The best version of Floyd Mayweather versus the best version of Tommy Hearns

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by ThatOne, Jan 22, 2023.



Who wins

  1. Floyd

    5 vote(s)
    6.5%
  2. Tommy

    72 vote(s)
    93.5%
  1. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    You didn't specify "current" champion. Both RJJ & Hopkins are boxing champions and so their 2nd fight is a legitimate response to your literal question.

    As bizarre & irrelevant as it is to our discussion, if you want an example of a champion, aged 35+, losing to a fighter more than 2 years older than him - 35-year IBF champion Clinton Woods lost to 39-year old Antonio Tarver.

    That's irrelevant though & you know it. The ageing process doesn't work differently if the fighters carry a belt to the ring with them.

    Hopkins is 4 years older than RJJ and was far less removed from his prime during their 2nd fight.

    Mayweather is 2 years older than Pacquiao and was less removed from his prime at the point they fought.

    I tell you what - I think Mayweather was more removed from his prime when they fought, you think Pacquiao was. If either of us posted a poll with the question "who was further removed from their absolute peak at the time they fought, Mayweather or Pacquiao", which of our 2 views do you think would be most substantiated by the majority view as defined by quantity of votes? Please don't respond "I don't know", I'm not asking if you know, I'm asking what you think is more likely?

    If you answer that the majority would pick Pacquiao, then I'll be happy the purpose of me engaging with you on this subject will have been achieved and will leave it there.

    If you answer Mayweather, how about one of us posts a poll with that exact question, I don't mind which of us, leave it 5-days and the loser adopts a profile pic of the other's choosing?
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2023
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  2. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    So a fighter over 35 can be shot & further removed from their prime than even older fighters are, provided they're not a champion, whilst it's impossible for a champion over 35 to be further removed from his prime than an older fighter? There's a word for "logic" like this, but I'm too polite to use it.
     
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  3. ThatOne

    ThatOne Boxing Addict Full Member

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    That's a fair point that Manny wasn't as shot as late career Tyson or Jones Jr. but he was further from his prime than closer to it.
     
  4. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    Tarver was more past it than Woods. Woods lost because he was never in Tarver's class. Try again.

    A champion is a champion. A former champion is a former champion.
     
  5. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    He wasn't in his absolute prime, but he was closer to it than Mayweather. There have been plenty of top level fighters who were 36. At 38, it's slim pickings.

    Also, Maywetaher retired shortly after Pacquiao which might not have happened if he weren't losing it.
     
  6. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I'm not going to try again when I meet the criteria of your question for you to then change the goalposts.

    I noticed you've ducked my question/challenge. If 1 of us were to post a poll, with the options being Mayweather and Pacquiao, and the question "who was further removed from their absolute peak when they fought?", who do you think would accumulate the most votes within 120-hours of the thread being posted? I think Pacquaio would. If you agree that is most likely, I'll have achieved what I set out to during our exchange. If you think Mayweather, have you the confidence to make the Avatar bet I suggested?

    I'm fully expecting you to either not respond or to post a response ducking the challenge. "I don't make bets" or something similar.
     
  7. ThatOne

    ThatOne Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I would argue being closer to prime was more essential for Pac than Floyd. The reason why should be obvious.
     
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  8. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    You're a little thick. The results of that poll would suggest herd mentality and bias, not validity in regard to how close to each was to prime such as age and time remaining each had as a world class fighter.

    The goalposts never moved. Tarver and Floyd each won their fight in question despite being further past prime than their opponent. Woods was basically in his prime at that point. Being past prime does not prevent a fighter from winning a given fight.
     
  9. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    So you agree the majority believe Pacquiao was further from his prime than Mayweather when they fought. Thank you. Please bear in mind that majority also factor that belief into their appraisal when ranking Mayweather.
     
  10. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    The one smart counterpuncher (who competed above 130) who Pacquiao shared the ring with before Mayweather was Marquez, and we know how that went for Pacquiao and Mayweather. Mayweather had Manny's number period.
     
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  11. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    I'm the guy who has changes what the majority think on various issues on this board. One day you'll understand.
     
  12. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Haha. Now I'm starting to think you are a troll. That's the weakest post you've directed at me, which is not an insignificant accusation given some of the competition.

    You're amongst the least effective posters at altering the perceptions of others. The quantity of posts you've made allied with the poll results on this and the "who is greater, Mayweather or SRL?" threads, are by definition, a clear indication of that.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2023
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  13. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    You wouldn’t know because you’re just a newbie.

    I see that you’ve resorted to name calling though, since I’ve walked you down like Mayweather did Shane.
     
  14. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Your position on those threads and the respective poll results are clear enough. As are responses to your posts in multiple threads going back several months You're ineffective at altering the perception of the majority. People aren't influenced by those they believe to be biased. Your bias permeates most of your posts. That's why they're ineffective.

    Whilst you've called me thick, I've not called you a name.
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2023
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  15. Mike_b

    Mike_b Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Floyd had his chance to fight his eras tommy Hearns: in Antonio Margarito: height reach, size, punching power, just all together the bigger guy. Not to mention he was a pressure fighter who would be willing to die in the ring.

    I know styles make fights, and we shouldn't be basing greatness off common opponents but PAC fans believe this: Pacquiao beat the snot out of Tony while Mayweather "watched." Before his mini retirement, Floyd had shaken margaritos hand and told him he would have his chance guaranteed (not sure if that video is still circulated) can you imagine the heart of a real warrior for example like Bernard Hopkins: his heart would beat like that of an assassin if he made the promise to fight margarito- meaning he would follow through because of his pride, his ego, his compulsion. They don't make fighters of that Ilk anymore, Hagler, Hopkins, Hearns, Manny.