We often hear about boxers saying they want to fight 'winner takes all' which is usually a show of how confident a fighter is, as well as a naff PR exercise to get a wri up.
I have two questions:
1. When was the last time (excluding prizefighter type contests) which really was winner take all?
2. Secondly, I was thinking, if pro boxing were always winner take all, would it be a better or worse sport?
On the one hand we would get much fewer mismatches, better fights and more motivated opponents. However, it would amuse massive controversy in the event of bad decisions / stoppages.
Plus there would also be a few ways round this - eg fighters could be paid so-called training expenses as part of the contract; and these could be greater than the actual purse.
I do however think we would get much better fights, and fewer cases of journeymen being repeatedly bashed up by top prospects, which I think is rather unsavoury.
Thoughts?