Re: How many fights does Wlad have left... and who will those opponents be
It's a cruel business. It's cool to fight for the fans and take risks and get punched and take damage, but what happens when you get injured in the ring like a McClellan or Mago, or you end up punch drunk, in jail, addicted to drugs, ect like so many boxers in the past.
Take a look at what happened to exciting fan favourite Jerry Quarry. In his 40s he didn't know how to dress himself or how to spell his name any more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVOoDdRTAAM
Re: How many fights does Wlad have left... and who will those opponents be
Quote:
Originally Posted by
El Kabong
But I digress
Yes you already did!;D
Re: How many fights does Wlad have left... and who will those opponents be
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Beanflicker
It's a cruel business. It's cool to fight for the fans and take risks and get punched and take damage, but what happens when you get injured in the ring like a McClellan or Mago, or you end up punch drunk, in jail, addicted to drugs, ect like so many boxers in the past.
Take a look at what happened to exciting fan favourite Jerry Quarry. In his 40s he didn't know how to dress himself or how to spell his name any more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVOoDdRTAAM
I think some of us (not certain where you are on this) are seeing the same thing from different angles.
1. Some here are talking about how Wlad's temperament is. (that's it)
2. Defenders of Wlad turn it into a debate on the long term effects of those who stand & trade -then ask why should he change what's working.
With that being said: 2 different subject on this thread. None of us objective fans(hint sarcasm):rolleyes: are claiming Wlad will only be accepted if he stands & trade & goes brain dead.
I can only speak for myself:
Wlad doesn't stand & trade because - he is trying to be smart. He can't STAND & TRADE-it aint in him. That's why I pointed out Vitali- he seems to have his faculties post-boxing doesn't he? Serious. Find any ...ANY time Wlad gets clobbered and look at what he does. That shit is instinctive in him to clinch.
Wlad is like a running back in the NFL who doesn't break the line of scrimmage so he runs to the sidelines to get his two punk ass yards. Add em up' heck might win the game.
Wlad is like a Center in the NBA who won't dunk because he's afraid of getting hack-a-shacked.
Unlike Shaq, Wlad will get his on the free throw line- so it might win the game.
But fans will point that shit out. It's what we do.:rolleyes:
Re: How many fights does Wlad have left... and who will those opponents be
Well I'm like anyone else, I wanna see Gatti/Ward, Castillo/Corales, Hagler/Hearns, I want to see knockouts, knockdowns, cuts, swollen eyes, drama, back and forth action, ect. I think where I differ from most fans is that I don't believe it's a boxer's responsibility to provide those things. A boxer's job is to win the fight. He doesn't owe me a knockout, a knockdown, or a close, back and forth fight. I also don't believe that a fighter's level of excitement factors in to how good a fighter is. Again, I think the only thing that decides if a fighter is great is whether or not he's great a winning fights, whether he's knocking everyone out early like GGG or he's going the distance every time out like Mayweather. Often (but obviously not always), being exciting shows a deficit in skill, because you need to fight recklessly, you're hitting and getting hit, your fights are close with a lot of back and forth because you can't control the pace of a fighter, ect (think: Arturo Gatti).
In boxing and in life in general, I can't fault a guy for doing what's best for him (as long as it isn't illegal or immoral). Wlad fights in a way where he gives his opponents as small a chance to win as possible, and he takes as little damage as possible so he can hopefully have a good quality of life after boxing. Wlad isn't fucking anyone over, everyone knows how he fights and what he does. So more power to him: Wlad is a great fighter because he's great at winning fights.
