...I've been thinking, and what does this mean, exactly? A perfect example is Pacquiao and Marquez. Everyone says JMM has Pac's number, but, does he? Is it just a case of him having the style to give Pac fits, i.e., any fighter with that style can do the same? Did Tarver have Jones' number, or did he happen to catch him at the right time? I'm on my phone, can't get as detailed as I'd like, but hopefully everyone gets the gist of what I'm driving at...
Hatton Tszyu. Hatton Pacquiao. I think these fights could have happend 20 times and it would always have been similar results.
Hatton wouldn't have beaten a prime Tsyzu, and Pac didn't have Hatton's number, he was just the better fighter. Beating a guy doesn't mean you have his number. The way I see it, a great fighter struggling with someone not as great, or w/o as much success, anyway, is part of the definition of having someone's number, e.g., even a ODLH at his very best may have always struggles against Strum...
Hasim Rahman/Oleg Maskaev I think if they fought 10 times, rahman would get dramatically ktfo each time.
See, this is one I'd put in a "not sure" category. It can be said that Mayorga got lucky the first time, and Forrest won the second fight.
See this is where I think you are wrong. Hatton would always beat Tszyu due to his style , Hattons foot speed , Tszyu's need for space and getting disorganised when rush. Tszyu isnt troubled by hand speed , but a high punch volume and inside fighting . Look at Tszyu's other lose. Pacquiao even coming in lower in weight would be all wrong for Hatton , due to the angles and southpaw stance . Hatton could be prime and Manny could come in at 135 and I still think Manny would win easily. Having anothers guys number is down to styles which the above are.
I dont think Tarver had Jones' number. Looking at the fights its evident the weight drain affected him tremendously. I mean we got dudes today bitching over 2 ****en pounds- let alone 25? Its not just muscle you lose when you drain that far; it taxes whole body including the muscle-tendon unit and the nervous system. People can play with weight divisions, but playing with light heavy and heavy is too wide a gulf
As comlicated as it sounds, Pac beating Hatton 10 times out of 10 doesn't mean he has Hatton's #, because lots of guys can beat prime Ricky 10 outta 10... ...people are missing the point of this thread. I'm not asking for examples per se, I'm asking what constitutes one guy having another's number.