Can a fighter become a GREAT if he NEVER beats one prime HOF-class opponent?

Eder Jofre comes to mind.

 

i definitely think so. longevity, skill set and dominance factor in. that's how many great fighters become great (ie: jeff chandler, pedroza)

 

I don't think Ricardo Lopez or Ivan Calderon ever faced hall of famers but they're both great fighters.

 

Yup.

 

This is more than likely going to end up playing a part in the legacy of Wladimir and Vitali.

 

it's a tough question but the flip side is that if only good fighters could have that consistency, why don't more titlests have 20 defenses or more?

longetivity, consistency and importantly skill set are important otherwise everyone would do it. i agree though, if you dominate mediocre competition, it's certainly not as valuable as proven yourself against great fighters. leonard has a sparse resume in terms of quantity of fights (relatively speaking) but his quality of opposition is threw the roof.

for me a big balance and barometer is someone's skills, which can seperate the good from the great

 

The proof is in the work they do, fighters don't control their era, or who develops or doesn't develop around them. They can only beat who they fight, they can only beat who is available, this isn't the choice of the fighter.

 

I can name 2 great boxers that never beat a single pro fighter, prime or not prime.

1. Teofilo Stevenson
2. Felix Savon

 

What if there is no ATG available to fight? You wouldn't consider Ali great if it was his case? I observe fighters and decide what to think of them. It's no rocket science. Not a tough question.