How we lost the fight (freeze peach pending)

Boxing excuses

Fighters will search for the most improbable reason as to why they lose their scraps to much worthier opponents. Here are some over whoppers served up by some of the worlds finest athletes of our time.

5#

FRANK BRUNO

Frank was stopped in the 3rd round in his last fight in 1995 by Mike Tyson. It was his second defeat to Tyson and in his Autobiography 'Fighting Back' Bruno finally divulged the real reason for his lacklustre performance. 'Whilst I weaving in and out of Tysons right hooks, I suddenly flash backed to the 1989 Christmas special of Family Fortunes that I starred in. I was still haunted by my foolish decision to pass the deciding game over to Cheryl Baker's team who went on to win. I have since had many therapy sessions and am pleased to say, have reached closure on the whole sorry event. The fight that is, not the Family Fortunes episode. There's no amount of counseling that can fix that mistake.' 

4#

CHRIS EUBANK

Eubank lost his last fight to Carl Thompson in Sheffield back in 1998. He retired in the 9th round when his left eye closed completely due to swelling. Eubank admitted it was just a foolish error on his behalf 'I hadth my monacle in the wrongth eye. Hadth I puth my vision enhanther in my lefdt eye, it wouldth not havth been able to closeth.' 

3# 

DAVID HAYE

Yes one of the Best from the Hayemaker. Citing a broken toe as the reason for his defeat to Wladimer Klitschko in July 2011. He had a more truthful response to his crushing defeat to AP McCoy  at the BBC Sports Personality award in 2010 'I didn't quite have enough personality on the night.' Said Haye.

2#

TOMMY MORRISON 

Morrison was undefeated when he faced Ray Mercer in 1991. However he suffered a 5th round defeat which stunned HBO audiences. After the match Morrison blamed Sylvester Stallone who talked Morrison into being his trainer after they starred together in Rocky 5. Morrison said 'In hindsight it probably wasn't the best decision to get a Hollywood A lister in my corner for such a crucial fight. He stayed in character as Rocky and kept talking about his pet turtles Cuff and Link. It was interesting, but was of little use to me.'

1# BERNARD HOPKINS

Audley Harrison managed to throw just one jab in his shameful defeat to David Haye. Harrison complained after that it was the Dj's fault for not playing the entire version of Phil Collins 'Can you feel it coming in the air tonight.' As he walked into the ring. The song was cut short just before the big 'dah duff, dah duff dah duff, duff duff' drum fill. 

Harrison told Jab weekly 'I really look forward to the duff-duffs in that song, I just wasn't in the mood after it endly abruptly.'