Cheerful in Defeat

When the Portuguese fighter, Antonio Joao Bento, lost a unanimous decision to Arash Usmanee back in December, he hoisted Usmanee onto his shoulders and paraded him around the ring. Despite losing almost every round (one judge scored it 91-99), Bento took defeat rather well. In a world of sore losers, Bento's display of admiration for his opponent's superior skills made for a refreshing change.

So, like Bento, who took defeat on the chin and behaved in a surprisingly cheerful manner?

I am waiting for Az to show his admission of defeat on nearly every thread he has posted on in the last week

How he lifts the forum onto his shoulders is another matter!

(nice story by the way)

dont know about cheerful but tyson was praising lewis after their tussle/one sided beating.

dont know about cheerful but tyson was praising lewis after their tussle/one sided beating.

Haye actually seemed quite suprisingly smiley and happy (while blaming his little toe) in the ring after his performance against Wlad

Not sure the fans who paid all that money to go to Germany felt the same though

Adam D wrote:I am waiting for Az to show his admission of defeat on nearly every thread he has posted on in the last week

How he lifts the forum onto his shoulders is another matter!

(nice story by the way)

Why admit defeat when I'm not wrong on that thread? You guys are letting emotions cloud opinions.

But back to this. Ortiz looked very happy after the Floyd foght.

Tszyu was naturally heartbroken in defeat against Hatton, but I was very impressed with his sportsmanship in raising a smile and a few nice words for Ricky afterwards.

For all the bad press Naz gets, his immediate reaction after losing to Barrera was excellent; seemed at full terms with the defeat, was very vocal in his praise for his opponent and made all the right noises about putting it right later down the line....If only we knew what was to actually follow, eh!?

Pac was surprisingly cheerful after he lost to Marquez........

On a serious note Gatti and Ward were good sports after their fights.

Valero's Conscience wrote:On a serious note Gatti and Ward were good sports after their fights.

Yeah, Gatti and Ward were less like boxers/sportsmen that had just taken part in competition, and more like two soldiers that had come back from war and were just glad to be alive.

Lee McAllister in his most recent bout and against Murray.

I don't think it's sporting ..I think it's sad and self-degrading when you've just been slapped about and then are cheering and applauding the guy that did it!!!

To me dignity should take over and you shake his hand and no more..

I can imagine Truss pouting over that last comment!! I can't imagine anything more sporting or dignified than acknowledging being given a master class or showing appreciation to the opposition following a closely contested match. Obviously separated by a special relationship.

By the way, I promise this is the last time today I will take a polar opposite position to Truss or bait him openly!! Two times in five minutes is just not cricket!

Hearns was full of praise for Leonard after the second fight, when I wouldn't have blamed him for being pretty angry about it.

Don't remember saying anything about a closely fought contest....

However being absolutely battered and then sycophantically sliming all over someone is degrading for me........

But I'm from a different cultural background..

I remember when Adrian Dodson had lost his unbeaten record in the one-sided contest against Winky Wright - didn't seem to worry him too much. Guess the guy knew his limitations.

Bill Shankly the legendary Liverpool manager said a good loser is a loser and I tend to agree with that regardless of the sport. A handshake will do all the rest is just nonsense.

Seeing a guy like Ortiz for example after he loses smiling l is an embarrassment to himself, his trainers, his promoter and the sport.

Agreed...a guy has taken your mealticket away..has exposed you..probably hurt you mentally and physically...

and you go around laughing and joking and sucking up to him..

Do me a favor!!!!

Handshake..nod of the head and move on and reassess your future..

Don't applaud him for taking it away!!!!!!!!!!!

George Foreman took his 'defeat' to Shannon Briggs particularly well. Even though he should have received the decision he didn't kick up a fuss.

Difference between showing class and being cheerful about it!!