Will PBF and Pac be respected as fighters universally when they retire?

Ok. I have seen a ton of serious hate lately to both fighters and I have found myself getting dragged into it at times but I am gonna try to make amends.

I don't like Floyd's style at times. Especially all the **** he talks pre-fight and obviously I am biased towards favoring Pacquiao for reasons I will state soon but as a boxer and the skill set he brings to the table PBF demands all of our respect.

Floyd can be boring sometimes. I am one who shares this opinion with many. I love watching defensive fighters. Pernell Whitaker was exciting for me to watch. Sure he was probally the greatest defensive fighter I have ever seen but he also commited to throwing punches. He had a great jab, beautiful right hook to the body, and a deceptive left hand than left a few people on the canvas not knowing where they were. Pernell Whitaker tried to win fights using his complete skill set. He didn't coast by just being better, throwing 400 accurate punches in a fight and using his defense to get the W. Mayweather doesn't do this all the time but as a fan when he does and we are shelling out money to watch him fight it can be frustrating.

Floyd has a very good jab, beautiful left hook, and a great right hand which is very accurate and he would get more KO's if he would throw it more! His boxing mind is 2nd to none. He doesn't have to make adjustments much but has shown the ability to in the past and he is 41-0 because of it. The shoulder roll is a thing of beauty. A great jab can disrupt it but Floyd can stand still in the corner and make people miss that are bombing away.

His fight with Corrales was masterful, as well as the performances against Jesus Chavez, Carlos Hernandez, Genero Hernandez, Shane Mosley, and Zab Judah. The Gatti fight should have never been signed. It was such a gap in class that the fight should have been illegal. The one that took the cake for me was the Hatton fight. Coming into a hostile environment with over 10,000 Brits invading Vegas PBF struggle with Hatton for a few rounds then he was able to create space and really start to land by the mid-rounds. That first knockdown was one of the 20 greatest punches ever thrown in boxing IMO.

Pacquiao deserves everyone's respect as well. He is not a "brawler." He is a boxer-puncher with one of the best straight lefts in the business, very good right hook, and I like what I saw with the jab to the body setting up other punches he showed in the Clottey fight. His footwork is what impresses me the most. Brawler's don't throw punches and cut off the ring like that.

For those who say "he is a steroid user" they are leary of Pacquiao's success and base these accussations because he is so dominant at higher weights. They act like he was a bum 5 years ago when truth be told he has looked consistently world class since 2001 at 122 lbs. and showed flashes of brilliance as early as the late 90's. Pacquiao started his carrer as a 16 year old as well so the early slips as a green fighter were to be expected but Manny is a gym rat who dedicates himself to the sport just like Floyd.

Some fighters are able to move up in weight and perform at a high level. Bob Fitzsimmons was a middleweight who KO'd heavyweights on a regular basis. Henry Armstrong had an "in your chest" pressure style and was successful from featherweight all the way to middleweight. Roy was able to move up 40 lbs. as a lightning quick, heavy hitting counterpuncher. Mayweather himself has moved up 5 divisions. Yet Pacquiao is grilled for it because one fighter makes a baseless accusation trying to get some leverage in last minute negocations and his entire carrer is being called into question? Sounds like people are grasping at straws.

Haters gonna hate but they are gonna continue to be a the top of the sport and be rich as ****. At least til they blow all their money like most boxers. Appreciate Floyd and Manny cause they are the best we have right now and we are gonna miss them when they are gone.

 

I was just thinking about it and to be honest I really didn't miss Floyd that when he was gone. I am not trying to knock him cause he is an ATG and it is better for the sport that he is back but so many other great fights (Mosley-Margarito, Pacquiao-Hatton, JMM-Diaz) were being made.

 

Roy is still getting shitted on because of his chin and he is basically retired. I know he is still fighting but his carrer is all but over.

People are still knocking on Lewis, Tyson, even Ray Leonard for things they seemed to have vindicated throughout their carrer such as Lewis' chin or Leonard not fighting everyone when he should have. Not every fighter gets the respect they deserve. Some get free passes with glaring weakness as well.

 

Yeah I worded it wrong. Good point.

 

If Floyd gets sparked or Manny gets dominated do you think everyone will be saying the same thing about them? Especially if it is their last fight. Most people remember how fighters perform during their biggest fights.

As far as I am concerned Manny's resmue is cemented as Floyd's is just about if not sealed as well but if they fight and one gets KO'd or beaten down every round then some people might be singing a different tune.