Just saw the Vitaly vs Bryd fight

[bigdlb12]

much respect for byrd in this fight as V.K. lost respect for this fight. He could of kept going but we all know how it ended

[Pno]

Are you kidding? Did any other great fighter look at something like that and quit?

How would you feel abaut ali if he quit against norton after suffering a broken jaw because it would ruin his carrear? Thats what makes good fighters great

LOLOLOLOLOL

you just made my point for me!

and I think that VK is aware of the point probably from knowing some about Ali. Just look at him now, he's brain-dead. I mean no offense or harm, but I feel bad for the guy, he's through, his marbles are sloshed! Ali is a guy who didn't know when to quit and look at the results!!!

[tri4ben2]

You are getting three things confused.

VK vs Byrd- VK quit, and even with a hurt shoulder, he could have looked bad and still won the fight. He also could have rematched Byrd some time in the last 5 years. Fighers have surguries all the time and this would have been no different.

VK vs Lewis- VK's eye was messed up, but it wasn't affecting his fighting style, so he went as long as he could. Once again, I don't think another 2 rounds would have made VK worse off right now, two years later.

Ali vs Norton- Ali didn't know it was broken until after the fight. And his parkinson's disease is not causaly related to his boxing. Although he did take some serious shots in his career.

[hollister]

Yes, he could have fought through the pain, won, and all his critics would still be going on today about how he really lost the fight, how he was on the verge of being knocked out by Byrd, etc. So, sure, he quit, but had he gone on maybe he would have damaged his carreer, or maybe not, but one thing is for sure, he most likely would have gone through the last part of the fight in pain for nothing, as the vast majority of people in general seem to have decided not to give him credit for anything. Ok, two things are for sure, because those two will most likely fight again, because VK isn't Lewis, and when they do, there is no way in hell VK is going to lose to Byrd, and after that, I don't want to hear anymore clinging to Byrd's "win" over VK.

[paulmmv]

when vitali quit that fight i was very upset with him but all that got erased when he faught lewis

[Kimmy]

And if he had not quit he may have survived and would have beat Byrd on points. However, he may have been injuryed to such an extent he may have been out for over a year with the damage to the muscle.....isn`t that as bad as a loss?? Sure it is.
Some fans with 100 posts on this site i forgive for not knowing boxing and assuming that their entertainers first and humans second. Great stuff, but i`m sorry Vitali as Ivan Drago as he may look is still a human being and if he thought, being a doctor and all, that he was in danger of his career or his life then he was right to step down. He fought Lewis and proved his heart and i give full credit to him for that. Why drum on about the Byrd defeat. Thats life. When Gerald McClenan took a full ten count on one knee vs nigel Benn, was he a quiter? He calapsed into a coma ten mintues later and is blind and disabled to this day. Is he a quiter? Is he a coward? ****ing common sense, if Klitscko felt he was in danger and could not continue fair play to him, i`m not gonna tell the guy he is ok, i`m not in his corner, i am not a doctor. He was, he is, live with it, he did and he is champ of the world! SILENCE!

[Pno]

Is Norton the one where Ali had to go to the hospital after and people were in fear for his life? I remember watching one special about a certain fight of his where his opponent was scared for his life while he was in the hospital after the fight. My bad about the Parkinson's.

Injuries in boxing is a hot issue though if you think about it...
we all remember the days where a guy had to get KTFO before the fight stopped... sometimes, now-a-days, the loosing fighter still wants to go on when they stop the fight. This makes some mad, but at least they're looking out for the well-being of the boxers, since not every boxer is a doctor, knowing his limits. I just hope it doesn't go too far... makes me think of a future boxing, where the first flurry, or even punch stops the fight, like Rock-em Sock-em robots... DING!

[tri4ben2]

I think Vitaly realizes he made a mistake in that fight.

Part of it was that he was getting frustrated, but if they were to fight again, I think VK would do exactly what WK did against Byrd and just jab to keep him away for 12 rounds, and if the knockout comes, so be it, the fight ends early.

[joeboxer22]

Quitter??? no so

Thanks to the boxingscene members I saw the bird vs Vitaly fight. I have read alot on Vitaly quitting and I always wrote it off as haters using it against vitaly. I watched the fight last night and it seemed to me that all the haters may have a point.

Vitaly fought for 6 rounds without any problems. He was beating byrd down. Then comes the 8th round. Byrd starts to pressure Vitaly. Vitaly doesnt like the pressure and backs up. Byrd is landing left hand leads at will. Vitaly tries to battle back but byrd takes the round. Then your hear something muttered in vitalys corner about a hert hand. Vitalys trainer says your fine and sends him out. The 9th round vitaly is throwing both hands with NO problem. Not even a sighn of pain on his face. Bad tape on byrds glove stops the fight for a moment, showing Vitaly leaning in the corner on the ropes. He looks tired but not hurt. The round resumes and byrd lays a beating on vitaly. Landing lefts repeatedly as vitaly backs up. The round ends and you hear a commotion in vitalys corner. Repeatedly you hear the corner saying "No, your OK, No your OK" But vitaly calls a stop to the fight.

After viewing the fight, I am also on the Vitaly lacked heart in that fight. He coiuld have fought threw the pain like every other fighter does, but he chose to quit because the going got tuff.

In my eyes Vitaly is a quitter

you obviously did not check the facts out buddy.........Vitali (correct way to spell his name) was checked by a doctor and he did have a problem with his rotator cuff. If you have ever had any problems with your shoulder, and I am sure that you have not because you speak before you think, then you would realize the amount of pain that Vitali must have been in. Not to mention the facial expression, or lack thereof, as you so calmly judge my friend, is in fact a testament to how tough he really is. He is the true Heavy Weight Champion of the world and has never been shy about or feared anybody. Not even Iron Mike can claim as much. Who else in the heavyweight division has verbally called out Lennox Lewis so many times that it is beginning to sound like a broken record. In my humble opinion, Bird, Lennox, Toney, you name them, Vitali will be glad to dismantle their fight plan round by exciting round, one by one.

later dude

joeboxer

[Soundtraveler]

Are you kidding? Did any other great fighter look at something like that and quit?

How would you feel abaut ali if he quit against norton after suffering a broken jaw because it would ruin his carrear? Thats what makes good fighters great

I agree, Ali showed some real big balls in that one, and to the guy who said a broken jaw isn't as bad as a hurt shoulder - I say you have never been in a fight.

Every fighter would tell you they would rather have an injury to their shoulder in a fight, the pain from being punched in or rather ON a broken jaw by a REAL heavy puncher like Norton easily shows that Vitali pussed out against Byrd who let's face it, doesn't even come close to a Ken Norton in punching power.

Get serious you Vitali nuthuggers, you are embarassing yourselves in this one.