Comments Thread For: The Beltline: Sunny Edwards grows old at 28, while Israel Vazquez dies young at 46

[BoxingUpdates]

While the specifics of the ageing process differ from person to person, there are two irrefutable facts by which we are all bonded: one, that the process starts the moment we are born, and two, that it will eventually end. Until then age will mean different things at different times. It means nothing to us at the start, during the period in which we have no concept of time, but later it becomes a way of grouping us, initially at school, and to some extent controlling us. At 18, or 21, it then represents something like freedom or adulthood, with certain doors opened and various lessons taught but ignored. These lessons, which invariably come from older people, become lessons we understand too late, usually around the time when the birthdays we once wished away are now ominous threats; treated as though they are avalanches spotted in the distance. Soon, without warning, there are too many candles to fit on the cake and reminders, even for those who lie about their age, are found in every mirror and every attempt to stand up.
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[Boxfan83]

Boxing under 135 is brutally taxing on the body which is why these small guys don't do well after 30

[1Eriugenus]

I don’t think you understand why Edwards And Hamed couldn’t come back. If you box at the highest level you always think you are the baddest MoFo out there. You have to. I hate it when keyboard warriors say a fighter is‘arrogant. Yeah, damn right he is arrogant, there has never been a good fighter that wasn’t, going back to Sam Langford and Bob Fitzsimmons. Top boxers always have to convince themselves, I am the baddest MoFo out there. When you get beat it is a brutal psychological blow. It is always open for a puncher to say ‘I didn’t land my best shot’. It is always open to a brawler to say ‘I let him keep away from me’. If you don’t have those comforting thoughts you come back to that bitter truth, ‘I fought a man that was better than me’. As soon as you accept that, you start acting different in sparring, pulling away from punches or just pushing in instead of committing yourself, because you’re no longer confident that you can slip the man’s punches and counter. Once you lose that belief that ‘I’m the man’ then you should think about calling it a day, you can get hurt otherwise.

[Joseph]

Poor Sunny... Such a brave dude with next to no power to bail him out when the reflexes go. If you don't have power, you "age" quicker in a lot of ways.

RIP to Vazquez. A shame.

[landotter]

Poor Sunny... Such a brave dude with next to no power to bail him out when the reflexes go. If you don't have power, you "age" quicker in a lot of ways.

RIP to Vazquez. A shame.

Excellent post. Edwards has no apologies to make. He accomplished plenty in a short time and got out (so long as he sticks to it) with his health intact.

The Vasquez death seems to have truly touched a ton more people than I thought it would. That is a great legacy that reflects on a good man.

[BustedKnuckles]

I don’t think you understand why Edwards And Hamed couldn’t come back. If you box at the highest level you always think you are the baddest MoFo out there. You have to. I hate it when keyboard warriors say a fighter is‘arrogant. Yeah, damn right he is arrogant, there has never been a good fighter that wasn’t, going back to Sam Langford and Bob Fitzsimmons. Top boxers always have to convince themselves, I am the baddest MoFo out there. When you get beat it is a brutal psychological blow. It is always open for a puncher to say ‘I didn’t land my best shot’. It is always open to a brawler to say ‘I let him keep away from me’. If you don’t have those comforting thoughts you come back to that bitter truth, ‘I fought a man that was better than me’. As soon as you accept that, you start acting different in sparring, pulling away from punches or just pushing in instead of committing yourself, because you’re no longer confident that you can slip the man’s punches and counter. Once you lose that belief that ‘I’m the man’ then you should think about calling it a day, you can get hurt otherwise.

Agreed and good insight. Competition takes a winning mindset. If you lose the mindset, you lose the competition.

[Corelone]

Many lose at lower levels so the damage is not as bad. Many get one shot KOd and they do not remember the punch. Sunny was throttled by Bam at his peak. Sunny walked into the lion's den with a prayer a pea shooter. He did not age by himself. He was aged

[1Eriugenus]

'The Vasquez death seems to have truly touched a ton more people than I thought it would. That is a great legacy that reflects on a good man.'

I didn't contribute to the thing that was set up, because I thought WBC shoulda paid it all anyway & so I wasn't convinced. It wasn't because I doubted Israel. I will happily contribute if someone sets something up for his family.

That man had 'warrior' imprinted in him. I'm just in awe of Israel Vasqez.

[A.B Counterhooks]

I don’t think you understand why Edwards And Hamed couldn’t come back. If you box at the highest level you always think you are the baddest MoFo out there. You have to. I hate it when keyboard warriors say a fighter is‘arrogant. Yeah, damn right he is arrogant, there has never been a good fighter that wasn’t, going back to Sam Langford and Bob Fitzsimmons. Top boxers always have to convince themselves, I am the baddest MoFo out there. When you get beat it is a brutal psychological blow. It is always open for a puncher to say ‘I didn’t land my best shot’. It is always open to a brawler to say ‘I let him keep away from me’. If you don’t have those comforting thoughts you come back to that bitter truth, ‘I fought a man that was better than me’. As soon as you accept that, you start acting different in sparring, pulling away from punches or just pushing in instead of committing yourself, because you’re no longer confident that you can slip the man’s punches and counter. Once you lose that belief that ‘I’m the man’ then you should think about calling it a day, you can get hurt otherwise.

Great accurate post.

[MulaKO]

Agreed and good insight. Competition takes a winning mindset. If you lose the mindset, you lose the competition.

Nicely put