Because if they aren't we won't get that classic fight both guys need in their career. Right now both guys are all ready considered in the top 100 ATG lists anywhere you look. They have each had great wins and dominance that sets them apart in this era of boxing. Floyd has Corrales, Castillo, Oscar ,Hatton, Chavez, Hernandez,Manfreddy. Pac has Barerra,Marquez,Morales,Hatton,Oscar,and Cotto. That is very impressive from both sides considering what their opponents accomplished. This could be a throwback to the 80's when the talent was there in the welters and the fighters had the balls to show them in the ring. We've had Whittaker-Chavez, Hoya-Tito, Hoya-Mosley that were great in their own right but didn't quite live up to the prefight buildup. Nothing like a Hearns-Leonard 1 where Hearns outboxed the better thought technician only to be outwilled by a tough as nails Sugar, or Duran-Leonard1 where both men squared off and we had two of the best boxers showing such grit and skill on the highest level. There have been many great fights in the welter division since then and some even rank up their with those fights skillwise, but they weren't surrounded with the same buzz as the fight brewing right now. And the ones that did, didn't live up to our expectations. These two guys will have to make each other be great in the ring. Each man will have to be better than they have ever been, and be able to adjust and change the tempo of the fight. One man can outclass the other, but I hope it doesn't happen. I want this to be the fight of this era that everyone remembers and talks about 20 years from now like they talk about Hearns-Leonard.
THey are that good but good fighters don't always garantee great fights. There are plenty of examples where elite HOF caliber fighters met and didn't produce a Hearns-Leanord type of memorable fight. It doesn't mean that they aren't good it just means that their style doesn't offer itself to make that kind of fight
You're right to a point. But those guys were from a different mold. They were so good they had to adapt and fight as good as their opponents at their own styles. Styles makes fights, but when a boxer has mastered fighting they can challenge any style and give it problems. When both skills are so high they can void each other out and force a fight.
There's nothing impressive about being a welterweight and not fighting any top welterweights: Cotto, SSM, Margarito, etc., opting instead to fight Ricky Hatton JWW and 36-year-old lightweight Marquez. What IS impressive are Ellerbetards ability to delude themselves into thinking Floyd has a legit resume.
Question time.... which scenario would you choose ? 1. Pacquiao outclassing & destroying Mayweather in 1 rd. 2. Mayweather winning 1 of the best ever fights vs Pacquiao. :think
Well it has a lot to live up to. I dont see Pac stopping floyd but I hope floyd opens up some with some combinations and all. Look at PBF/DLH that fight had so much to live up to, it was a bit anticlimatic and boring.
As much as I'm a fan of Pac, I'd love to see these two pushed to their limits. If that means Pac losing a great fight, I'm good.
Wow thats amazing to hear from a PAc Fan. That usually means u are a boxing fan first then your favorite boxers come second. Its good to hear.
Manny needs Mayweather not the other way around. FMJ: If he spanks Manny and makes it look easy people will just jump onto the back of the next supposedly "ducked" fighter. Manny will become the "little engine that tried but couldn't". It won't be his fault or call into question any of his previous wins because, "Nobody could beat Mayweather! At least Manny tried!" Mayweather will just be doing business as usual. The ONLY "upside" is if Manny beats Mayweather to within an inch of his life and Mayweather hangs tough and loses or barely wins. In either case this is more "win" for Manny. What kind of upside is that? MP: If Manny wins he will be put up against the greatest fighters of all time. Mayweather's legacy would be brutally discounted. Everyone would say, "I told you so." Manny wins even if he just puts Mayweather down briefly, but loses the fight. Manny has everything to gain and nothing to lose. CONCLUSION: Manny needs Mayweather to be great. Manny will just be another brief stop on the "we don't appreciate greatness when we see it" express. One day we will tell our grandkids... we remember the excitement of the express. I am with you though. Whoever wins, I want it to be a hard fought victory!
