Abner Mares: Dignity In Defeat

[Hop]

I admire athletes who handle it well when things don't go their way. Abner Mares is the most recent example, and I wish more would follow it.

Being gracious and humble doesn't mean agreement with the officiating necessarily, or refusing to give your point of view. Mares has gently made it known that he felt he was responding to the ref when the fight was called, and that if he had been allowed to finish the round and regroup it "would've been a different story". However, he gives genuine credit to his opponent -- calling him "the better man that day", and there is no trace of bitterness. I went into the fight a fan of Abner, but am only more so now.

Q: Are there other fighters who stood out to you as those who handled disappointment with marked class and good sportsmanship?

I felt Austin Trout did after his loss to Canelo, in a fight that was much closer than was being acknowledged and was in part ruined by the ridiculous 'open scoring' system.

Anyone else you remember?

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

Unfortunately that doesn't sell with today's youth. They want to see the Adrian Broner's of the world be loud, obnoxious and arrogant. That's their role models and the way this generation handles itself.

They see humility and honor as being a weakness.

[WarMaidana]

props to mares, taking his loss like a man. Although i wish the ref counted to ten to assess the scenario first. But mares is a true fighter, like he says he aint trying to stay in boxing to be undefeated, he wants the best... thats the atttitude we need in boxing

[Hop]

Unfortunately that doesn't sell with today's youth. They want to see the Adrian Broner's of the world be loud, obnoxious and arrogant. That's their role models and the way this generation handles itself.

They see humility and honor as being a weakness.

Pure gold.

[Hop]

Props to Mares, taking his loss like a man. Although I wish the ref counted to ten to assess the scenario first. But Mares is a true fighter, like he says he ain't trying to stay in boxing to be undefeated, he wants the best... that's the atttitude we need in boxing.

Good to know I'm not alone in my sentiments.

[Funky_Monk]

I liked Cleverly's post fight statement(s). Grounded reasoned, some saw him suggesting he might quit as throwing his toys out the pram but that's not how I saw it.

[TooSweet]

Mares is still a good fighter. He just got hit with a clean shot by a bigger fighter who can punch. That happens in boxing. But I don't think he was the hype job that others were calling him. He's battle tested over the past two to three years.

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

Mares is still a good fighter. He just got hit with a clean shot by a bigger fighter who can punch. That happens in boxing. But I don't think he was the hype job that others were calling him. He's battle tested over the past two to three years.

People that call Mares a hye jobs are idiots. He fought in the last 2 years, arguably the toughest group of lb4lb fighters and won all of them. Johnny Gonzales is no easy fight, he's a seasoned vet with a lot of power.

It was just a great left hook that ended the fight. I think if the ref allows himt o continue, then we see a different fight in the later rounds.

[DosRounds]

got to love his attitude both in and out of the ring.

[Dagomba]

People that call Mares a hye jobs are idiots. He fought in the last 2 years, arguably the toughest group of lb4lb fighters and won all of them. Johnny Gonzales is no easy fight, he's a seasoned vet with a lot of power.

It was just a great left hook that ended the fight. I think if the ref allows himt o continue, then we see a different fight in the later rounds.

It's ridiculous to call him a hype job, he was a proven champ. It was almost as ridiculous to have jhonny a 9:1 underdog.

As for the bold, I doubt he would've recoup. Gonzalez landed the same hook previous to the first KD. I think he was going to keep landing it on a dazed Mares, plus he had no legs, you can tell by the way he fell. Anyway, he was going to get KOd eventually. Maybe in a rematch things can be different but that hook pretty much ended the fight, I don't think Mares was going to shake that punch in the next round.