Is this era really that weak, why didn't Floyd have a nemesis?

It seems every new era of boxing has people calling it weak.

Every generation, people say "Oh, (current fighter) would be a bum/journeyman/sparring partner in (past era)".

 

:good:good:good

Nothing but truth

 

BEST POST :deal

 

2007-2010 They were all top 10 ranked at junior flyweight. If memory serves, I think they even held belts concurrently at that weight without unifying.

Let's go by Ring's annual ratings:

'98
Joe #2
Sven #4

'99
Sven #1
Joe #2

'00
Sven #1
Joe #2

'01
Sven #1
Joe #2

'02
Joe #1
Sven #2

'03
Joe #1
Sven #2

 

Well we know styles make fights and Castillo and Maidana caused him the most issues needing rematches which he adjusted in, even Hatton brought a tough encounter for a while, Cotto when he pressured behind that brilliant jab, Jesus Chavez and Augustus were tough, DLH brought a new problem with the weight and pillow gloves... he's had tough fights and 2 authentic nemesis(s whatever the plural is lol). He's just a very very difficult fighter who only really struggles against relentless pressure and the opponent having a massive weight advantage).

 

the public is his nemesis

 

Or their knowledge of how Mayweather fought beyond the past 7-8 years...

 

Floyd didn't want competition and therefore either avoided them or took time out.

Ray Leonard and the true greats thrived on competition.

 

Dude Mayweather fought/beat the real Champ or legitimate #1 fighter at least twice in 4/5 divisions.
130-twice, 135-twice, 140-once*, 147-three times, 154- three times.

 

I know that Calderon fought at Straweight until 2007. But in 2007 he moved up and won the WBO Light Flyweight title. He held that three years until he was defeated in 2010 by Giovanni Segura. What I'm saying about Viloria and Sosa is that they were repeatedly in the top ten during those years. Viloria had the WBC Light Flyweight title from 2005-2006 so he was a former titlist during this period who would be in line for a shot at Calderon's belt. Viloria picks up the IBF belt in 2009 a year and a half before Calderon is overthrown by Segura so there was their chance to unify if they wanted to take it. As for Sosa, he beat Viloria for the WBC belt in 2007 and held it till the end of 2009. They were both good champions or former champions at the same weight and time as Calderon's reign and suitable for a rivalry.

Let me see, according to Ring in '98 Woodhall is ranked 3 between Calzaghe and Ottke and Liles was ranked #1. '99 Liles is rated 7, Woodhall is rated 8, and Beyer is ranked 4th. None make the top 10 for '00. Beyer is back at #10 for 2001. Beyer stays at 10 for 2002 and is up to number 7 in 2003.

 

He's 0-400 against grammar.

 

I don't know. Leonard was pretty dodgy himself. He just doesn't seem that way when you compare him to Floyd. People don't knock him that much because he fought Duran, Hearns, Benitez, and Hagler his major competition; but he waited a long time to fight Hagler, and he strung Pryor along for awhile then never fought him at all.

Leonard took more time off than Mayweather did. How else do you fight 'til you are 41 and only have 40 fights? Duran had 119 fights and Hagler retired at 33 with 67 fights. Those two didn't take time off or avoid anybody. If Leonard was a little more active, he could have fought Pryor, Cuevas, McCallum, Mugabi, Julian Jackson, and Michael Nunn. We forgive this oversight and his inactivity because of what he did do.

 

He also fought LaLonde at a catchweight.

But Leonard took time off because of a detached retina.

 

Zzzzzzzzzzzz.