How important is being undefeated?

Floyd didn’t make being undefeated the end all be all fans and media did… Mayweather isn’t great because he’s unbeaten he’s great because he retired a 5-weight champ beat the #1 fighter in 4/5 divisions at least twice, had the most champions beaten all time, tied for most lineal titles all time, was undisputed WW and unified JMW champ at the same time all the while being unbeaten… a 0 don’t mean sh!t if you not fighting anybody media and fans convinced you Floyd fighting bums now all these new fighters are fighting bums begging for paydays thinking they stars instead of actually winning vs good fighters and actually becoming a star

 

Well said.

 

It’s not about taking an L it’s how they bounce back.

Fighters who go undefeated like Mayweather or Ward, although undoubtedly some of the most skilled boxers of their era, made their career legacy by stacking the deck always fighting on home turf with their own refs and bias judges.

It’s the most gifted in any walk of life that are usually willing to push boundaries in order to gain that extra edge and succeed.

In boxing they do anything to win, fight dirty and even cheat if they have to.

It’s not good for the sport overall, only good for their own personal gain.

That’s why those who compete fairly with sporting spirit in mind get more respect, as they’re happy to roll the dice going in as an underdog and take a loss if they have to - knowing the fans will appreciate they’ve tested themselves to the fullest.

The way boxers are managed and promoted, fighting once or twice a year while padding their record in mismatches is a plague on the sport.

 

L's in boxing, like anything in life, only matter if you didn't bounce back from it, but in no way should diminish a boxers accomplishments. It's all about who you beat and when you beat them that counts. Roy Jones Jr could have 900 losses in his record but I'd never rate someone like Andre Ward or Joe Calzaghe over him because he accomplished more and beat better fighters.

There's never been an undefeated boxer in boxing history who reached the absolute top, tore through all of his competition easily and literally seemed unbeatable, having no one favored over him. Mike Tyson of 88 is probably the closest thing we'll ever see of that type of undefeated fighter.


I'd rate Floyd as the best undefeated boxer of all time by far, but not in the top 10 boxers of all time. His undefeated record is more of a marketing gimmick than anything, but he took that marketing gimmick onto retirement with him along with his Money Mayweather gimmick. All great fighters need a marketing gimmick in order to become a house hold name. Chavez had the long undefeated streak, Tyson had the baddest man on the planet gimmick, Jones was the first MW champ to win a HW belt in 100 years, DLH on his sole gold medal, Pacquaio on his 8 divisions, etc.

 

Depends on WHO you defeat to keep undefeated.