IMO - Any fighter that is obviously being guided and protected too slowly, there is a reason for that. Any fighter that has to avoid certain fighters.. there is a reason for that. There's something to hide. Fighters coming up and that are around that do not need to avoid anybody and come up the traditional route of fighting fluffers at first, but fighting rugged experienced ex-titlists and veterans/contenders prior to getting the title shot, are the real fighters. These jokers like Russell Jr and Wilder are strung along slowly, against no hope opposition for a reason. Talented? Maybe, but there's something glaringly wrong that needs to be protected. This never fails. Nobody that comes up with a red carpet fluff ride to the title ever amounts to anything legacy wise. All of the top guys - elite's, hof and ATGs come up perservering through challenges OR are so good that they blow through real opposition en route to the title. Never fails. Same goes for duckers. Floyd would have lost against all of the guys he avoided. Why else avoid? Broner was meant to be given an easy path and Maidana was arranged as a known name that was shopworn supposedly, but it failed because he's got glaring issue's. People were sold on him despite dodgy decisions against lesser than elite opposition and against weak opposition from Lightweight all the way to Maidana. Nobody can be great fighting a load of fluff compared to guys who fight and defeat real killers. I'm not saying even mid level pro boxers are "fluff" in all reality, but relative to talent level Maidana is fluff to Floyd Mayweather. Maidana would whoop my ass and anybody lower than a top fighter. But if I was as talented as an elite fighter, I'd not even give the guy a second thought in terms of it being an easy fight. Wilder? Nothing will happen with that jokers. Fluff. Russell Jr? Dead meat against an elite. You can criticize Mike Garcia for the Gamboa duck, but the guy's come up the right way otherwise and would smack Russell Jr around like a ragdoll. Russell Jr and Wilder are a joke. Same goes for anybody not coming up the traditional way. You can say it's unfair to have that cut throat view on it, but if you're not good enough to fight like the old era's fought and the traditional way, then find a new career. The same would go to anybody becoming an actor, musician/entertainer, other athlete and other stuff - if you aren't making the cut, you simply are not. But only in this modern era do we see FLUFF hanging around that shouldn't make it past the gate and fans can't tell the difference
So let me get this straight, Garcia took the hard way to the top and Mayweather was given an easy road?
^ Here's another low IQ ***** that can't read and ascertain information from easy to understand plain language.
Why is Mayweather even mentioned? Your whole post is about guys being protected. The. You mention Mayweather and call him a ducker. And why we're on guys who where brought "the wrong way" , tell me all the top opposition guys like Andre Ward and Sergio Martinez fought at Russell's age?
Ward was 25 going on 26 when he fought Kessler. Russell is 25 going on 26 now and he's fighting Loma who's being hyped up as a great fighter and probably will be a heavy favorite over Russell. You also can't forget that a fight earlier this year between Russell and Gonzalez fell through after Mares activated his rematch clause(which he subsequently backed out of). The fact of the matter is, fighters can take a myriad of roads to get to the top. Some fight top level comp pretty early, for others it takes a while. Russell might end up being an also ran, but it's too early to tell that now.
Other than the OP saying Floyd would have lost to the guys he avoided I agree. I think there would have been some really close fights but Im not sure he would lose. Wilder and Russell are matched softer than most hyped fighters I can remember. I also agree that Garcia would rip Russell a new one. Mikeys jab would own those t-rex arms.
Mayweather isn't great because he fights guys like Maidana who are good, but relative to Mayweather are fluff because Mayweather is great. ...oh. :?