Are we too harsh on "quitters" in boxing?

[iamboxing]

How can he quit when he didn't even fight? If he'd quit after letting his hands go and getting hurt then maybe, but I could tell he was petrified from the moment the bell rang. Yes, we're not in a position to judge him, but he shouldn't have chosen boxing as a career if he can't stomach the thought of being hurt.

[boliodogs]

That's all true but Rigo fought like a scared fighter, clinching and holding and hardly throwing a serious punch even before he quit. He didn't fight to win and he embarrassed himself.

[Ray*]

There is an unwritten rule in boxing regarding this, boxers knows this themselves. So yeah they are going to get criticised if they quit, especially when their injuries are not visible to the naked eye.

[Eddy Current]

I never blame a fighter for quitting. When the alternative is risking brain damage or ending up in a coma, why not preserve your health?

Sure some fatass like Dan Rafael may ridicule you for it as he sits on his fat ass typing away, but when your long-term health is at stake who cares what people may say about you.

[Scipio2009]

The simple answer is no

Fighters fight, and it's on the referee, but most importantly the fighter's trainer to look after the fighter.

A perfect example was Stevenson-Fonfara 2, with Virgil Hunter in the corner; Fonfara got nailed with a massive shot, he was able to get back to the corner, Virgil tried to get it in his psyche that he needed to buy some time, Fonfara gets blasted again, and Virgil Hunter made the call and saved him from any further punishment.

Hunter kept Fonfara in for as long as he saw that there was still fight in him, and not a punch further.

Rigondeax likely had a busted hand, but that shouldn't have stopped the fight; go back to the corner, let your trainer know (so he can keep an eye out), and fight with the rest of your tools (a stellar lead hand, his boxing brain, and even grit through a few lefts).

With his life in no real threat from a busted hand, the question came down to pain tolerance, which Rigo apparently wanted none of

[spenz]

Rigo should have been briefed before quitting. Explained that by doing so he is committing a career suicide, no more shekels for you, are you good with this?. Quitting are viewed as cowards in boxing by general public, it's a tough tough situation, it's tantamount to being shot a thousand times. You lose respect, career will hit rock bottom, you lose trust etc .. and worst of all fans will never forget it f o r e v e r.

[!! Shawn]

I'm sure they as fighters have the capabilities to asses when a fight is completely out of their hands.

Rigo would have been stopped, he knew it, we knew it. Is quitting really so crazy n a situation like that

I don't think Loma would have stopped him, I think Loma was going easy on him and treating it as an exhibition.

I think once Rigondeaux realized he was being carried by someone who could get him out of there if he wanted too, he quit out of pride.

[MurkaMan]

I'm sure they as fighters have the capabilities to asses when a fight is completely out of their hands.

Rigo would have been stopped, he knew it, we knew it. Is quitting really so crazy n a situation like that

It depends. But for me, I really admired Rigo, and looked at him as a boxing God. His dominance, and his confident attitude. To see him lose like that is stunning. How he was outclassed. But to see a man who talks as much trash, quit like that, blew my mind. I was in utter shock!

[Elroy The Great]

quitting in a sport such as boxing, well, isnt a good look. especially if youre not bloodied and been knocked down late in a fight (yes, im referring to idiots who refer to cotto as 'kneegel').

to quit because you feel you have no hope on the scorecards is lame.
to quit due to ''injuries'', well, they better be noticeable and drastic. HONEST fight fans (HA !) can tell a fake fnck when they see one.

groupies/fan boys are known for giving out passes like halloween candy.

[CubanGuyNYC]

Quitting is a big deal, but every fight must be taken on a case by case basis. Sometimes it’s understandable, even preferable that a fighter quit, but those cases are few and far between, in my opinion. In Rigondeaux’s case, he deserves criticism. Personally, I’m over it, but there’s no denying that what he pulled was a terrible quit-job. As others have pointed out, Rigo wasn’t sustaining any punishment at all. He quit simply because he knew he couldn’t win. Sorry, man, that goes not only against the spirit of the sport, but against the spirit of all sports.