Chris Byrd schooled Vitali Klitschko on only 10 days' notice

[Beanflicker]

This is what is wrong with boxing. We complain when boxers are too scared to lose their 0 and won't risk fighting one another, yet we chastise a fighter for doing the smart thing and prolonging their career.

Usually I agree, but I don't think this scenario was so cut and dry. Would another 3 rounds really make that big a difference to the shoulder injury?

[IamInuit]

This is what is wrong with boxing. We complain when boxers are too scared to lose their 0 and won't risk fighting one another, yet we chastise a fighter for doing the smart thing and prolonging their career.

Usually I agree, but I don't think this scenario was so cut and dry. Would another 3 rounds really make that big a difference to the shoulder injury?

It could have been a career ender and as mentioned it later haunted him with Del boy. Vitali gets the benefit of the doubt with me. He never did anything like that before or after. I dont consider what he did a quit. Its like saying Greb quit against Graves. We simply do not know how serious it was at the time. Maybe someone could find a copy of the x-rays and then we could put an APB out for an x-ray technician Losing and arm in a boxing match tends to make the task at hand a little difficult.

[Beanflicker]

I dont consider what he did a quit.

Well I think it's undisputable that he quit, I guess the argument is just whether or not it was justified.

I'm not saying it was a full bitch-out, pussy move like Duran's No mas, but at the same time he didn't show the warrior's spirit, the "never say die" attitude that we've come to expect (right or wrong) from world champion boxers.

Whether or not he saved his career by quitting, I have no idea. But my question would be how did he know for certain he had a torn rotator cuff? It could have been just a strained or pulled muscle in the shoulder. In that moment, I doubt he could have known that it was potential career ender, even with his education in sports science.

[IamInuit]

I dont consider what he did a quit.

Well I think it's undisputable that he quit, I guess the argument is just whether or not it was justified.

I'm not saying it was a full bitch-out, pussy move like Duran's No mas, but at the same time he didn't show the warrior's spirit, the "never say die" attitude that we've come to expect (right or wrong) from world champion boxers.

Whether or not he saved his career by quitting, I have no idea. But my question would be how did he know for certain he had a torn rotator cuff? It could have been just a strained or pulled muscle in the shoulder. In that moment, I doubt he could have known that it was potential career ender, even with his education in sports science.

He stopped due to injury to what might be classed as a tad imperative in a boxing match. The use of an arm. "Quit" suggests something dishonourable. Duran quit. Vitali was unable to continue because of a torn rotator cuff. Big difference to me but if its the same to you then no sense continuing here. In my mind he never quit.

[Beanflicker]

He stopped due to injury to what might be classed as a tad imperative in a boxing match. The use of an arm. "Quit" suggests something dishonourable. Duran quit. Vitali was unable to continue because of a torn rotator cuff. Big difference to me but if its the same to you then no sense continuing here. In my mind he never quit.

But he did have use of his left arm. Obviously it was nowhere near fully operational, but he was throwing punches with it in the round before he quit. It's not like it was hanging limp at his side.

I won't argue semantics, but when you choose to stop something, that's a quit to me. Wasn't like it was a corner or doctor stoppage. He was the one to say "no mas, senor".

As far as this ending career stuff... I dunno man. I've heard of guys going into fights with torn rotator cuffs and fighting the duration. Floyd reportedly tore his rotator cuff a few days before Castillo 1, and UFC fighter Korean Zombie fought and won a fight with a torn rotator cuff last year.

Whatever though, I'm a big Klitschko fan and I think Vitali more than redeemed himself afterwards. But I'd say he regretted that decision.

[AdamGB]

This is what is wrong with boxing. We complain when boxers are too scared to lose their 0 and won't risk fighting one another, yet we chastise a fighter for doing the smart thing and prolonging their career.

Usually I agree, but I don't think this scenario was so cut and dry. Would another 3 rounds really make that big a difference to the shoulder injury?

Speaking directly from personal experience - yes.

[Gandalf]

This is what is wrong with boxing. We complain when boxers are too scared to lose their 0 and won't risk fighting one another, yet we chastise a fighter for doing the smart thing and prolonging their career.

Usually I agree, but I don't think this scenario was so cut and dry. Would another 3 rounds really make that big a difference to the shoulder injury?

Speaking directly from personal experience - yes.

True, but with a lot of money at stake you would see it through.

[El Kabong]

This is what is wrong with boxing. We complain when boxers are too scared to lose their 0 and won't risk fighting one another, yet we chastise a fighter for doing the smart thing and prolonging their career.

Usually I agree, but I don't think this scenario was so cut and dry. Would another 3 rounds really make that big a difference to the shoulder injury?

Speaking directly from personal experience - yes.

True, but with a lot of money at stake you would see it through.

Take time to think that over miles.

Money from 1 fight vs money you can make in a career.


Look at what happened to Evander Holyfield when he screwed up his shoulders vs James Toney...he was never the same. Granted he was an older fighter, but still. Look at Robert Helenius, he suffered a MAJOR setback with his shoulder injury.

[Beanflicker]

Speaking directly from personal experience - yes.

Can't compare regular joes like us to a super athlete like Vitali though.

[AdamGB]

Speaking directly from personal experience - yes.

Can't compare regular joes like us to a super athlete like Vitali though.

Yeah... Way more to lose.

[Spicoli]

Meanwhile in a any town U.S.A Starbucks Byrd is serving Lattes and coffee cake to customers and Vitali runs for President elsewhere The label of quitter is thrown around way too loosely. I think Vitali may have mentally unraveled a tad against a very sharp fighter and down a limb but the injury proved legit and as would be proven he was very capable to come back from adversity. It's easy to say a guy should "just suck it up and warrior on" but there is something to say about intelligence when both your offense and defense are both at a big disadvantage. I dunno, I don't get punched in the face for a living.

[JonnyFolds]

This is what is wrong with boxing. We complain when boxers are too scared to lose their 0 and won't risk fighting one another, yet we chastise a fighter for doing the smart thing and prolonging their career.

Usually I agree, but I don't think this scenario was so cut and dry. Would another 3 rounds really make that big a difference to the shoulder injury?

You guys are thinking past the obvious here.. way past it. Doing anything with a torn shoulder hurts so bad, you just cannot imagine. Even holding your arm up at a level to protect your face. He was not thinking about the future or anything but the pain he was in THAT moment. 3 rounds with a professional heavyweight would be devastating.

A broken fist (knuckles, what have you) at least you can defend yourself.

[Beanflicker]

You guys are thinking past the obvious here.. way past it. Doing anything with a torn shoulder hurts so bad, you just cannot imagine. Even holding your arm up at a level to protect your face. He was not thinking about the future or anything but the pain he was in THAT moment. 3 rounds with a professional heavyweight would be devastating.

Well if that's how you feel, I think you should change your signature and show Floyd respect. He fought 12 rounds with a torn rotator cuff against a relentless pressure fighter with huge power.

He must be the toughest guy in the history of boxing.

[Spicoli]

This made me start thinking of Buddy McGirt. He tore his left bicep against Bermudez then went on and put on an absolute clinic vs Simon Brown. Had re injured it, had nearly pulled out against his mandatory but fought..nearly getting tkod late...then fought Whitaker and tore his rotator in the third round, clear as day and he might as well have had the left tapped to his side but he arguably beat the p4p Whitaker in the end. Dude was never the same though.

[IamInuit]

This made me start thinking of Buddy McGirt. He tore his left bicep against Bermudez then went on and put on an absolute clinic vs Simon Brown. Had re injured it, had nearly pulled out against his mandatory but fought..nearly getting tkod late...then fought Whitaker and tore his rotator in the third round, clear as day and he might as well have had the left tapped to his side but he arguably beat the p4p Whitaker in the end. Dude was never the same though.

It comes down to self preservation. Had Vitali continued he may have not had a career.Pascal had shoulder problems early in his career and carried on and that has cut his career off in many ways over the past 5 years. He cant pick up a glass of water w/o a shoulder dislocating.