a cause and effect thing. Just because the previous generation did something or didn't do something doesn't validate it.

People are allowed to change their positions when presented with more information. The whole "if you know better, do better" saying. Many people from previous generations carried a lot of trauma and undiagnosed issues throughout their lives and passed those down to the next generation. The prior generation just didn't know or chose not to address it while it is more acceptable and encouraged today. Some people may use it as a copp out but I think there's more good that can come from it than bad.

True, generational norms are hardly a criterion of truth, but..... If u take this generation and put it against almost any previous generation which one would u say is stronger? Back then people prided themselves on pushing thru adversity, whereas now a days they embrace victim hood. Idk what Franco is dealing with and i wasn't trying to single him out or call him weak personally, it was more just a random observation that they're is a lot of fighters either retiring young, or taking extended time off for mental health when they're used to not be. I hope ur right tho and more good than bad comes of it.