Does hanging on for too long mess up your career?

['Sugar' Freddi]

I think it really does. If you retire at top, you will be remembered from your prime. Look at Roy Jones, whenever he retires, many people will remember him for his late career loses and not his greatness during his prime. If Roy retired after he bet Ruiz and became Heavyweight champ, his career would've been much healthier. But no, he decided to hang on for too long and get knocked out by Tarver, Johnson, and Danny Green. I think hanging on for too long really does hurt your career, especially if you're losing one, and winning one, and losing one and so son.

Look at Lennox Lewis, retired at top as the world heavyweight champion, what else can be more delightful - but retiring as world champion.

I know it's easier said than done, and it's really hard for them to retire from something they've done and loved for ever but they shouldn't hang on for too long.

[ИATAS]

Ali and sugar ray robinson hung around for too long and they are both considered the best ever.

Soemtimes it can be bad though, roy jones like u said. If he would have retired after Ruiz, he probably would have been considered the greatest of all time. Now though, people will always question his chin.

[Syf]

yet, look at the ones that did. Marciano gets more second guessing and questioning because he retired with a perfect record.

Calzaghe gets the same.

Ali however, is considered one of if not the greatest, and he went out on a low note, but gave his life to boxing, literally.

[Method Checker]

I don't think Jones will be remembered that much for his late career losses. Look at Ali and Tyson.

Ali is remembered for being one of the fastest, slickest and arguably greatest heavyweights of all-time. They don't care about his losses to Spinks, Holmes and Berbick.

Even Tyson. People remember him in his prime and not for his losses against the likes of Lewis or McBride.

People just tend to remember how great they were in their prime.

[Makavelli Jr.]

I don't think there is any doubt RJJ's career will be affected by his ko losses. Iv'e already heard **** from reporters around the web about it.

[S.G.]

Nah not really. I mean, you can't undo your achievements no matter how hard you fall from grace. It's humiliating and bad for a boxer's health to be taking punishment he really shouldn't be at an old age, and it's somewhat disrespectful to the fighter's that do defeat them to just disregard the losses they suffer later on, but for me it has a negligible effect on their overall legacy.

[Allucard]

Ali and sugar ray robinson hung around for too long and they are both considered the best ever.

Soemtimes it can be bad though, roy jones like u said. If he would have retired after Ruiz, he probably would have been considered the greatest of all time. Now though, people will always question his chin.

Well Ali and Robbinson had a couple more "see if i still have it" fights and retired. Jones is making a second career as a journeyman, that's just sad to see.