[Run and Gun Game...]

Im just curious, do you believe a fighter should go out on their shield, or use their brain.

For example.

When Roy Jones fought Tarver the first time, he knew that his body and time had betrayed him, yet he went on to give Tarver a rematch, even though in his heart he had to know it was going to be very difficult for him to win

Then you have lennox Lewis who fought Vitalli Klitchko. In the third round the outside ridge of the thumb on Lewis right glove caught Vitalli perfect causing a very bad cut. ( you can see the punch that caused the cut on youtube.) Although he went to to cut vitallis lip, and cut vitalli under the eye, the major cut and reason for stoppage was the cut over the eye. In all honesty Lewis got pushed around in that fight, and was o his way to losing a decision if not getting knocked out. Lewis knew the difficulty of getting up for vitalli again, decided to retire instead of continue the rivalry that could have been with Vitalli.

So in your opinion, should a fighter do what Jones did and go out on his shield, or walk away mid stream of a rivalry

This post has been edited by Run and Gun Game Calls: Nov 1 2010, 09:18 AM

[SmartyBeardo]

Im just curious, do you believe a fighter should go out on their shield, or use their brain.

For example.

When Roy Jones fought Tarver the first time, he knew that his body and time had betrayed him, yet he went on to give Tarver a rematch, even though in his heart he had to know it was going to be very difficult for him to win

Then you have lennox Lewis who fought Vitalli Klitchko. In the third round the outside ridge of the thumb on Lewis right glove caught Vitalli perfect causing a very bad cut. ( you can see the punch that caused the cut on youtube.) Although he went to to cut vitallis lip, and cut vitalli under the eye, the major cut and reason for stoppage was the cut over the eye. In all honesty Lewis got pushed around in that fight, and was o his way to losing a decision if not getting knocked out. Lewis knew the difficulty of getting up for vitalli again, decided to retire instead of continue the rivalry that could have been with Vitalli.

So in your opinion, should a fighter do what Jones did and go out on his shield, or walk away mid stream of a rivalry

RJJ is running out of shields.

"We aren't here to die for our country. We are here to make the other bastards die for their's."

This post has been edited by SmartyBeardo: Nov 1 2010, 09:21 AM

[salvador]

Im just curious, do you believe a fighter should go out on their shield, or use their brain.

The most important question in the sport, and I think we all know the right answer. It's the entire reason boxing is the greatest drama on earth.

Second, regarding Roy Jones, his moment of truth came in the final two rounds of the 3rd Tarver fight (the most important career defining fight of his life) when he had the clear choice whether to throw everything he had at Tarver and risk going out on his shield or to play it safe and go out on his feet with a loss. I don't know much about Roy, but I'd bet all the tea in China that if he had those two rounds to do over he would have thrown the kitchen sink at Tarver.

[Hittman25]

i believe you go out on your shelid using your brain......

[lloyd mayflower]

It probably depends what stage of your career you are at. I dont think it makes much sense for a young fighter who takes an L early to jump straight back in with whoever beat them. If you are in a position to go and learn and climb back up and try again later then id say thats fair enough. Id say for older well established top level fighters, youv really got to try and get back in their and right that wrong. Maybe more so if you get knocked out. However, I dont think guys like Roy Jones should keep fighting if thats what you mean Run. I wasnt sure if you meant go out on your shield in a certain fight or in your career as a whole..

[Run and Gun Game...]

As far as Jones goes, in the third Tarver fight. Jones didnt look better in that fight, Tarver just looked like crap too. I dont think jones had the ability to pull the trigger anymore at that stage.

But lets rephrase it. Jones faced the biggest challenge in his life fighting Tarver, because his skills diminished to the point that the Tarver could stand in the ring and bang on him.

Same exact case with Lewis, he had slowed down enough that Klitchko was able to push around the man who up until this point had always been the bully in the ring.

Lewis decided to call it a day instead of giving the fans a rematch he knew he would have a very hard time winning. Jones knew he was gutted in his victory over tarver, yet he walked right back into the ring.

They were in very similar situations, so my question is, give the rematch knowing you have lost a step and are gonna struggle winning a rematch, or walk away and ignore what fans believe you owe them.

Just curious what everyone thinks the correct course of action is

[Run and Gun Game...]

It probably depends what stage of your career you are at. I dont think it makes much sense for a young fighter who takes an L early to jump straight back in with whoever beat them. If you are in a position to go and learn and climb back up and try again later then id say thats fair enough. Id say for older well established top level fighters, youv really got to try and get back in their and right that wrong. Maybe more so if you get knocked out. However, I dont think guys like Roy Jones should keep fighting if thats what you mean Run. I wasnt sure if you meant go out on your shield in a certain fight or in your career as a whole..

Out on your shield as a career Lloyd

[gravytrain]

As Sugar Ray Robinson once said "It's not about the money, people miss the spotlight of being a champion.". I think most fighters don't want to go out on their shield.

[HaydelHammer]

actually in the tarver jones rematch...roy looked himself, fast hands ..etc...he just got his monkey a$$ clipped in that corner.

the third fight...no excuses...he should have finished tarver and "let that sh*t go" like manny steward once told lennox. lol

[SmartyBeardo]

Lennox Lewis made the better decision. He knew he was done and went out on top.

RJJ has a tough time facing reality, like so many boxers over the past century.