Can a fighter gain heart?

Bodyshot3
Middleweight
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Joined: 31 Dec 2013, 15:19

Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by Bodyshot3 »

I've always been interested in (and admired) those elite fighters who find themselves needing to battle and show real courage as they attempt to win back their belts or just beat a younger version of themselves. The skills that allowed them to win so easily have declined and so they have to find a new way of winning the big fights.....finding that grit, heart and determination are now required to get the result. That can't be easy and I respect that.

Sugar Ray Leonard seems like a case in point; taking some shots in the latter part of his career but sucking them-up and Tyson showed heart in his fight with Lewis. Eubank was always brave when faced by a war but I really came round to respecting Chris when he stepped in with a huge puncher and naturally bigger man like Carl Thompson.
littlepug
Light Heavyweight
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Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by littlepug »

Never once considered quitting in my am/pro careers as a bantam/superbantam and that includes sparring, well I tell a lie it happened once a few weeks before my last pro fight in a sparring session against a 17 yr old flyweight amateur who gave me the beating of a lifetime and I quit after 3 rounds pretending I didn't want marking up before my fight but I knew the real truth and it was quite hard to swallow.
el_grande_mauro_mina
Lightweight
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Joined: 24 Dec 2017, 11:54

Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by el_grande_mauro_mina »

Controversial wrote:Danny Williams was always a weird one for me. Fought one handed after dislocating his shoulder against Mark Potter and stood up to Tyson and knocked him out, yet in other fights looked like he would rather be anywhere but the ring. Lack of heart or lack of confidence, never sure?
He showed a hell of a heart against Vitali, he took his lumps in there like a man, reminded me of Don Cockell vs Rocky Marciano - he kept on going even though all he was taking was a beating.
Final round
Cruiserweight
Posts: 4911
Joined: 20 Oct 2010, 17:02

Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by Final round »

littlepug wrote:Never once considered quitting in my am/pro careers as a bantam/superbantam and that includes sparring, well I tell a lie it happened once a few weeks before my last pro fight in a sparring session against a 17 yr old flyweight amateur who gave me the beating of a lifetime and I quit after 3 rounds pretending I didn't want marking up before my fight but I knew the real truth and it was quite hard to swallow.
Must have been really tough to come to terms with.Did you decide to turn your back on boxing before you last bout or did that go badly underlining what you learnt in that sparring session ?
littlepug
Light Heavyweight
Posts: 5351
Joined: 03 Jul 2012, 07:17

Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by littlepug »

Final round wrote:
littlepug wrote:Never once considered quitting in my am/pro careers as a bantam/superbantam and that includes sparring, well I tell a lie it happened once a few weeks before my last pro fight in a sparring session against a 17 yr old flyweight amateur who gave me the beating of a lifetime and I quit after 3 rounds pretending I didn't want marking up before my fight but I knew the real truth and it was quite hard to swallow.
Must have been really tough to come to terms with.Did you decide to turn your back on boxing before you last bout or did that go badly underlining what you learnt in that sparring session ?
Had already retired about a year before cos I couldn't stay disciplined but came back for a quick buck with a view to giving it a proper shot but that kid really hurt my confidence and in reality probably showed me my level which took me a few years to get to grips with, we all want to be world beaters don't we? Luckily these days am just happy to have been involved in the game and look back on me fighting days with fond memories, apart from that have utmost respect for any one with the balls to get in a ring it can be a very scary place.
Final round
Cruiserweight
Posts: 4911
Joined: 20 Oct 2010, 17:02

Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by Final round »

littlepug wrote:
Final round wrote:
littlepug wrote:Never once considered quitting in my am/pro careers as a bantam/superbantam and that includes sparring, well I tell a lie it happened once a few weeks before my last pro fight in a sparring session against a 17 yr old flyweight amateur who gave me the beating of a lifetime and I quit after 3 rounds pretending I didn't want marking up before my fight but I knew the real truth and it was quite hard to swallow.
Must have been really tough to come to terms with.Did you decide to turn your back on boxing before you last bout or did that go badly underlining what you learnt in that sparring session ?
Had already retired about a year before cos I couldn't stay disciplined but came back for a quick buck with a view to giving it a proper shot but that kid really hurt my confidence and in reality probably showed me my level which took me a few years to get to grips with, we all want to be world beaters don't we? Luckily these days am just happy to have been involved in the game and look back on me fighting days with fond memories, apart from that have utmost respect for any one with the balls to get in a ring it can be a very scary place.
Honest and interesting mate. Cheers.
Boxingmad
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 670
Joined: 12 Jul 2004, 07:04

Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by Boxingmad »

Fat Git wrote:
Controversial wrote:Danny Williams was always a weird one for me. Fought one handed after dislocating his shoulder against Mark Potter and stood up to Tyson and knocked him out, yet in other fights looked like he would rather be anywhere but the ring. Lack of heart or lack of confidence, never sure?
He showed a hell of a heart against Vitali, he took his lumps in there like a man, reminded me of Don Cockell vs Rocky Marciano - he kept on going even though all he was taking was a beating.
Danny was a real bag of nerves before his fights, sometimes throwing up in the dressing room beforehand apparently. His confidence was a major problem BUT when he got in there he'd stand and fight. He refused to be intimidated by Tyson & Klitschko. Crazy stuff.
Boxingmad
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 670
Joined: 12 Jul 2004, 07:04

Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by Boxingmad »

I really didn't like getting hit. It hurt like hell. I've always wondered how people get used to it. Repetitive sparring?
littlepug
Light Heavyweight
Posts: 5351
Joined: 03 Jul 2012, 07:17

Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by littlepug »

Boxingmad wrote:I really didn't like getting hit. It hurt like hell. I've always wondered how people get used to it. Repetitive sparring?
That's it mate yeah after a while it don't become an issue although the key is to avoid em !
Coco
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
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Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by Coco »

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littlepug
Light Heavyweight
Posts: 5351
Joined: 03 Jul 2012, 07:17

Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by littlepug »

Final round wrote:
littlepug wrote:Never once considered quitting in my am/pro careers as a bantam/superbantam and that includes sparring, well I tell a lie it happened once a few weeks before my last pro fight in a sparring session against a 17 yr old flyweight amateur who gave me the beating of a lifetime and I quit after 3 rounds pretending I didn't want marking up before my fight but I knew the real truth and it was quite hard to swallow.
Must have been really tough to come to terms with.Did you decide to turn your back on boxing before you last bout or did that go badly underlining what you learnt in that sparring session ?
Sorry mate just reread your post and didn't realise didn't answer properly, the actual fight I was preparing for went ok, lost on points to a guy id already beaten, he had improved and I was unfit again(boxing news had it a draw but that's me clutching at straws ) 1st time round I beat him on his home show in Sheffield (Clinton woods undercard) the return was in my hometown so he got his revenge and was well deserved.
187
Middleweight
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Joined: 18 Jan 2014, 14:46

Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by 187 »

No IMO
Final round
Cruiserweight
Posts: 4911
Joined: 20 Oct 2010, 17:02

Re: Can a fighter gain heart?

Post by Final round »

littlepug wrote:
Final round wrote:
littlepug wrote:Never once considered quitting in my am/pro careers as a bantam/superbantam and that includes sparring, well I tell a lie it happened once a few weeks before my last pro fight in a sparring session against a 17 yr old flyweight amateur who gave me the beating of a lifetime and I quit after 3 rounds pretending I didn't want marking up before my fight but I knew the real truth and it was quite hard to swallow.
Must have been really tough to come to terms with.Did you decide to turn your back on boxing before you last bout or did that go badly underlining what you learnt in that sparring session ?
Sorry mate just reread your post and didn't realise didn't answer properly, the actual fight I was preparing for went ok, lost on points to a guy id already beaten, he had improved and I was unfit again(boxing news had it a draw but that's me clutching at straws ) 1st time round I beat him on his home show in Sheffield (Clinton woods undercard) the return was in my hometown so he got his revenge and was well deserved.
Ah ok mate :TU:
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