Comments Thread For: “Fighting Words” — Money Triumphs Again Over Principle

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

by David P. Greisman - Money almost always triumphs over principle. This had everything to do with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. beating Brian Vera in a fight that was already embarrassingly controversial before it even began, and then ended in a manner that did nothing to shake that stink away.

Money is not directly the cause of why three judges at ringside once again rendered a verdict that differed from many of the unofficial scorecards of boxing writers and fans.

Rather, money is what gave Chavez the privilege of commanding an unfair advantage.

It is what led Vera to forsake the premise of a fair fight and take an additional payday that amounted to a deal with the devil.

And the circumstances that led to money changing hands in turn affected the way those judges saw the exchanging if punches.

Vera was placed into a situation in which he could not win — even though he arguably deserved to.

He was placed into this situation because of what he isn’t and Chavez is. While Chavez is a star, Vera is a scrapper, a man who has been made to ply his trade as a permanent B-side, a designated opponent designed to give prospects and contenders a test without giving them a loss.

A look beyond his own defeats reveals that Vera hasn’t resigned himself to sticking to that script. He upset undefeated Andy Lee in 2008, traveled to Quebec to knock out Sebastien Demers in 2010, took a pair of decisions over Sergio Mora in 2011 and 2012, and scored a stoppage against Sergiy Dzinziruk earlier this year.

That hasn’t earned him any additional leverage. In nearly every appearance on ESPN2, Telefutura and HBO, his role has remained the same.


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[chaposinaloa]

We had a bigger "Robbery" in Mora vs. Vera and Martinez Vs Murray but who cares right??

[DoktorSleepless]

Yeah, nobody seems to be talking Vera getting the Chavez fight in the first place because he was awfully fortunate against Mora in Texas with equally ridiculous 118-110 and 117-111 scorecards. Nobody deserves being robbed, but it's a funny a cycle.

[edgarg]

I got as far as where David talks about Vera being at a disadvantage at all levels. then I quit. I really try hard to read "Fighting Words" because I like David's writing-but only his reporting. I couldn't even read this 10 Count either.

It seems from the little I did read that the writer is against money. I suppose that he writes these articles free of charge, and lives on air and good wishes......

And Vera was not completely at a disadvantage. He got what was reported on this site yesterday, as an extra payment of 6 figures, meaning somewhere between $100.000 and $999,999. Not so much of a disadvantage when he's actually doing it precisely for money.

And as for another perceived disadvantage of weight, lets look at it this way; Chavez was overweight because he's a big lad and has been sitting on the sidelines for over a year. Most of the extra weight was fat, a well known disadvantage to carry around in a physical contest. At that, he was only a pound heavier than Vera who was supposed to be fighting fit and chomping at the bit for weeks.

For a tune-up opponent, he did pretty well and will get several better paying fights from this-not forgetting the good beginning with that extra six figures........

[doom_specialist]

I got as far as where David talks about Vera being at a disadvantage at all levels. then I quit. I really try hard to read "Fighting Words" because I like David's writing-but only his reporting. I couldn't even read this 10 Count either.

It seems from the little I did read that the writer is against money. I suppose that he writes these articles free of charge, and lives on air and good wishes......

And Vera was not completely at a disadvantage. He got what was reported on this site yesterday, as an extra payment of 6 figures, meaning somewhere between $100.000 and $999,999. Not so much of a disadvantage when he's actually doing it precisely for money.

And as for another perceived disadvantage of weight, lets look at it this way; Chavez was overweight because he's a big lad and has been sitting on the sidelines for over a year. Most of the extra weight was fat, a well known disadvantage to carry around in a physical contest. At that, he was only a pound heavier than Vera who was supposed to be fighting fit and chomping at the bit for weeks.

For a tune-up opponent, he did pretty well and will get several better paying fights from this-not forgetting the good beginning with that extra six figures........

Being overweight because of a suspension brought on by your irresponsibility is not a plausible excuse for needing to change your contracted fight weight several times. Junior signed the contract several months in advance, and knew the weight he was contracted to make. It's a fighter's duty to follow the terms set forth by the contract, not shell out more money so that you can change/do whatever you like, hence Mr. David's title for his article. The extra money Vera was paid for Junior's disregard for making weight didn't help him fight last weekend, and it didn't get him a W either.

And Vera was obviously disadvantaged in the weight category. Boxers gain weight rapidly after long training camps, and Vera more than likely (slightly) rehydrated early to gain some bulk before the weigh in. Junior was probably close to cruiserweight on fight night.

[liuj88]

I got as far as where David talks about Vera being at a disadvantage at all levels. then I quit. I really try hard to read "Fighting Words" because I like David's writing-but only his reporting. I couldn't even read this 10 Count either.

It seems from the little I did read that the writer is against money. I suppose that he writes these articles free of charge, and lives on air and good wishes......

And Vera was not completely at a disadvantage. He got what was reported on this site yesterday, as an extra payment of 6 figures, meaning somewhere between $100.000 and $999,999. Not so much of a disadvantage when he's actually doing it precisely for money.

And as for another perceived disadvantage of weight, lets look at it this way; Chavez was overweight because he's a big lad and has been sitting on the sidelines for over a year. Most of the extra weight was fat, a well known disadvantage to carry around in a physical contest. At that, he was only a pound heavier than Vera who was supposed to be fighting fit and chomping at the bit for weeks.

For a tune-up opponent, he did pretty well and will get several better paying fights from this-not forgetting the good beginning with that extra six figures........

I don't think any reasonable person would be against earning money. But there is such a thing as fairness. And decency. And honoring an agreement.

That Vera accepted additional compensation for his opponent's not making weight is not necessarily something to be accepted as some kind of reward, or financial bonus, for his opponent's inability or unwillingness, to follow through with the agreed weight. Otherwise, why not have boxers with wildly different weights fight each other, with the lighter one being "compensated" for it? They are all doing this for the money after all, aren't they? Why not eliminate weight classes altogether?

As to the author's writing, whether one likes it or not is a matter of taste. But expressing your dislike, without providing an explanation, doesn't do anything, except possibly needlessly offend. You may as well not have said anything.

I like the author's writing, and find nothing wrong with it. And I find the 10 Count to be very entertaining, informative, and quite humorous--something I look forward to reading regularly.