So is it health first or not?

[Lopez_Boxing]

When floyd says "health first". People call him a coward.

Wilder says, he wants to go out on his shield and the forum calls him an idiot. Advise him to put health first.

So which is it, is putting health first cowardly or smart?

[hugh grant]

But with Floyd health first means not fighting the toughest challengers if possible, or getting as much advantage first.

[YoungManRumble]

I think it's foolish to expect your corner to let you go out on your shield no matter what. At a certain point it needs to be out of the fighters hands since they can't think clearly in the moment. Also forcing someone to live with the fact you let them turn into a crippled drooling sack of goo because of your pride is pretty damn selfish in my opinion too.

[SN!PER]

Also, when your favorite boxer throws rabbit punches, it's "veteran tactics."

But nobody defended Terrel Williams when he rabbit punched Prichard Colón.

[LoadedWraps]

When floyd says "health first". People call him a coward.

Wilder says, he wants to go out on his shield and the forum calls him an idiot. Advise him to put health first.

So which is it, is putting health first cowardly or smart?

I have a different background so I favor the mentality of going out on your shield. A mans sport. A gladiator sport. Just like I've argued football players know the risks and assume them, so do fighters.

Floyd was selling his fights but at the same point has the right to fight for what he wants to prioritize. If that's tomorrow, so be it. Will always be a huge Floyd fan. I'll still get chills, and fired up when I hear a guy will die in the ring though. Takes me back to active duty days. I can relate to that mentality.

[Lopez_Boxing]

Also, when your favorite boxer throws rabbit punches, it's "veteran tactics."

But nobody defended Terrel Williams when he rabbit punched Prichard Colón.

Basically. Views and standards Change from boxer to boxer

[-Kev-]

Lol I said the same thing. They don’t even know anymore. They’re just hating on these dudes just to hate.

[LoadedWraps]

Also, when your favorite boxer throws rabbit punches, it's "veteran tactics."

But nobody defended Terrel Williams when he rabbit punched Prichard Colón.

Boxing is far more complex that that. Not all rabbit punches are equal from an ethical standpoint. It's one thing to rabbit punch a guy breaking a clinch, after the bell, etc, it's another to hit him there inadvertently or to do so without full steam to fight dirty intentionally but to send a message, not to hurt with the illegal shot - just to say I'll get away with it and I'll force the fight I want. It's psychological.

[HeadBodyBodyBody]

Surely, there is a happy medium to be found somewhere between overly-sanitised "health-first" approaches and fights to the death

[SN!PER]

Boxing is far more complex that that. Not all rabbit punches are equal from an ethical standpoint. It's one thing to rabbit punch a guy breaking a clinch, after the bell, etc, it's another to hit him there inadvertently or to do so without full steam to fight dirty intentionally but to send a message, not to hurt with the illegal shot - just to say I'll get away with it and I'll force the fight I want. It's psychological.

I agree that the intention behind the shot is important, and there are a lot of factors to consider. Last weekend's fight is making me reconsider the protocol that referees should follow. And I'm looking at past fights differently too.

For example, why was Bernard Hopkins awarded up to 5 minutes of recovery time for a cheap shot behind the head from Roy Jones Jr.?

If a fighter is visibly stunned from a blow to the back of the head, whether intentional or not, is it not fair for the referee to give them up to 5 minutes recovery? Similar to a low blow?

In retrospect, I think the same can be applied to Wilder vs. Fury I. Fury was hit by a rabbit punch in round 9, and should've received recovery time if he'd asked for it.

Maybe it's Deontay's fault for not asking for recovery time in the rematch? Maybe it's the referee's fault for not ruling it as a foul? Or maybe it's just an unfortunate turn of events, and as boxing fans we all have to accept it and move on.