When looking at fighters records and the 0 in the loss column is still there, it is thought after so many fights that an unblemished record means something significant. However what does that 0 mean, other than the fighter has yet to meet a style clash that can defeat him.
Recently fighters who have anywhere between a record of 9-0 and 15-0 they are looked at as "the next best thing", but when they lose that 0 in the loss column does it really change the type of fighter they are? Fighters no longer just fight to fight, a lot of professional boxers have handlers who hand pick their opponents and keep their fighters protected.
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has a record right now of 41-0, but when the average person looks at his record there is not a name that they would recognize. It's a shame that he has not begun to test himself, he has a fight coming up on Sept. 11, 2010, which hopefully will be against some good competition.
It's almost as if his 0 is so damn special his management will not allow him to fight anyone of substance. Maybe they are looking for him to just retire with an outrageous amount of fights, seeing how he is only 24 years old right now.
Is that undefeated record really mean much though if the losses are either at the beginning of a fighters career or if the losses were to the best of the best?
Take "The New" Ray Robinson for example, young fighter was announced as a "former" prospect in his last fight when appearing with a record of 11-1 but his fight before that when he was up against another unbeaten prospect he was considered a fighter who was up and coming. After his first loss this fighter did not take a tune up fight or a couple easy fights to build the record he stepped right back in with a huge prospect (Shawn Porter) and this was obviously Porters hardest fight yet. Both fighters looked great and if Ray would have kept his hands high and tight there's a good possibility that Porters record would now have that ugly number 1 next to his win column.
Another fighter who had a similar situation would be Danny Jacobs, this young fighter from the Bronx in New York, lost his last fight to Dmitry Pirog a fighter from Russia who was expected to fight with a European style. Instead Pirog came in as a pure boxer and out boxed "The Golden Child" (Jacobs). This loss does not take away from Jacobs talent though, at all.
Take Showtime's Super six tournament which from the start had 6 of the top super middle weight contenders meeting one another in the ring. Three of these six fighters sign the contract deal for this round robin tournaments with that precious 0 in their loss column. Now Andre Ward is the only one who continues to hold on to his 0. Andre Dirrell and Aurthur Abraham were the two fighters who now have a loss on their record. That loss though does not change the type of fighter, or how good of fighters these two are. The best part is that there is now tune up fight next for these guys they step right back in with some of the toughest competition out there and test themselves again rather than build their confidence and their record with a easy win.
I guess it all comes down to a fighter having to be perfect and never being allowed to have an off night, because it may damage their whole career.