[MYTH] You got to BEAT the Champ

[McNulty]

A lot of cats from my generation say well you got to beat the champ when a fight is close.

Meaning, you got to whup that asś to get the win. Getting the win just isn't enough, you need to do more than that.

For example, well that was a close round but the challenger landed the cleaner punches and stopped the champ in his tracks once or twice that round. Nope, not enough cuz you can't have close rounds with the champ, champ wins those cuz he's champ.

I used to regurgitate this when I was a kid --- mostly when telling people Hagler really beat Leonard and got robbed (which I now believe SRL won handily).

As I got older and wiser I started critically thinking about the concept.

Basically what these people are saying is the champ gets more points or something in a championship bout.

Nah man, the champ can lose it close. All you need to do is win the round. Champ don'tget shít if he doesn't earn it and getting a belt doesn't give you imaginary points.

You got to beat the champ is a myth.

[W1LL]

It's an excuse to rationalize gift decisions. I've used it myself countless times.

[sbbigmike]

You have to at least take 4 rounds convincingly, I was rooting for canelo to ascend and tried to give him every round possible yet, 9-3 everytime

[Mammoth]

You can 1 point win beat the champ

[Boxing42]

exactly, a judge is not gonna give you points for being a champ thats just ridiculous

[Rip Chudd]

I don't know how many times i've told casuals this. A fight is twelve 3 minute rounds, not an entire fight judged at the end. To beat the champ all you have to do is win more rounds

[E-Thug]

It's a nonsensical concept. Every fight should be judged on its own merits. Every round should be scored on its own merits, irrespective of who the champion and challenger are

Every time someone has said to me "you have to take the title from the champ", i always counter with "well, did the champ do enough to retain?"

[FrankieClutch]

It's the dumbest cliche in all of sports. That would be like telling NBA teams they don't get a win unless they beat Golden State by more than 10 points.

[Mammoth]

You could get the dog shit beat out of you for five rounds and edge out 7 unimpressive rounds and still win...

[doubletake]

I think people use the phrase incorrectly.

If they say you've got to beat the champ, it's because if the champ wins OR gets a draw, the champ continues being a champ. The only way to become a champion is to literally beat the champ and get a win over them. If you lose or draw, you get nothing.