Well in GGG case, he fought the monster Slayer Canelo and took sum lumps. Don't know if he'll ever be the same, but prior to the last fight his activity in the ring kept him sharp. Rigo needed a few tuneups just to be in a competitive fight with Lomachenko.
Because analysis of why each fighter lost is not within the scope of this discussion. The point here is to support the argument that one was significantly declined whereas the other was not (or was fully in his prime, as some claim). Heading into their losing fights. Inactivity is not strong enough of a point here to support the notion that it would cause Rigondeaux to decline more than GGG. Firstly, he wasn't even particularly inactive, secondly GGG's activity consisted of 3 tough fights prior to Canelo 2 (excluding Vanes) which you could very well argue would cause MORE decline. I made a couple of good points in my OP as well, Rigondeaux has an advantage stylistically for a more prolonged career since he's far more defensively minded. Meaning he sustains less damage. Having less fights is also a benefit to extend your career, as again, you are sustaining less damage and there's less physical and mental fatigue. Then we can do the "eye test" if you will, I'd like to know which fights exactly suggested Rigo becoming worse prior to facing Loma. Because I watched all of them and I don't see any significant red flags. You can even make a case here that GGG was showing more chinks in his armour if you will in the last few years. My position is that both were past their prime because I believe at that age, there's almost no chance you can be at your best. I've made this post to just highlight some of the agenda pushing and hypocrisy among some people, even if it's a minority as you say.
Rigo wasn't shot but I think it's also bull**** to try and play it off like Rigo was in his prime. He had been inactive and fighting irrelevant fights since fighting nonito which was like 4 years before fighting Loma. No one at 37 is in their "prime", especially tiny 122 pounders.
I definitely have no qualms regarding your position when suggesting GGG has absorbed more punishment through his career. I find with all points accounted for their level of “shotness” is a clean wash. That said there are other seemingly less important extenuating factors that should be considered such as layoff and size (age is shared) My position is you can’t leverage a solid argument without including all influential factors. As for those that have created the double standard....do not answer a fool according to his folly or you yourself will be like him.
Fair enough point, didn't consider that. Though it's not enough to convince me. Lazy response, yes they do but usually there's causes for that. E.g. Mayweather aged better than Pac because he boxed more conservatively. Sure, PERHAPS you can say that Rigo's genetics didn't allow him to age as well as GGG but honestly, looking at their fights. I do not see evidence of that.
Of course not.. We only saw what a midget at his 2nd fight at 160 was able to do to GGGs face and body. Ward would massacre GGG even more.
Midget. Lol. What other fantasies are you going to think up? You seeing any pink elephants lately? I have no doubt in my mind GGG would give a better effort against Ward than Rigo did versus Loma. I'd even wager to say he'd perform better than expected, probably would lose but would give Ward a run for his money.
Rigo was never a great fighter anyway. He had no offense. He can't mount on offense to save his life. He outboxed a blown up Flyweight and then did nothing for the rest of his career. Even some defensively minded fighters like FMJ, JMM, Hopkins, etc. can mount enough offense to keep you honest or win fights. Rigo was too old, too unskilled and too one dimensional. And he was too small for Loma. He's just overrated. I never got the Rigo hype. GGG lets make no mistake was past his prime. The reason Canelo vacated his belt was to duck a prime G. If that doesn't tell us something... I don't know if GGG knocks out Canelo in his prime. But I sure like his chances a whole lot more than when he was 36.