Is it better to lose early in pro career or later?

[SeGoodland]

I watched a recent interview with Tyson Fury, in the build up to the Wilder match, and he made a very good point. Most of the headline fighters nowadays are too reluctant to put their unbeaten records on the line.

I am just wondering what everyone's thoughts are when it comes to unbeaten fighters verses fighters that have experienced a loss early in their careers and what scenario is better for a pro?

Obviously you have the very few that are exceptional and have never tasted defeat but with the likes of headline fighters that are active i.e. Wilder, Fury, Usyk, Joshua...should they have tasted defeat early so they could develop further and into better fighters?

It would seem in the modern era where boxing is far more accessible via other platforms that a loss would mean the end of their popularity. Does anyone agree with that?

[A.K]

It’s better never to lose infact get your loses at amatuer.

[SeGoodland]

It’s better never to lose infact get your loses at amatuer.

Yes, obviously! But only the exceptional never taste defeat. The likes of the names that I mentioned, will ultimately taste defeat so would it be better to have an early loss or a later loss?

[Robbie Barrett]

Depends. For marketability no. For learning from mistakes and improving as a fighter yes.

[A.K]

Yes, obviously! But only the exceptional never taste defeat. The likes of the names that I mentioned, will ultimately taste defeat so would it be better to have an early loss or a later loss?

You honorable at am’s it’s all gone at pros

[b Murphington]

Losing too often too early in your career could hurt your marketability.

Losing later in your career I think is better because by that time you already have a following, so it might not hurt as much.

A lot of it has to do with how you lose and who you lose to.

[KidDinamita]

Both have advantages and disadvantages. If there is a choice its better to never lose.

But if you lose in the early stage you might not get opportunities in the future, but you might learn from the mistakes and rebuild and be successful.

If you lose later, people can make an excuse that the fighter is past his prime, but can also be turned as an overrated fighter as well.

Even if a fighter is unbeaten, people will always say that he didn't fight good competition or fought fighters past their prime.

Most of the time its all about timing in life.

[_Rexy_]

Doesn’t matter. Guys would rather be 30-0 facing nobodies than risk that 0 and daring to be great.

[BLASTER1]

Fighters and fans make too much out of a loss.
Everyone eventually loses if they dare to be great so to me if they learn from a loss and keep fighting the best a loss is just a loss.
Not the end of the world or their careers.

[EasternEuroFan]

Boxing fans are very fickle, so it doesn't matter. You can lose a fight to another top fighter and get called a bum.

Not really a UFC fan but i think their fans are a bit better in that respect. A load of their top fighters have a few defeats on their record but they come again. it's just accepted.

Boxing fans are one of the worst things about the sport. as much as i dislike diva fighters wanting it all without taking good fights, i actually understand them sometimes. Taking a risk, only to be slated if it doesn't work out.