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Throughout boxing history, many top prospects, and contenders have been put in the ring with very strong opponents. In many cases these prospects or contenders give a hell of an effort and succeed, or give an hell of an effort and fall short of victory (David Reid, Fernando Vargas, Meldrick Taylor, David Kamau, Edwin Rosario, William Joppy, Oba Carr, Mayorga, Mclellan just to name a few). Some suffered permanent damage, while others where just never the same fighters. Examples such as- Taylor's loss to Chavez which had a very strong negative physcological effect on Taylor's future, David Reid's loss to Tito in which he suffered a detached retina and was never the same, Vargas although attempted to perform his style after the Tito fight, was never the same, Gerald Mclellan we all know what happened to him in the Benn fight, Edwin Rosario was never the same fighter after JCC, Joppy never fought the same after Tito. (I also believe Mayorga was never going to be the same after the Tito fight)
The phsycological effect that a "big" loss has on fighters, has historically caused devastating effetcs on fighters. This is usually accompanied by a beating that they recieve or a brave attempt to show the heart and determination that they have. But this bravery, many times to no avail, has proven to sometimes destroy boxers. So what is worth more, standing in the ring with a bigger more powerful, more experienced man, and being damaged possibly permanently... or throwing in the towel when it is appropriate?.....Is respect for one fight worth the devastation of an entire career?
In the end, bravery can win you respect and appreciation, but as a professional, how far does that go?..... Will the latter generations look at the record of a fighter on paper, see a loss and respect it? Or will it just appear as a loss?.... Many have come back from losses, but not many have prevailed after a beating.
The phsycological effect that a "big" loss has on fighters, has historically caused devastating effetcs on fighters. This is usually accompanied by a beating that they recieve or a brave attempt to show the heart and determination that they have. But this bravery, many times to no avail, has proven to sometimes destroy boxers. So what is worth more, standing in the ring with a bigger more powerful, more experienced man, and being damaged possibly permanently... or throwing in the towel when it is appropriate?.....Is respect for one fight worth the devastation of an entire career?
In the end, bravery can win you respect and appreciation, but as a professional, how far does that go?..... Will the latter generations look at the record of a fighter on paper, see a loss and respect it? Or will it just appear as a loss?.... Many have come back from losses, but not many have prevailed after a beating.
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