Tomato can

A tomato can, or simply can, is a fighter in individual combat sports with comparatively poor or diminished skills who may be considered an easy opponent to defeat, or a "guaranteed win." Fights with tomato cans can be arranged to inflate the win total of a professional fighter. Similarly, a fighter whose record consists of wins over easy opponents is referred to as a "can crusher".[1] The phrase originates in the childhood pastime of kicking a can down the street—a boxer is advancing his career with minimal effort by defeating a tomato can and notching a win. "Tomato" refers to blood: "knock a tomato can over, and red stuff spills out."[2]

  1. ^ "UFC News Archives". September 23, 2018.
  2. ^ Mary PIlon (September 18, 2013). "Tomato Can Blues". New York Times. Retrieved October 29, 2015.