Humans like to think that they are above animals. The truth may not be so. The only marked difference between animals and human is the level of hypocrisy. Animals show lower level of such behaviour unlike human. Our so-called civilised behaviour make us show more compassion but many times it is not true compassion but pure hypocrisy at work. Fighting a losing battle is usually the result of ego at play but is often prided as bravery or got balls. Moving away from a sure lose situation is pure survival instinct but would be viewed as cowardice or ball-less. True ball-lessness is when someone who is on level playing field, having the chance to gain back justice, elect to retreat after being injustly treated.
Cheering someone on from the back room when we know full well that he is doomed, is a display of hypocrisy. If we have true compassion, we should not urge someone who is not endowed with survival instinct, to fight on under the guise of "bravery".