Why is so hard for boxers to recognize when is time to retire ? I'm always wondering why ? You think is for money ? You think is for passion ?why can't recognize when their pass of their prime. And they don't even see when they are use like a stepping in stone by young prospect fighters . Example of this is Evander Hollyfield, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Roy Jones , Hector Macho Camacho, James Toney and others. Please share your opinion.
Why is so hard for boxers to recognize when is time to retire ?
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Pride, every boxer wants to see if they've got 1 last fight left in them and after that last fight they think they can bounce back and it goes on and on.
It's also the only thing they know in life, the majority of boxers spent their whole life doing it and have nothing to back onto.
Or Money. -
There was an interesting article in the newspaper about Eric Lucas. Lucas was talking about how hard its tough to retire when you boxed all your life. He made some pretty interesting point. He said if you're a tennis, hockey, soccer or whatever sports player, you can retire and still play in some local league or with other guys, have fun and practice the sport you love.
However, in boxing, when you retire you can't practice your sport anymore, which is pretty hard. Of course you can spare in the gym, but it has nowhere the same feeling of having a real fight.
And like NChristo said there's also money, and pride ( a guy like Hopkins particulary, having fun beating the younger guys ).Comment
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for the vast majority of guys it comes down to money.
For the very small percentage of boxers who made it and are rich, it's the love of the sport. You have to remember most of these guys have been boxing since 7, 8, 9 years old, sometimes even longer, it's literally all they know. Many of these guys never had a real job before in their entire life.Comment
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another thing in other sports, like the NFL or whatever, you are forced out. If you can't make it in the game anymore and your washed up, you're forced to retire or you'll be cut, etc.. No one forces you to retire in boxing, there's always a fight somewhere against somebody waiting for you.There was an interesting article in the newspaper about Eric Lucas. Lucas was talking about how hard its tough to retire when you boxed all your life. He made some pretty interesting point. He said if you're a tennis, hockey, soccer or whatever sports player, you can retire and still play in some local league or with other guys, have fun and practice the sport you love.
However, in boxing, when you retire you can't practice your sport anymore, which is pretty hard. Of course you can spare in the gym, but it has nowhere the same feeling of having a real fight.
And like NChristo said there's also money, and pride ( a guy like Hopkins particulary, having fun beating the younger guys ).Comment
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Ive always wondered this myself. Seems like the fans and the boxing world knows when its time for them to hang em up before the fighter even knows. Do they not have anyone around them, friends or family, sitting them down to tell them the truth and bring them back to reality..Its real sad..Comment
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Id say a big factor is that becoming washed up in boxing happens so fast, one fight your superman then the next your getting beaten up bad.... I think its hard to accept that you have lost it in such a small space of time when for 15 years you have been at the top.
Another point already made is that your never really forced out of boxing, once your established you will always be able to get a bout unlike most sports where once your no longer able to compete at top level you get fired from your team or dont get far in tournaments etc....Comment
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Erick Morales was saying that it's hard to quit when you have been boxing your whole life for peanuts then you start making good money and it's hard to decide to retire when you have worked so hard for those big paydaysComment
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