When should a boxer know its time to quit ?

[damianhucker1]

Obviously weve seen the likes of Danny Williams, James Toney and Roy Jones jnr all carry on far too long...
At what point should a boxer know themselves when to quit ?
Its easy for us to say it on the outside..

[Tomasino]

Obviously weve seen the likes of Danny Williams, James Toney and Roy Jones jnr all carry on far too long...
At what point should a boxer know themselves when to quit ?
Its easy for us to say it on the outside..

I think when they decide they don't want to get paid for fighting anymore, that's the point that they should quit.


From the outside, it's obvious they haven't got it anymore, however they were fighters by having the will to go on through tough, painful times. A lot don't have much choice either. Some of them still think they are the best. Some are crazy scrappers like Toney and McCall. Watching Larry Holmes get smashed off Tyson was horrible. He looked a shell and I wanted him to re retire. Instead he beat Ray mercer and lost close decisions to Holyfield, Oliver McCall and Brian Nielson. It's up to them or the commissions licensing them to decide.

[WelshJack]

Obviously weve seen the likes of Danny Williams, James Toney and Roy Jones jnr all carry on far too long...
At what point should a boxer know themselves when to quit ?
Its easy for us to say it on the outside..

They are winning now and again, if they were getting sparked out fight after fight that would be a time to call it a day. It's up to them and if they pass medicals you can't blame them.

[rob h]

Hard isn't it when some boxers have been in the gym since the age of ten and had that nice bump in pay each time they fight. Losing or not everybody needs money.

[seanshortfusehughes]

I retired 2 weeks ago after my last fight, you know deep down that its just not there anymore and I had to look at myself and just come to terms with it. It's horrible but if your in a good place its easier to deal with

[Parson Cross]

I think family and close friends have a big part to play here.
Boxers rarely know - they need advising.

[kamicazze]

The issue is, why should a boxer with diminished skills retire when his skill set may still be better than 80% of active boxers out there. Case could be made for them all to retire too. And surely the fighters who are journeymen or gate keepers will have more severe implications than a past it skillful boxer in later life

[curtis wood]

I think the boxer always knows when hes finished, but walking away is not a easy thing to do, im all for fighters going out when they have done the best they can and don't WANT it anymore but sometimes fighters NEED it, that's normally the only thing a fighter can do legally to earn a living, feed his kids and pay the bills, its easy to say come on enough is enough but are you going to pay there bills? boxing isn't all about being champions and fighting in big fights on big bills, fighters fight also as a job

[seanshortfusehughes]

Very true Curtis boxers are in it for very different reasons, I worked a full time job all through my career so money wasn't that much a factor for me but I agree what you say when its a livelyhood especially in todays climate aswell.

[stujones]

Not just the pro's - I've seen top amateurs stay around too long and cannot pull the trigger.... still got the moves, look great on the bag, but sparring and fighting is different... almost become journeymen for boxers that wouldn't have been in their league years before.

But then, I've seen Rugby players still playing low level Rugby in their 50's.... when they've been doing it for most of entire life... hard to say cannot.... it is almost like a hobby, a bloody hard hobby, but a hobby nevertheless. People don't like change.

Cannot say Danny is doing it for the money.

Dare I say, particularly in the AM's - playing Rugby in your 50's is far more dangerous than boxing a 3 x 2's in your mid 30's.... but the Rugby players don't get the flack (and they are possibly stopping the development of a youngster, where as an amateur boxing is helping the development of a boxer).

[The Insider]

I think family and close friends have a big part to play here.
Boxers rarely know - they need advising.

Yup totally agree, and compassionate and caring manager and trainer should also play his role here.

[banjo]

Cliche I know but, when they stop enjoying it. When they get up in the morning and training becomes a chore rather than something they love to do.

That goes for pretty much any sportsman.

[Spud]

Obviously weve seen the likes of Danny Williams, James Toney and Roy Jones jnr all carry on far too long...
At what point should a boxer know themselves when to quit ?
Its easy for us to say it on the outside..

If a promoter, manager, trainer or close friend cant tell him then theres something badly wrong!!

[spudder56]

I think family and close friends have a big part to play here.
Boxers rarely know - they need advising.

Yup totally agree, and compassionate and caring manager and trainer should also play his role here.

X2

[expe]

Some fighters probably get told they're done, but ignore it and carry on fighting like Toney, Jones Jr etc.

[billy nelson]

Any decent coach should tell his fighter and not think of anything else

[billy nelson]

Any decent coach should tell his fighter and not think of anything else

[coneye]

Unfortunatly , not on a profesional top level , cos i was never lucky enough to have a Lennox Lewis or Mike TYson walk in the gym . But even on a lower level ameteur and pro , i've told many a boxer its time to pack it in , and then backed it up , by telling them if they don't quit , its time to find another trainer . sOME HAVE, MOST HAV'NT but none have gone to someone else and done better

When i've reached that discision is simple , when they have lost the spark and don't care if they lose , or when they start getting beat by someone who earlier would'nt of licked there boots , To carry on fighting lower level opponets , and having harder and harder fights against them , for me is just a sign , that they are past it and starting to accumilate damage ,

Theres different reasons why and what for , but a coach should have the boxers interest at heart not his own ambitions,, and then on top of that even more importantly a coach should know , when its time for himself to quit ,

When a coach becomes dissalusioned , or bored with things , when a coach decides to let them do 10 instead of 12 pushups , because he wants to go home , , If a coach finds himself allowing things to happen or not happen ,that he would'nt of in the past , its time for that coach to TELL HIMSELF TO QUIT .

[Parson Cross]

I was involved in precisely this position last year when Ryan hung them up.
Ryan has only known boxing since 8 years old.
He knew in truth after the Rabchenko fight that that was it, but he needed re assurance that the decision was right.
In other words if his family and close friends had said "one last go" he may well have done so.
He did it the right way. Spent a few days chatting it through with the right people and got his decision underlined.
That's what I was meaning by the role family and close friends have to play.
I've seen it happen with other fighters when they've been persuaded to carry on for all the wrong reasons.
Ryan misses it bad but he's got his role in the media plus doing great being a Representative for a Printing Company - but its not enough !
He's had his blow out but is now back in the gym where he feels at home with the lads.
No comebacks here - but maybe a quality trainer in the making.

[Spud]

I was involved in precisely this position last year when Ryan hung them up.
Ryan has only known boxing since 8 years old.
He knew in truth after the Rabchenko fight that that was it, but he needed re assurance that the decision was right.
In other words if his family and close friends had said "one last go" he may well have done so.
He did it the right way. Spent a few days chatting it through with the right people and got his decision underlined.
That's what I was meaning by the role family and close friends have to play.
I've seen it happen with other fighters when they've been persuaded to carry on for all the wrong reasons.
Ryan misses it bad but he's got his role in the media plus doing great being a Representative for a Printing Company - but its not enough !
He's had his blow out but is now back in the gym where he feels at home with the lads.
No comebacks here - but maybe a quality trainer in the making.

As hard as it is - people around a boxer must tell the truth .... Ryan is a top man with a bloody good team around - he will make something of his life I am sure!!

[Controversial]

I always thought Ricky Hatton's decision to make a comeback was a big mistake, unfortunately I was proved right and he ending up getting stopped. At least for Hatton he has learnt he doesn't have it anymore and will won't see him in the ring again (hopefully). For Hatton that loss was his calling card, many others will make excuses for defeats and their ego won't let them believe they are past it (Holyfield was a prime example).

Too many fans are quite selfish in wanting to see their favourite fighter back in the ring, invariably they are never the same and all it does is damage their record and reputation.

[Trojans44]

As far as I'm concerned all fighters should be trying to finish up as soon as they can. Set a target try and achieve it and always plan for what comes after. The evidence is very strongly that the large majority of fighters pay in later life. The game is horrific for your health. A stat I often quote is that the NFL recently studied the brains of dozens of deceased players and every single one of them showed signs of brain damage. And they wear helmets!

Concussion is terrible for your health and just about every fighter will suffer many in the gym and the ring.

[GilFilmore]

If they're reason to keep fighting is to put food on the table and pay bills, that is completely up to the fighter. It's the only way they know how to make a living.

If it's a fighter that is educated or has another outlet of earning a living, they need to quit if they keep losing

[Spud]

I always thought Ricky Hatton's decision to make a comeback was a big mistake, unfortunately I was proved right and he ending up getting stopped. At least for Hatton he has learnt he doesn't have it anymore and will won't see him in the ring again (hopefully). For Hatton that loss was his calling card, many others will make excuses for defeats and their ego won't let them believe they are past it (Holyfield was a prime example).

Too many fans are quite selfish in wanting to see their favourite fighter back in the ring, invariably they are never the same and all it does is damage their record and reputation.

What a good post

Journalists and even lots of you guys have written, when boxers carry on sometimes its not the money, but, the buzz of a training camp, the subsequent media attention, then fight week is great and more media attention if they win, and of course the attention of the fans - sometimes boxers dont even think about the money.

With regards to what you have written about Ricky Hatton - I didnt want to see him comeback but he did for the reasons I have written. I actually wasnt worried about the actual comeback fight, my thoughts were "if he wins this a whole can of worms will opened" ... in a weird sort of way I was glad he lost, it made the final decision a lot easier to make.

[Anzi]

Obviously weve seen the likes of Danny Williams, James Toney and Roy Jones jnr all carry on far too long...
At what point should a boxer know themselves when to quit ?
Its easy for us to say it on the outside..

Danny Williams just boxes on to put his kids through private school, to give them a better education, which for me is very unselfish, he admits he is not a championship fighter anymore, so has long as he is matched properly, I have no problem with that, but he will have to turn down fights that might be too risky in the future and providing he keeps himself in good shape, as he did for his last fight, it should be ok, fighters like Hopkins are able to keep going because they look after themselves inside the ring and outside i.e good diet, regular training.