Quote Originally Posted by fan johnny View Post
I'd say it means more to the fighter with the unbeaten record than it does to the boxing fan.

Larry Merchant to Andre Berto,

"Is it possible, that tonight, um.. with this kind of fight, the kind of fight that thrills people, that you would get more recognition, than you did for all the fights you've won?"

Berto "I mean ah.. Maybe from you! ah... you know, cause ahmm... you said you wanted me to fight more exciting fights, but ahm.. there's nothing ah.. but ah.. nothn' worst than a loss, but I'm just going to take it, get back in the gym and maybe get better and you know ahm.... hopeful get back with a rematch"

What I got from that was Merchant, was that he now has more respect for Berto with a slug fest loss and feels most people view it like he does. I certainly do.
Nah doesn't follow at all. The limelight will be on Ortiz now and although Berto might have won respect he will be taking a big paycut in his career because less people will want to pay to see him fight.

The boxing industry is more like the music and film industries than other sports. You stop making hits you get forgotten fast.

If he loses again he will virtually disappear as a headline fighter.

Just look at guys like Christian Mijares, Jorge Linares, Rey Bautista, Francisco Bojado etc.

Lose a big fight and it's a long road back. Lose another and if you have a second career to fall back on you may as well retire.

Berto can bounce back of course. But another defeat soon and he may join Bojado, Torres, Jermain Taylor etc in early retirement