By Dominic Athwal: It annoys me when certain people question FMJ's career yet seem are all too happy just to say "oh sugar ray would of beaten him easy..he's a real legend". True I say SRL is a true legend a quick glimpse at his career shows this but soo is FMJ. SRL started his career at welter and won the belt against two time world champion Benitez in his 26th fight. He contiued his onslaught on the division but lost to Duran who was coming up in a classic battle in which Duran secured his own legacy as a great fighter. He beat Duran in the comeback and then went onto beat Hearns in a legendary contest, before having one more fight and then retiring. If he had stayed retired then he would still be classed as a legend beating Duran, Hearns, and Benitez with only one loss. On the other hand fmj started his career at super featherweight and won the belt from Hernandez in his 19th fight. FMJ like SRL went onto defend against the very best in his division including Manfredy and Chavez. He had his Duran/Hearns moment when he met with fellow undefeated champion and top P4P'er Corrales, but the difference is Mayweather dismantled him. By dismantling him he failed to recieve the same type of credit as SRL because he wasn't involved in a war.He simply outclassed Corrales.He didn't have anyone that could match him at the weight he had no equal thus he dismantled very good fighters, thus leaving people asking for him to challenge himself. He moved up and beat Castillio twice, although the first time was very close. However he chose to fight him again, a decision which showed guts and heart and went on to convincly beat Castillio. After cleaning up at lightweight he went up and beat a WBC strap but in truth fading legend Gatti. Now back to Leonard after retiring he came back once but then retired again, before annoucing his comeback after years out agaisnt Hagler. This was perhaps his greatest achievment in beating Hagler but in truth Hagler was fading and many people believe he was out of love with the sport and still many think he actually wom the fight. Then he went on an fought a weak fighter in Lalonde before having fights with Hearns and Duran both which were nothing more than money fights as the fighters were clearly past thier best. Floyd after winning the LWW belt showed his class by moving up yet again and beating Judah and Baldomir convincly. Before dominating in two superfights against Hatton and ODH. Both have had glittering careers but SRL career shows that to be regarded as one of the undisputable legends you need two thing's in your career a setback and a great comeback. Leonard had both of those with his loss against Duran and his legendary comeback agaisnt Hagler....therefore in conclusion FLoyd is a victim of his own talent because there has been no one good enough to push him. For me he would have to lose to someone then make a comeback and beat him for people to class him in that untouchable category of "Ali", "SRR" and "SRL". I'm glad he's made the comeback...he would now need to lose and then avenage that loss for people to realise his true talent.
Interesting Post, I would not put FMJ on a par with SRL yet, I agree Floyd is a victim of his success, I also agree with you that boxers that lose to somebody and comeback and then beat that opponent, are then seen as fantastic. :nut You will find that people on this site, reward failure, they like glorious losses, although I have been on here for a while, it still amazes me:shock:, that a boxer losing a fight, in certain circumstances is not seen as a negative, if a boxer moves up in weight and losses that is not seen as a negative, it may only be a small negative in a certain circumstance, but it is still a loss and a bad thing for that boxer in ranking terms as far as I am concerned. Pacman is seen as a God on here, yet Mayweather who is a better boxer skill/ability wise, is better H2H wise {Pretty Boy has won every fight, Pacman has 2 draws and 3 losses on his card} their resumes are similar, yet for some reason people on here rank Pacman higher than Floyd all time. {perhaps its because they think that Manny is a nice person and Floyd is not, what that has got to do with boxing though I do not know}
Why are people so angry....discuss with proper arguements. Ray Leonard a great fighter but so is Floyd. If Sugar Ray was born in this era he would probably be 39-0 same as Floyd...but he was after big paydays aswell. Do you realisticallly think he would of fought magarito, cotto or mosely for 8 million or Oscar for 20 million. Ray Leonard would of done the same as Mayweather. Cotto and Margarito have shown that they aren't greats because greats don't cheat or give up like Cotto did. That leaves Mosely who was challenged by Floyd and he rejected the challenge. Now Mosely is desperate for a payday off Floyd's back and you wonder why Floyd dont give him no shot. Trust me Floyd will do his ****...against all these so-called greats and by the end of his career you'll see why he is without a doubt up there with all the true greats of the game.
Look at what Leonard didnt do that would be ripped on this board if he was around today: 1. Didnt face Pryor after Pryor called him out 2. Didnt fight young up and comers at 147 like Curry 3. Didnt face the best 154lbers like McCallum 4. Didnt face the best young middleweights like McCallum, Kalambay, Graham, BEnn, Barkley 5. Didnt rematch Hearns/Duran till both were past prime 6. Didnt rematch Hagler despite arguably losing 7. Faced easy belt holders at 154/175 and made Lalonde kill himself to make a catch weight
No disrespect to Castillo and Corrales, but is the author really comparing them to Hagler, Duran, Hearns and Benitez, as far as quality of opposition? lmao.
i agree with big d 100%. srl LOST his first fight to duran, won the 2nd under very suspicious circumstances, won 2 great w's against hearns and Benitez....and the rest of his resume is so-so-he should never have gotten the decision against hagler, he even admitted he lost the rematch with hearns. and camacho and norris beat his ass....