Is Lara's Career Better Off Now After the "Loss" to Williams?

[CubanGuyNYC]

Not long after the ridiculous decision against Erislandy Lara was announced, I had the belief that Lara would be okay. However, the sympathetic momentum in his favor has snowballed much more than I could've imagined then. After the furor that erupted on this site and others, and the positive response that Erislandy's thank you letter has received, I'm convinced that the unjust loss he took against P. Will might actually have been better than a win. As it is, nearly everyone knows Lara won, that he was robbed. So he basically gets credit for the win, anyway. But Erislandy could never have dreamt for this kind of support and newfound fans if he had won on the judges' cards in the first place.

Thoughts?

[ny123]

He has gotten a lot more attention than he would have if he would just had won the decision.

[1nonlymre]

Somewhat, yes. His performance got him the immediate attention during the fight, but it was the resulting loss that cemented the performance in people's heads.

More importantly, it was the loss that cemented his performance with the media...and in the end, that's what's going to matter.

He got the short end of the stick...at least that's what the masses are told by the media, so it has to be true...regardless of what one's opinion is. That's how it works sometimes...

for the record, I think he won a slighlty comfortable decision over WIlliams.

[CubanGuyNYC]

He has gotten a lot more attention than he would have if he would just had won the decision.

If Lara had won, people would've been like, "Oh, snap! Lara's better than I thought...or, maybe P. Willy's done." Then it would've been business as usual. The robbery has kept Erislandy in the boxing public's eye much longer than normal. Many of the same people that would've called Lara "overrated," had he won on the cards, are now his fans.

[paulf]

Fuck no. He got the same attention from fans he'd have got if he won, minus all the fight opportunities and paychecks that he'd get if he had won. Despite what the fans want, non-famous fighters coming off a loss fight for less money as opposed to more.

[Biolink]

Maybe in a way.

If Lara had won I think P will would be getting more attention about how its time for him to hang em up especially after what Martinez did to him, but that bad decision brought some things to light I guess(Bad judging, etc...)

[CubanGuyNYC]

Somewhat, yes. His performance got him the immediate attention during the fight, but it was the resulting loss that cemented the performance in people's heads.

More importantly, it was the loss that cemented his performance with the media...and in the end, that's what's going to matter.

He got the short end of the stick...at least that's what the masses are told by the media, so it has to be true...regardless of what one's opinion is. That's how it works sometimes...

for the record, I think he won a slighlty comfortable decision over WIlliams.

I agree about the media. If you have them on your side, you're golden. Lara has them on his side.

As for the decision. I watched the fight once and scored it. In an earlier thread, I stated that I had Williams winning only two rounds, but that there were three close rounds that might've been seen for either fighter. It's certainly possible that when I watch the fight again I'll see it somewhat differently. However, as I said in that earlier post, I just don't see a score closer than 115-113, Lara, as defensible.

[Ringlife]

I think so Golden Boy needs to get him going he's hot right now.

[AntonTheMeh]

obviously not, champions aren't crowned by sympathy; having beaten the dog **** out of a "feared" fighter and get robbed isn't gonna make matters better. luckily, everyone at 154 looks pretty even, so he'll be okay.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Fuck no. He got the same attention from fans he'd have got if he won, minus all the fight opportunities and paychecks that he'd get if he had won. Despite what the fans want, non-famous fighters coming off a loss fight for less money as opposed to more.

You might have a point about the bold...maybe. But I disagree about Lara getting the same attention from the fans. I think Erislandy is riding a wave of sympathy he simply wouldn't have gotten had he won. I think he's getting the best of both worlds.