Youre saying he was shot, when Floyd pretty much dismantled him. at least thats what iam getting from your post.
hes respected becasue he stepped up. he would never wait till floyd was 43 and manny was 40, even though he'd have a good chance of beating them both by then (if he could magically remain young that is!). H e wanted real top title fights not fights that would be normal for green contenders on their way up. this is whuy hes respcted but calzaghe, for example, isnt.