Which fighters legacies would benefit most if they had retired earlier?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Contro, Jul 20, 2018.


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  1. Contro

    Contro Boxing Addict Full Member

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    And what would have been the perfect time?

    Jones after tarver 1(not Ruiz) because he showed heart and took alot of shots to pull that one out, which he didn't have to before


    Tysons should have never came back after jail. He was a mental wreck, a broken fighter who couldn't go more than a few tough rounds.


    Duran after Leonard 1. I enjoyed the rest of his career but retiring here would have left an untouchable mystical memory of him.

    Holyfield after Lewis 2. There was really no point but Holyfield Just couldn't stop, after all proving doubters wrong was how he became a legend in the first place.


    Joe Frazier after FOTC. Obviously, he's still very respected but if he retired after FOTC his legacy would be completely different and so would be Ali's and foremans
     
    Contro, Jul 20, 2018
    Contro, Jul 20, 2018
    #1
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  2. mrkoolkevin

    mrkoolkevin Never wrestle with pigs or argue with fools Full Member

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    Tyson after Carl Williams

    Spinks after Cooney (or even Holmes I)

    Pacquiao after Mosley (or arguably Marquez III or Bradley)

    Tito before Hopkins?
     
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 20, 2018
    mrkoolkevin, Jul 20, 2018
    #2
  3. The Senator

    The Senator Active Member Full Member

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    Jones after Tarver 1 was what I came in here to post. That would have been the perfect capstone on his career. Instead, people have a long list of defeats in a painfully long decline to pick away at. I personally don't hold those losses against him. For that matter, I don't consider any time a fighter fights on past their prime to be detrimental to their overall legacy. I certainly wouldn't hold Sugar Ray Robinson's mid 60's losses against him. But that's not the way the general public sees it for the most part, and RJJ's overall legacy would have been bolstered if we saw him leave with that win.
     
    The Senator, Jul 20, 2018
    The Senator, Jul 20, 2018
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  4. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Frazier then Duran
     
    robert ungurean, Jul 20, 2018
    robert ungurean, Jul 20, 2018
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  5. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    If Tyson for some silly reason retired pre Douglas a great many would see him as unbeatable. Jones prior to the Tarver loss or even straight after the heavyweight foray would be seen similar by many.
     
    JohnThomas1, Jul 20, 2018
    JohnThomas1, Jul 20, 2018
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  6. Contro

    Contro Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I get your point but it has to be logical.
    carl Williams was not a milestone for Tyson to logically retire on.
    After beating Spinks maybe, the Douglas loss,or being put in jail would be 3 things that would be good retirement points but retiring after Williams would be random.
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2018
    Contro, Jul 20, 2018
    Contro, Jul 20, 2018
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  7. Big Ukrainian

    Big Ukrainian Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    You should be realistic though. VERY rarely fighter is eager to retire at the top of the game when there are still mega-money fights.

    So it would be more like Pac after Bradley 3
    Tito after Mayorga
    Tyson after Ruddock 2
     
    Big Ukrainian, Jul 20, 2018
    Big Ukrainian, Jul 20, 2018
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  8. Contro

    Contro Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I feel the ruddock fights are the most important part of his legacy showing his chin and heart, I loved the way he kept punching back with 2 punches Everytime ruddock nailed him with a bomb, how he kept going to the body viciously, not forcing clinches when he was tired like he did even with rooney.

    Maybe his movement had declined somewhat but ruddock wasn't a jabber anyway and Tyson kept going forward with bombs knowing that if he attacked this athletic puncher with 80+ inchreach(attacking him being the only things could do with his build) he would inevitably be open for an uppercut, no way around it with that height difference and the way ruddock kept measuring him with an extended left. There was no way to spoil or avoid punishment for Tyson he was too short to box ruddock and trying to just duck and walk into a clinch would have just ment ruddock would take a step back and uppercut him

    Ruddock was no great fighter but stylistically he was a nightmare for Tyson. And mike really fought like a fearless warrior in those fights.
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2018
    Contro, Jul 20, 2018
    Contro, Jul 20, 2018
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  9. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

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    John L Sullivan is an interesting case. Fighting years past his best and especially his loss to Corbett. But his loss to Corbett established him as the root of the title lineage which arguably did more than being undefeated would have.

    Jeffries obviously should have stayed retired ( for his legacy anyway), and Bob Fitzsimmons should have after losing to Jack O'Brien rather than destroying his health, but he needed the money. Though it hasn't done too much damage to his legacy other than his loss to Lang.
     
    BitPlayerVesti, Jul 20, 2018
    BitPlayerVesti, Jul 20, 2018
    #9
  10. PernellSweetPea

    PernellSweetPea Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Jones, Leonard, Spinks.. Duran after Leonard.. Although I still say he lacks the great wins to be what many people consider top 10 ATG.. What about Tyson after Spinks.
     
    PernellSweetPea, Jul 20, 2018
    PernellSweetPea, Jul 20, 2018
    #10
  11. The Morlocks

    The Morlocks Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    give it up man about Duran. You've reached the Duran derangement syndrome.
     
    The Morlocks, Jul 20, 2018
    The Morlocks, Jul 20, 2018
    #11
  12. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    I'd say most.
     
    he grant, Jul 20, 2018
    he grant, Jul 20, 2018
    #12
  13. RealDeal

    RealDeal Pugilist Specialist Full Member

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    Wouldn’t Sullivan still be the first lineal champion even if he retired pre-Corbett? He defended his title successfully in gloved fights.
     
    RealDeal, Jul 20, 2018
    RealDeal, Jul 20, 2018
    #13
  14. Rope-a-Dope

    Rope-a-Dope Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Ali after Foreman
    Benitez after Duran
     
    Rope-a-Dope, Jul 20, 2018
    Rope-a-Dope, Jul 20, 2018
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  15. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Michael Nunn retiring after his spectacular KO1 victory over Kalambay. Would have been seen as the second coming to SRL or Ali. He was definitely on a downward spiral after that win when he underperformed in his following fights with Curry, Starling, Barkley before finally getting beat by Toney.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Jul 20, 2018
    Flo_Raiden, Jul 20, 2018
    #15
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