Great article about the cherrypicker.

I think you're confusing greatness with PPV numbers, and they aren't always the same thing. N'Sync sold ridiculous amounts of cd's but I doubt any here would call them great.

 

Greatness has a lot to do with PPV numbers, why would people support a fight like that if it wasn't obvious two great fighters are in the ring?, global support usually comes for something obviously great especially in a sport which can't relate at all even as an example with CDs. In the end it all comes down to taste as well, if you can't see how great Mayweather's resume and accomplishments are then I'm not here to force you to change your opinion. It should be easy for a boxing fan to see through it without letting hate get involved.

 

I give you Mitchell, already said that was more likely a tuneup anyways.

Gatti was definitely cherrypicking IMO, he knew he was a weak champion. PBF said it 100 times before the fight, easy money, Gatti is a C level fighter at best. The only people who picked Gatti to win were those thinking PBF couldnt handle Gatti's power but take everything into account, Gatti went life & death with MIcky Ward, Micky Ward. Gatti did offer a name though, so I guess he took it more for the money & glory rather than it being easy, he still knew it was easy though and so did most of the public.

Baldomir was the undisputed champ...by luck lol. Everyone knew Baldo was nothing special...hence why he was an 8-1 underdog. If your opponent is an 8-1 underdog and isnt bringing a whole lot of money and it isnt a tuneup, then its cherrypicking. You may call Margarito a paper champ, but at the time he was the longest reigning WW champ and everyone was glamouring for a PBF-Margocheato fight. Arum offered 8mil for the fight, the fans wanted the fight, yet PBF very clearly avoided the guy who was seen as a threat and went for the 8-1 underdog. I dont think that could be justified.

Having said that, thats 2 cherrypicks, 3 inlcuding JMM, out of something like 10 great wins...thats not too bad.

 

I'm in no way arguing Floyds greatness, nor am I hating. I was merely pointing out that PPV's numbers don't always equate greatness.

 

good article 100% agree

 

Wasn't Hatton's excuse because he wasnt big enough in America yet? And he was right too, he let his fans grow off that Tsyzu & castillo win. If PBF isnt a big WW then he should have got down to 140 and fought Hatton for the 140lb kingship, something he never owned. Basically, Hatton was comfortable at 140, not at 147, PBF was comfortable at both weights, can make both weights, yet forced Hatton to go 147. To me that is clearly trying to gain an advantage...same way Oscar tried to get one on him by dragging him to 154 but didnt work out anyways.

 

Ya exactly, well said.

I can understand any boxer taking the easy way if they can, and i'm in no place to criticise, but don't compare yourself to the guys who took the hardest way and still came out winners.

Those are the guys that are the true legends of boxing.

 

Yeah that was my point as well, Gatti being an easy target with good money in a fight the public wanted to see. Only other champion worth mentioning at the time was Hatton of course who was looked at as a great fight. Then comes Vivian Harris who was basically the 140 version of Margarito for Mayweather in terms of hype, Harris was also considered and put on the undercard of that event to setup a future fight and we all know what happened there.

Still I can't agree with you there. Whether it was luck or not that Baldomir won isn't Mayweather's problem, Baldomir won and he wasn't that popular so he automatically became the main target. Margarito never dropped the WBOgus to seek bigger fights in a division that has been unified for years already with various undisputed champions is his own problem and we all saw how he started getting big fights after losing and dropped the WBO.

The main goal was to go after Judah in a fight many people thought Floyd would never dare and take, THAT was the goal a fight considered too risky and dangerous, for a cherry picker as people claim he wouldn't really consider that. Judah losing to Baldomir isn't Mayweather fault again, they still went on with the fight because they already planned for it and hyped it, not to forget that others worth mentioning were already scheduled to fight.

Margarito being considered a better opponent wasn't taken serious enough especially when we have a #1 rated fighter available to fight. Margarito was nothing but a product of hype at that point and an attack from Bob Arum knowing that Mayweather would ditch him anyway. You mention the amount of money offered by team Margarito which is a very good mention and a necessary one, but here's my question to you. Mayweather offered $8million to fight Margarito who's biggest win was Cintron and Gomez at that point or Mayweather offered the SAME amount fighting Baldomir for the #1 spot, WBC/lineal titles who was coming off two wins over Judah and Gatti. It's very easy to pick an opponent there without the need to think, even boxing as a whole admitted it's the best choice before jumping to Oscar.

As far as being an 8-1 underdog is concerned, this doesn't make much of a difference. I could mention many similar examples that proves nothing even very recent ones but will mention one that can relate to this discussion. Margarito was a huge underdog going in against Cintron, that pretty much shows how serious Margarito was looked at back then based on his resume and title reign.

 

In boxing greatness/ability plays a major role in PPV numbers and general support/attraction, there are very rare cases where non great fighters were able to attract many people.

 

Gatti was the best available 140lber, how is that cherry picking?

Margarito? You mean when he was offered a fight as the replacement for Judah when Judah lost to Baldomir and declined.

Or when Mayweather broke off from Arum and Arum proposed to him fight Margarito but wanted options on Mayweathers next fight and would only gaurentee LESS money for better competition.

 

excellent article by Frank Lotierzo. people can look the other way, simply ignore, defend, deny, justify phloyd's handpicking but the the bottom line is Frank tells it like it is. Phloyd's a fraud who handpicks opponents he knows he can beat and will not sign any contract for a guy who could brutally KO him like Cotto, Margarito, Williams or Mosley.

the sooner this fraud gets knocked out and swept aside, the better it is for boxing and fans seeing the real fights they want to see.

 

How long has he been hand picking to you?

 

How anyone can argue about this article is beyond me, he did praise Floyd and gave him the credit of having great abilities. I love all Floyd fans who says hes not really a WW then WTF dont ask JMM to move up, fight at 140, youre not a WW then what are you. Cotto is a small WW but hes a WW.

 

Cotto is a WW because he can't make 140, he got older and his body couldn't handle that weight anymore. Some other fighters can still make it regardless of age and some can't.

Mayweather's clearly trying to go down to make the fight with Pacquiao possible and the fight with Marquez is the first step.