I have made this point in the past these legends are continuing to get huge super fights that get attention of the general sports fan but always fail to produce good or exciting fans. As a result, the average fan does not become a fight fan. More importantly they fail to pass the baton to the younger fighters who have to carry the sport. As long as these fighters make these huge fights they will prevent the sport from progressing. Fellas, pass the torch!!!
Well DLH has some good superfights and some bad ones. Mayweather fought more conservative than DLH in the their fight so it was more his "fault" that the fight was disappointing. Older fighters fighting on too long hasn't stopped younger fighters from rising to star status in the past, so I don't see it being different nowadays.
Guys like Oscar and Roy are the ones that generate money so they are constantly called out. As long as they fight for huge pay days with large money they will remain in the publics conscious. For nearly a decade they have been talking about these guys final chapters in their books. It's 2008 and time for new books!!!
Muhammad Ali fought on too long, fighting in October 1980 when he was already slurring his words, and getting dominated by Larry Holmes, and a year later against Trevor Berbick. That didn't stop Ray Leonard from becoming a big star, having already fought Wilfred Benitez and Roberto Duran when Ali lost to Holmes. Around this time period, you also had Duran, Tommy Hearns, Ray Mancini about to rise to popularity, etc... When Ray Leonard was fighting in the late 80s and early 90s, fighting a rematch with a supposedly shot Hearns in 1989 and then Duran later that year, and getting dominated 14 months later by Terry Norris, but Mike Tyson was by then one of the biggest celebrities in the world. Tyson was in prison from 1992 to 1995, and then embarrassed the sport in 1997 with the bite of Evander Holyfield, but that didn't stop Oscar De La Hoya from becoming a huge star. Boxing just needs crossover stars with charisma, or in the case in the early 80s, more TV exposure (sponsors). Big names fighting on too long doesn't prevent younger guys from rising.
Calzaghe is now one of the biggest stars in boxing and who does he call out a forty year old roy jones. i have nothing against joe because that is where the money is but roy is preventing prime middle, super middle, light heavyweights from stepping onto the huge stage. Fair play to Roy for making money but its up to the fans (as evident by Steward who wants Joe to fight roy) to step up to the plate and demand a changing of the guard. Come on guys give your input.
