Will there ever be a fighter like SRR ever again?

learn a thing about boxing. everyone knows the Future of the WW division is brook and thurman.

 

Bollox.

I'm British, and I highly dislike, and distrust America ( and most Muricans ) but that doesn't mean that I don't realise Joe ( who I do like ) was anywhere near SRR. I'd back Ray to be the first man to stop Calzaghe, because he wouldn't try to pot shot Joe, he would stand and trade with him and finish it brutally any time after the 3rd round.

Someone mentioned Mayweather, that is sheer stupidity. Floyd could only ever dream of having the one shot power Ray could generate, in either hand, combined with his speed and accuracy.

 

:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl:rofl

Max Kellerman was born in the 70's. Even his father would not have been commentating in Rays prime which was in the 40's and early 50's.

 

Jokes aside

Rigo
490-12 (amateur + professional record)
+2 gold medals

> 258-21 (85-2 in amateurs) SRR

Guillermo Rigondeaux is the most skilled boxer in the history.

 

The sheer number of fights is good, but there are guys who have more. Even in the amateurs you can get lots of fights and rounds, and most of Ray's fights were against cab drivers. However, for quality victories he's still got a record that puts others to shame. He's 44-13-1 against top ten opponents. That would be like 60 title fights today. For comparison purposes, Floyd Mayweather has only been in 24 title fights. I think Pacquiao, Hopkins, and Jones Jr all have 30 or there abouts. That puts them up there but not like Archie Moore or Ezzard Charles.

 

There is some footage of his WW prime, unfortunately it's just terrible quality.

 

Lets see what are Ray Robinson's arguments and legacy milestones:

1) Technically brilliant fighter.
2) 40 fights undefeated before losing against LaMotta.
3) 100 fights winning streak (1943-51) before his 2nd loss.
4) Good title reign at 147 (1946-50). GOAT in that division.
5) Multiple times 160 champ during the 1950s (not consistant in that division).
6) Aprox. 40 Top10 contenders defeated during his career (ratio between defeated contenders and total fights = 1/5)
7) Nearly won the 175-pound belt against Joey Maxim.
8 ) Retired 2.5 years (1952-1955). Had success after his comeback.
9) Had success between 147 and 175 pounds.
10) Was a succesful fighter until 40 years old.

In my opinion, a fighter of this era would need something like this to become greater than Robinson:

1) Must be a technically brilliant fighter.
2) Cannot lose against tomato cans in the early part of his career.
3) Must have very few loses, only against great fighters. And preferably should avenge those loses.
4) Should have a solid (lineal) reign in any weight division and be the greatest of all time in that division.
5) Should win several (lineal) belts in other weight division/s.
6) Must have at least 60 fights in his record and must defeat at least 20 relevant contenders.
7) Must give a tough bout to a fighter much bigger than him.
8 ) Must retire 2-3 years, comeback and still win belts.
9 ) Must be successful in a 30-pound range.
10) Must be successful at least until turning 40 years old.

 

Mayweather should have continued one or two more years his reign at 130, possibly beat Freitas to really establish himself as the GOAT at 130 (although many including me consider him so).

But he should also need to be more active (47 fights is not so much). This would have helped him to avoid being considered a cherrypicker. Activity creates reputation.

He would need to extend his career a couple more years (until being 40).

And he would need to beat a REAL middleweight. That way he would be considered successful in a 30-pound range and would have defeated a much larger man.

Pacquiao has done most of those things, but he lost before his prime (unlike SRR) and then lost too much during his prime. So that why he isn't GOAT.

So, to be the GOAT you really have to be a combination of Mayweather and Pacquiao (fight frequently + few or no loses + solid reign + jumping weight divisions + technically brilliant + etc).

 

Mayweather could fight till his was 45, beat Golovkin, Kovalev and Klitschko and still wouldn't be greater than Robinson.

 

Why not?

I think that, if someone does something similar to Robinson, it should be enough to consider him the GOAT.

As I said, Floyd and Pacquiao can't get there (or its highly unlikely). But another one in the future could.