The curious case of a boxer quitting in the ring

How will history remember a fighter who decided not to carry on?

IT’S a haunting conversation that has followed boxers around like a ghost since two men first donned the primitive gloves and got down to business. When is enough, enough? As we mere mortals watch on, boxers are expected to be tougher, more resilient, able to go to places that we could never comprehend.

That’s why they’re in the ring and we’re stuck at home in front of multiple screens, shovelling down crisps while scribbling the comings and goings onto a Word document. (I speak for myself on the latter).

Last year in the Footprint Center, Phoenix, Robeisy Ramirez decided that he didn’t want any more. Challenging Rafael Espinoza, Robeisy was attempting to get back the WBO featherweight crown that Espinoza had taken from him a year earlier.

Cuba’s two-time Olympic gold medallist waved his arms, raised the metaphorical white flag and admitted that he didn’t want to continue.

After the event, ESPN lead commentator Joe Tessitore and former world champion Timothy Bradley scoured the tapes, looking for reasons why Ramirez did what he did. Tessitore scrambled to find the bigger picture.

“I say this with as much respect as anybody can have for anybody who steps through the ropes,” he said before turning to Bradley, pointing at his Hall of Fame jewellery.

“On your right hand is a Hall of Fame ring. That Hall of Fame ring was earned by many nights going out and being willing to risk your life. Now, Robeisy Ramirez has every right to say that ‘I had to make a decision for my own health’.

“That's your right if you want to do that. What all-time great fighters do and how I define a fighter is the guy who's willing to make a decision that others aren't. Decisions that you made against Provodnikov, and you have told me this, that you were willing to die in the ring that night.

“Decisions that Micky Ward made, who still lives to this day with double vision. Robeisy Ramirez saying he was having double vision and he's saying he's happy with [his] decision. That's fine. You can go live your life happy with your decision. The great fighters aren't happy with that decision. They do not accept no-mas results.”

Entering the conversation from a position of vast experience, Timothy Bradley faced similar situations to Ramirez and chose differently.

“Do you think if it was on the flip side, do you think that Espinoza would have quit? I do not,” opined the former world champion.

“Based on the Espinoza that I've come to know in the past year. In the first fight, he had a severe ankle injury. Yes, he did. And he still got up and continued to fight.

Bradley continued: “Look, I respect Robeisy’s decision. I'm not in his body. I don't know how severe this injury was. He said he was seeing double. He has every right to do that. We know the threshold that is different in this sport.”

The threshold is indeed different and Bradley summed things up better than I ever could. Rafael Espinoza retained his WBO featherweight championship of the world and, in the words of Tessitore, he keeps getting better and better.

“He's determined to be an all-time fan favorite,” added the ESPN lead commentator.

That status will only be confirmed by battling through the heat and haze to prevail against all odds. The elephant sitting loud and proud in the corner of the room during this conversation is, of course, Roberto Duran, who said ‘No mas’ and bailed. While nobody questions Duran’s legacy and toughness, even the great ‘Hands of Stone’ still gets associated with this infamous moment of madness.

Robeisy made the choice not to pursue that pathway. It was his choice to make and we must respect that. But those decisions rarely lead to the Hall of Fame.

Image Credits: ESPN, Bad Left Hook.

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About Steve…

Current existence: Online editor at Boxing News Magazine.

Previous lives: Author (8 books), podcaster (500+ eps), scriptwriter for Motivedia channel, newspaper journalist, copywriter & educator.

Contact: stevenwellings1982@gmail.com