Winning but Losing: Illustrations from the Flip Side

“Losing but Winning” was the title of one of my most recent TSS stories. The theme was that sometimes a fighter loses but leaves the ring more respected than when he entered it. One of the examples cited was Paulie Malignaggi’s courageous performance in losing to heavily favored Miguel Cotto.

But what about the flip side; that is, when a fighter wins but leaves the ring with less than that with which he entered? A recent one comes to mind.

Teófimo López vs. Diego Magdaleno

Maybe Lopez’s moniker should be “Terrifying Teófimo” based on the way he rendered Mason Menard unconscious and then how he savagely knocked out veteran Magdaleno who deserved better from his “brave” corner and from recalcitrant referee Gregorio Alvarez.

And then, wrote boxing reporter Scott Christ, “Lopez also stirred up some controversy after the fight, doing a huge celebration (including an incredible backflip) in the ring, leading to Diego’s brother Jessie, a former super bantamweight titleholder, trying to go after Lopez. Jessie was held back successfully, meaning we got no in-ring riot at least.”

It was a sophomoric way to celebrate a great win.

Showing disrespect to a beaten fighter is not the way to win over fans and many on social media reacted harshly to Lopez’s theatrics. When a boxer disrespects an opponent, he or she disrespects boxing. Teofimo needs to rein it in.

Jermall Charlo vs. Julian Williams (Dec. 10, 2016)

Charlo retained his IBF junior middleweight title by stopping the undefeated Williams in the fifth round after having dominated throughout. Williams went over to congratulate Charlo, but Charlo refused and said, “I don’t want your congratulations, I want your apology.” The crowd then began to boo Charlo and that little attitudinal hiccup has stayed with him ever since.

Jermell Charlo vs. Erickson Lubin (Oct. 14, 2017)

After his sudden KO of highly touted Lubin, Jermell Charlo, Jarmall’s twin brother, strutted around the ring like a peacock in jubilation. At some point during Jermell’s celebration, he even got involved in a bit of a fracas with members of Erickson Lubin’s entourage.

Maybe it’s in their genes, but the Charlo twins, while super talented, always seem to be edgy and cocky and that persona can scar them with a reputation of poor sportsmanship.  Disdain for an opponent, if kept under wraps, can work for a fighter, but the key is to keep it suppressed.

Vinny Pazienza vs. Dana Rosenblatt (Aug. 23, 1996)

“Dangerous” Dana is articulate, gentlemanly, affable and was a college student to boot (he is now an announcer on NESN) and that seemed to fuel Vinny’s over-the-top dislike for him. “My hatred for him is true,” said the flamboyant Pazienza….”I could break every bone in his body and feel no remorse. He’s a condescending little punk with that community college degree and I hate every ounce of him. I hate him for all the s— he said about me back when I was supporting him. He hasn’t earned the right to talk like that. He ain’t been there, done that.”

Author Eric Hoffer once said: “You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you.” Maybe Rosenblatt was paying attention.

At any rate, Dana did a number on Paz during the first three rounds and was in control until he was caught by an overhand right and that was that as Paz floored him and then mugged him until the fight was stopped– but Vinny kept on going after him and had to be pulled away before a ring riot started. Later, he was fined $5,000 and suspended for 90 days by New Jersey boxing commissioner Larry Hazzard for punching referee Tony Orlando who had stepped in to stop the fight and was floored by Paz in an attempt to add more punishment to his already beaten foe. It was ugly and did nothing to buff Pazienza’s already well-hewn abrasive style.

As for Dana, he said to TV commentator Sean O’Grady during the post-fight interview that “the better man won tonight and I give him credit for doing all the things he said he was going to do.”

Rosenblatt won the rematch.

Ann Wolfe vs Vonda Ward (May 8, 2004)

After the 5’9” Wolfe scored the most spectacular KO in female boxing history and one of the most spectacular of all time, male or female, she danced for joy but way too close to her stricken 6’6” foe. Ann should have kept her celebration at a respectful distance. This was not one of her better moments.

Ann later said, “(Ward) pissed me off. That’s why she ended up getting knocked out like that. She told people, ‘I’m gonna be outside signing autographs after this fight.’ ”

An overly gaunt Ward sustained a neck concussion when she fell and was hospitalized. Amazingly, however, Vonda came back to win her final five bouts and finished her career with a 23-1 mark.

Legendary football coach Paul Brown once said “If you get into the end zone, act like you’ve been there before.”

A couple of obvious offenders (and Mike Tyson is not one of them) have been omitted from this story but the fuel that turbo-charged their theatrics was pure hype and that doesn’t belong given the context of the aforementioned.

Can you name some others?

Ted Sares is one of the world’s oldest active power lifters and Strongman competitors and plans to compete in at least three events in 2019. He is a lifetime member of Ring 10, and a member of Ring 4 and its Boxing Hall of Fame. He also is an Auxiliary Member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA).

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