Fighters 'ducking' other fighters - does it happen and are they scared?

**Jerry Rice** · 08-04-2013 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by greynotsoold

Fighters are professionals, meaning that they fight for money. If the price is right, fear becomes a non-issue. Like Bobby Czyz told Orlin Norris..."As long as they offer me $50,000 to fight you and $1.5million to fight Tommy Hearns, I'm afraid of you. They offer me $i.5 million to fight you, and I'm not afraid of you any more."

Its called variables.

**Spicoli** · 08-04-2013 11:43 PM

There is something to be said for risk-reward and it is ever present. The promotion can pull the plug on a guy at any time and use him as a step to get to a fighter he has interest in. Or fans suspect a 'duck' because champions/promoters are content to ride the gravy train and have no need and or incentive to risk it. Bowe gets spot lighted because there was a final four set up and once Lewis crushed Ruddock, he beat Holyfield, he dumped the belt in the garbage instead. Which in hindsight they should be put more often nowadays but fans always prefer to see the best fight the best. You won't often see a top guy willing to break ranks or leave comforts of a team because mentions of 'a duck'. Floyd and Manny just got way to big for themselves and while both could make a case for leverage it came down to ego, promotions and almost waiting each other out. They both lost an oppurtunity for greatness if you ask me. Jones didn't 'duck' a Benn, Eubanks etc as he in his mind didn't need them. He was secure, at the peak content to face mandatories and already seen in most as dominate.

**Violent Demise** · 08-05-2013 02:35 AM

The word duck gets thrown around to much. And in the most ridiculous ways. Seriously some of these suppose examples of ducking are hilarious and moronic. The worse and worse by a long ways is the idiotic case of Roy Jones ducked Steve Collins.

Ignoring the fact that it's impossible to duck someone that has no chance of being competitive with you much less beating you. Collins didn't bring anything to the table to make Jones go fight him overseas. And in the US, Jones-Collins is just another Jones-Tony Thornton. Collins beats washed up versions of Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank and he thinks he could be Jones? Come the fuck on. He only beat them cuz they were used up. And I'm not even sure he deserved the win in the Eubank rematch. Whenever he faced good fighters who weren't used up he lost. Jones would of destroyed Collins and his skirt inside of 3. Jones at that stage in his career was unbeatable. Collins is getting dropped and going to war with chump fighters like Craig Cummings. Yet the ignorant think Jones ducked him? Dumb muthafukkas

**Vendettos** · 08-05-2013 08:19 AM

Yes fighters do duck other fighters due to fear.

But it's not fear in the sense that they believe the other fighter is bigger, better, scarier, etc.

It's fear in the sense of risk. Why fight a puncher 20-0-0 with 18 knockouts when you can fight a 40-0-0 with 7 knockouts?

Fighters duck to better their careers and it shows INTELLIGENCE TO DUCK CERTAIN FIGHTERS, look at boxers who never ducked anyone... The Win, Loss, Draw, NC, section of their record is very colourful.

**Jerry Rice** · 08-05-2013 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by Vendettos

Yes fighters do duck other fighters due to fear.

But it's not fear in the sense that they believe the other fighter is bigger, better, scarier, etc.

It's fear in the sense of risk. Why fight a puncher 20-0-0 with 18 knockouts when you can fight a 40-0-0 with 7 knockouts?

Fighters duck to better their careers and it shows INTELLIGENCE TO DUCK CERTAIN FIGHTERS, look at boxers who never ducked anyone... The Win, Loss, Draw, NC, section of their record is very colourful.

Great post

**Mark TKO** · 08-05-2013 08:34 AM

Interesting topic - for me only Bowe springs to mind as an obvious one. I agree with the points made above re Manny and Floyd, it ws egos rather than ducking - and ultimately they missed out which serves them right.

Khan will continue to duck Kell Brook I reckon - though his "not in my league", "what's he ever done ?" arguments will wear thin soon.

**FinitoElDinamita** · 08-05-2013 08:36 AM

I agree especially about the 2nd tier guys. I can't mention names out of respect but I know guys who outright tell their handlers that they would rather not fight certain styles.. All kinds of shit goes on behind the scenes with the guys who are coming up as a prospect or right below the elite level.

They turn down certain opponents because their style does not suit them or because they wouldnt look good against them, win or lose..