The truth about MAYWEATHER and MOSLEY

I think the main criticism we all level at Floyd Mayweather is regarding his resume. We all (well, 99% of us allowing for a few people who seem to despise the guy on this forum!) know he is a fantastic fighter with excellent skills and he has undoubtedly achieved a lot in his career (titles in 5 weight divisions etc), but while he has ATG skills and ATG achievements, I don't think anyone can justifiably argue that he has an ATG resume.

Floyd's best wins are Corrales, Castillo II, De La Hoya and Hatton. Now these are very good wins (Corrales in particular was exceptional), but in ATG terms this does not equal a good resume. It's a good resume when set against the resumes of other fighters around just now, it is a good resume, but it is not great and it is certainly not of ATG standard IMO. When you compare Floyd's resume to that of De La Hoya or Hopkins or Barrera, fighters from his own era, then it does not stack up well.

I am not "hating" on Mayweather, I am a fan of his skills and I think it's a real shame that he never fought enough top quality fighters because the guy would probably have beaten anyone he met (imagine how much stronger his resume would be if he had fought guys like Tszyu and Williams by now?), but he didn't and when people are evaluating his greatness in 20 or 30 years, the names CORRALES and CASTILLO and HATTON and JUDAH are not going to evoke memories of great fighters and great opponents, his resume is going to depreciate with time as these merely good fighters are largely forgotten.

I don't agree with his decision to retire but I can kind of understand why he wasn't motivated to fight guys like Cotto and Margarito because Floyd is a natural superfeatherweight, to take on a fully-sized powerful welterweight would be a risk for him, and whereas he would very probably win, he would have a hard night outboxing them. Guys like Cotto and Margarito are strong welterweights, but crucially they have not became NAMES yet (Cotto still might, Margarito most likely won't). When I say 'became NAMES' I mean these guys haven't proved that they are great fighters yet, they have not secured a lasting legacy as a fighter. Mayweather would be taking a risk and giving himself a hard night where he may take some punishment and he may not look good winning, but the reward would not outweigh this risk. It's likely that the names of Cotto and Margarito will appear like the names of Corrales and Castillo will in 20 or 30 years time - good fighters, good opponents, but not jumping off the page at you, not ATGs, and not jewel-in-the-crown type wins.




SHANE MOSLEY is the fight that Mayweather needs to bring him back.

In 20 or 30 years time, Mosley will be remembered in his own right as one of the very best fighters of this era. He has already secured his legacy, many people consider him a great.

After that performance against Margarito, no-one can seriously say this is a shot or even well past-prime Mosley. He hasn't looked that good in years, hasn't shown such speed and power and all-round quality in a long time. He may not be peak anymore, but last night he proved he is still capable of fighting at a very high level.

If Mayweather strikes while the iron is hot and Mosley's stock is high and arranges this fight for summer 2009, it would easily be the biggest and best win of his career IMO, and would greatly improve his resume and his legacy.

Having the name of Shane Mosley on his resume will mean much much more in 20 or 30 years time than Corrales or Castillo or Williams or Cotto or Margarito.

This is easily the best option for PBF. It's the only option if he wants to underline his greatness.

And from a personal point of view, I'd love to see them fight. Two of the very best fighters of this generation, both brilliant the last time we saw them in the ring (Mosley KO'ing Margo, Mayweather dismantling Hatton), it would be a super fight. I have no idea who would win, but it would be a great great fight for boxing.

Here's hoping.

:bbb

 

I disagree completely.

Only an imbecile would say Mosley was shot. Last night he knocked out a fighter many people thought was unknockoutable (that's not even a word but hey, I'm feeling wreckless). He showed brilliant handspeed, brilliant punching power, brilliant chin, brilliant infighting. This was not a win over a past-prime merely decent fighter like Mayorga, this was not a performance like the unconvincing 'is he shot, isn't he shot' one against Mayorga, this was (IMO) the second best win and performance of SSM's career after De La Hoya I. Going on the evidence of what we saw in the ring, Shane Mosley is 100% NOT shot. If Mayweather fights him and wins, he will get the credit he deserves for beating an ATG fighter who is on fire just now.

That's the whole point!

 

There was talk of Cotto and talk of Margarito, but the crucial difference is that they have not already secured legacies as boxing greats. Mosley has. That's why the talk is justified this time. Mosley has already proved to be a great fighter.

I disagree about Mayweather feeling Mosley doesn't deserve to fight him, I very much doubt Floyd thinks that. Mosley is a far more proven fighter at 147 than he is.

 

Yes! It is!! :happy:good

 

Cheers.

I recently posted my all-time p4p top 100 and Sugar Shane missed out in the final cut. Now I would have him in there. Last night was too big a win and performance not to have any effect. I don't know where I would place him exactly, but I remember I had Joe Calzaghe around 97th, and I would have Mosley above him now, so higher than 97 anyway but I'm not sure of an exact ranking.