:deal Pretty much this. No fighter is perfect, but to be a great fighter there has to be something great that stands out and how that greatness does against his contemporaries. Basically the fundamentals of boxing what a trainer dreams of a fighter learning and picking up Robinson had absorbed and with his confidence and fluidity it produced devastating and very positive results. To me SRR was Roy Jones, but with Toney, Hopkins, or Floyd ring IQ. Robinson so well schooled and with alot of heart there is nothing you can point out he did bad in the ring. I agree his inside game was his weakest link, but everyone has a weakpoint.
The both of them, yes. Duran was more fluid and slippery with his movements where Chavez could look like a cyborg at times. The Duran who beat Buchanan in '72 almost bares no resemblance to me to the one that throttled DeJesus in '78 to end their trilogy, completely discombulated Palomino in '79 and schooled your #1 H2H Welterweight during the summer of 1980. :deal :yep
Very astute observation, HoI. Never heard the savviest fight-writers touch on that. Agree whole heartedly, 'n Sugar gave me tips in the gym.
So from that closer vantage point John, do you have any observations on the weakness front? And from sheer curiosity, how do you envision a fight with a 147lb De La Hoya playing out?
One of his strengths would be viewed as a weakness, S. He had such a great chin, pride (arrogance, if you like) 'n a lion's heart, he disregarded defense for the chance every second of every round to flatten his opponent. THRILLING! Every fault Sugar had inside or outside of the ring instantly forgotten when he raged back with blazing combinations. Every heart pounded. The fury -- the memories indelible after a half century.
Robinson was probably the GOAT (I don't want to overlook anyone, because boxing is full of legendary fighters that never got any recognition.) People have to look at the fact that he was lightyears ahead of his peers... completely dominant in his era. Certain people look at his style and say he would be easily beaten today... that's bull****. Imagine a fighter today that was vastly athletically superior to anyone around him. Combine that with chin and some boxing ability and you have... BEAST. The closest thing we've had to that effect is Roy Jones. And his competion doesn't even compare lol. It makes you appreciate just how rare Sugar Ray Robinson really was.
Seeing a bunch of dudes on a forum critiquing and nitpicking the GOAT really makes me wonder how any past or current boxer could ever meet the lofty standards set by the boxing wizards at esb....
He fares best in head to head match ups against Floyd than any other boxer aswell. He'd KO Mayweather, whereas SRL and Floyd is a pick em. Ray Robinson's combos were something else, he had it all. Chin, Balance, Power, Speed, Toughness.