Question for Stonehands89

Superb post :happy

 

Fair enough!

OLD?? I'm not old -just having a long prime.

 

Absolutely. Mayweather's foundation is set firmly in fundamentals. I think that he is a great fighter. Emphasis on "think" -not "great".

I decided to leave Mayweather off of the list because I do not believe that he has faced the level of challengers that the others have. De La Hoya is a businessman behind a desk far more than a fighter these days so that win kind of left me indifferent. Judah had just lost to Baldomir, Hatton was coming up from JWW, Castillo was okay. Gatti was a showcase fight that meant nothing. Floyd thinks he's all done and will go down in history as an ATG. I dissent. He needs to show us more. Face Shane, then Margarito, then we'll talk.

I suspect that he retired for 2 reasons. The first is to command astronomical purse like Oscar has been doing. The second is because he fears a few dangerous WWs. I think he has fear and that's natural. Although I ain't impressed by a fighter who refuses to face his fear.

 

You can nitpick at anyones career the way you have just done. A few things though, Judah although having lost to Baldomir was ready and prepared for the Mayweather fight, despite a losing effort he really showed his talent. Hatton was coming up from JWW but he weighed in at 142 I think and was heavier on fight night. Lets not forget that Mayweather himself is a natural Super-featherweight. Castillo is a good win over an elite fighter. De La Hoya is a businessman now, that is true but he was ready and prepared for the Mayweather fight. He might not be in his prime but he still has/had alot left.

Do you honestly think Floyd retired out of fear? Thats IMO is ridiculous. As he stated, he no longer has the desire to fight. Of all fighters Mayweather is one who doesn't listen to his critics, he could have and would have happily fought someone else over Margarito if he was afraid. But he retired instead. This says something. If Mayweather was to fight and beat Mosley I would bet my life that the first thing people start saying is how Mosley is washed up and is Cotto-leftovers. Welcome to the new boxing era with the modern day fans. Every fighter who loses is exposed or was never really that good. Look people were even saying Calzaghe was exposed by Hopkins. Despite the fact he has forty something previous fights. Mayweather, and every other modern fighter is unable to please their critics.

 

Well, you showed your hand. It's painfully clear that you are too much of a fan of Floyd to take his doubters seriously. Unfortunately for you, there are many of them -and Floyd is not above criticism.

Really? Then do it. I want you to consider the substance of my criticism -that he has not overcome that challeges that Barrera, Pacquaio, or Holyfield have overcome- and if you still consider it "nitpicking", then let's see you apply my criticism to them.

You will quickly find that in order to "nitpick" you will have to ignore several names that are on those records and your argument will be a fool's argument.

The fact remains that Judah had just lost to Baldomir. He was no longer the threat he was considered before he lost to Tszyu.

Mayweather was 25 when he was fighting LW. That's still young enough to make the argument that Floyd grew into at least the LW division. Hatton is a 1/2 inch shorter and had a 7 inch reach disadvantage. It just isn't the conquest his fans wish it was.

An elite fighter? What's that? Was Castillo a great fighter? Nope. Castillo was a good fighter -a solid fighter, but if this is the best his fans can do to attest to the "all-time greatness of Floyd Mayweather", if this is what they chant behind Floyd when Floyd himself reveals his own self-delusions by claiming to be superior to Robinson, then may God bless them all.

I wasn't nitpicking but you surely are puffing things up on Floyd's behalf.

So wouldn't Floyd. So what. I still think that he is afraid of losing and I still think that his choice of WW opponents points towards the conceivability of that conclusion.

"As he stated"? I think it far more ridiculous that you fail to consider the record and the context of this "decision" and instead use Friggin Floyd's words as an authority. Floyd retired before -in between sobs after defeating Baldomir in 2006. Could that retirement have been to divert the clamoring for a fight with Margarito? You'll remember that two months later he was back for big money against Oscar. ...."As he stated"?? Hmmmm.... are you suspicious yet?

Dead wrong. He did fight someone else instead of Margarito. Zab Judah. Then Made-to-Order Baldomir, then CEO O$car.

It "says" that he retired. That, along with the context provided above, suggests to me that he is afraid of risking that perfect record.

You make assumptions. I'd be impressed if he overcame Shane. Shane is a fierce competitor and would test Floyd's character like no one else.

Calzaghe beat Hopkins and had to get up off the canvas in round 1 and then get schooled for a few rounds to do so. I was impressed.