This word... BUM... IT'S GARBAGE!

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

It actually saddens me to see people on this site referring to fighters... (Some that are world champions) as bums. People have referred to the likes of (I know there are more but these are what come to mind of late) Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, John Duddy and others as bums.

I can't even piece together in my mind the stupidity involved in statements such as these.

There was a thread I was just reading about how Bernard Hopkins is a bum that should have retired years ago. Let’s look into this statement for a second and peel back a few of the layers of idiot, shall we?

First we'll look at Bernard on Paper...

Ring Magazine middleweight title (2002-2005)

Ring Magazine light heavyweight title (2006)

Longest EVER middleweight title reign.

Most EVER defenses as middleweight champ...

Ok... Bum already sounds pretty dumb, doesn't it?
Let us peel back another layer of moron.

Bernard as a fighter some will say... I included... Can be very boring. People fail to realize it is due to the fact that Bernard makes you fight on HIS terms. HE will dictate the pace of the action... HE will grind it down to a dull roar so he can pick you apart. He is one of the craftiest fighters of our time that can always find a way to beat you....

The fact that the other statement was "he should have retired years ago" is equally as idiotic...

hmmmm... oh, wait... what’s that say up there?

Oh that's right... Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight Title 2006.







Joe Calzaghe has also been called a bum... wow... There's almost too much stupid in that statement to attack in one thread... I actually feel dumber after typing that....



Calzaghe is the longest reigning title holder in any weight class in boxing... He was named the BBC Sports Personality of the year. JOE HAS NEVER EVER BEEN DEFEATED! Hmmmm... Damn bum

When he fought Lacy the American was supposed to decapitate the poor frail Welshman... LOL. What a beating

When he fought Kessler, he was fighting the "best" SMW in the world besides himself... And he was... But clearly not as good as himself.

There is no one in the world right now that has the work rate or the chin to take calzaghe out... PERIODE!



To call an undefeated Champ who has had that title for 10 years a bum is... well... They haven't made up a word for that yet









John Duddy was called a bum last week maybe...

Hmmm... lets take a look at this little kernel of ani-knowlege...



Duddy is clearly a fan favorite because of his brutal style and anti-fense... People love drama and when Duddy is in the ring he delivers... He has a Gatti like blood and guts style people can and do latch on to.

You never know what you're gonna get at a duddy fight cuz it seems either his opponent or himself could go at anytime... That's drama!

The sport needs its ying and yang... Like anything. You have your Floyds and Whitakers and you have your Gattis and Lamottas... You need one to have the other. It's the balance of boxing. To call one unnecessary or demean it is to do the same to the other.

Boxing needs its Duddys...

Will Duddy ever win a defense competition? Probably not...

Will he be a great draw and give us great fights? Sure... He has already






People need to know that it takes a special person to even set foot in that ring... Never mind be champ, reign for ten years, have 20 consecutive titles defenses or be a blood and guts crowd favorite...

[donnydarkoIRL]

Mate, would you believe it, I think I started a thread in the past with an identical title.

It really does disgust me when I hear fighters being denigrated with this word, particularily by individuals who contribute nothing to the sport.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

Mate, would you believe it, I think I started a thread in the past with an identical title.

It really does disgust me when I hear fighters being denigrated with this word, particularily by individuals who contribute nothing to the sport.

It just pisses me off... A feel dumber whenever I read one of those threads of idiocy

[donnydarkoIRL]

I can relate Pride,
Last week I started another thread criticising people who never boxed needlessly criticising fighters.

It really makes my blood boil hearing that.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

When I fought I used to dream of having a fight at a decent venue... Never mind doing what these guys do every 6 to 10 months...

[donnydarkoIRL]

Yeah I know exactly what you mean.
The fact is that journeymen, veterans and prospects make up 90% of the fight game. Every fighter can't be a world champion. Respect should be allowed for all fighters, not just the best.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

Yeah I know exactly what you mean.
The fact is that journeymen, veterans and prospects make up 90% of the fight game. Every fighter can't be a world champion. Respect should be allowed for all fighters, not just the best.

Maybe if we keep making up new belts we can strive for that

[DaxxKahn]

Good Post POB..Have some rep....People today do not use the word BUM when referring to boxers in the correct context it was made out to be,,,,

Guy started using that word back in the late 1920's and was a term mostly used by promoters and managers for fighters who once had potential or were once on top and threw it all away by not training and living the high life.....Once their money was gone the guys had pretty much wasted their glory years and their skills had eroded....They had nothing else to fall back on but boxing...By this time guys were getting beaten by fellows they would have sparked out 3 yrs earlier or laboring ugly decisions where they would get the nod based on their name only.... with little reguard for the fact they put zero effort into training etc....Until the point their name was no longer a draw and these guys would then have to fight under assumed names in nowhere venues.... they would be basically tramps going one town to another being a punching bag for local favorites

Hence forth why they were referred to as bums because they could have made something of themselves and they wasted their careers pretty much begging for $20 paydays (Most of the time only 5 or 10 dollars) just to be abused in the ring

It was not a name ment for fighters who come out and train hard and do their best but fans disliked...or even for second rate fighters that were suspect or were ko'd a lot...Those guys were called Palooka's...big difference...a Palooka is a guy who had heart but not the goods....

No fighter who gets in there trains to the fullest is a bum...it takes a lot to get in the ring....Heart and training...Hell anyone who has ever boxed knows how tough even 3 min can be...even if you are in shape and start boxing that 3 min of fighting is hard to maintain let alone 10 or 12 3 min rounds....

Guys that refer to fighters as bums I just laugh off...show's ignorance

[Deanrw]

I agree 100%. Anyone willing to get inside the ring and have someone pound on them, regardless of their skill, is not a bum.

[boozeboxer]

Of course Pride of Boston would be upset about this.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

Of course Pride of Boston would be upset about this.

That's hitting below the belt... A Manfredo comment I presume

[Spicoli]

Well stated Pride...........I feel Its easily cast about like the cliche "Hater" yawn!

[Shamrock]

.... and don't forget the dedication to training and sacrifice these 'bums' put themselves through.

Just look at Peter Buckley his record is below. The guy has fought at a few hours notice to save a show. He knows he's never gonna be a champion but he's stepped in with anyone at any notice period. A bum... I think not.

won 31 (KO 8 + lost 249 (KO 10) + drawn 11 = 291

[Rican]

I wouldn't call Hopkins a bum, nor would I call Duddy a bum. I would call Duddy garbage, however. I wouldn't even compare him to Gatti in terms of excitement. At least Gatti fought some of the best out there. Duddy hasn't fought anybody out there and he is getting pounded. When he fights one of the top tens in his weight class, he will get obliterated.

[PRIDE OF BOSTON]

I wouldn't call Hopkins a bum, nor would I call Duddy a bum. I would call Duddy garbage, however. I wouldn't even compare him to Gatti in terms of excitement. At least Gatti fought some of the best out there. Duddy hasn't fought anybody out there and he is getting pounded. When he fights one of the top tens in his weight class, he will get obliterated.

Yeah but that's not the point