Your top 5 smartest boxers?

Smartest outside the ring: Foreman & Holmes.

1. Foreman
2. Holmes
3. Ray Leonard
4. Hopkins
5. DLH
I base intellect in terms of what they have amassed and or accomplished.

#1 for me is George Foreman worth about 300 mill.
Way down @ 2 worth $18 million is Holmes

2 guys who didn't graduate from high school? retired for decades & still got loot requires wisdom. Common sense together that equates in my mind some smart dudes who turned nothing into something.

They didn't crash n burn at no time.
3 Is Ray because he was shrewd in who/when he would fight. Even though he had fun with nose candy ahem...cocaine he didnt crash or burn & invested his money in many many ways that has him living well unlike guys like Evander Holyfield for example who did no drugs yet is reported as one of those athletes that blew through their savings & made bad investment after another. Anyone can lose a business, fail at it or file bankruptcy. But not over & over.
4. DLH So many fighters have turned promoter over the decades. He blew them out the water showed how to put together a stable, how to get your fighters ranked (buy the bible of boxing) How is that not intelligent? I'm surprised he is only worth 200 million. He took advantage of his popularity and turned it into a promotional powerhouse loathe it or love it...just count how many boxers tried..& failed at promoting worldwide.
& 5 Hopkins another drop out- he argued with Merchant after Tito fight if he was making a wise decision to fight who he chose- which was to keep his record going at MW...well decade & some years later Hopkins proved to be more successful than an Ivy league graduate.


1
I didn't place guys like Lewis, Klitschkos as they had an advantage of fighting in countries that don't have to share the spotlight with so many sports as America does.
I know soccer is global, but in America American Football, Basketball, Baseball to some degree hockey, tennis & golf & skating.
In America white guys make their money in either baseball or managing players. For whatever reason whites who supported fighting in MMA still don't support them $ as much as people of color in boxing.

Money isn't smarts, but smart people keep money, not blwo through it, that is why I ranked Foreman & Holmes a top. They have maintained what they obtained, then multiplied it without a college degree to get it.

Let's see where Pac or PBF is 20 years from today. Diplomas, degrees, Masters means what? You can pass a test?! Can U do something with the intelligence U got?

 

Smart money is called smart for a reason...

• The difference between high IQ creeps & Smart people is (Money)
• The difference between trained laborers & Smart people is (Money)
• The difference between educated attendees & Smart people is (Money)

Floyd Mayweather is Money smart + Ring Smart, not a single chance to question this one. Even in a boxing utopia, were merit is based on boxing IQ, Mayweather is also on the top of the Pyramid

• He amassed more money than any boxer ever
• He has the best boxing record in boxing history

 

From today's perspective. Yes.

Two decades ago it was Holyfield who amassed the most, before him was Tyson (though we all kinda knew how that would turn out).
No doubt he is the best ever at making money in sports. 4 decades ago it was Ali. He was at the top and paved Mayweather's way.

Again I give him credited for obtaining it, lets see if he can maintain it & will give him and & google eltirado find U & say U called it! Until, then he is the richest, not the smartest boxer.
Smart is when U can turn boxing money into foreman grill money.
Smart is when U can turn your popularity into worldwide endorsements

I can't take DLH credit away. Got to say without Floyd calculating that move -we don't know where he would be as at that time Hopkins called DLH out. Hell RJJ called him out. He was the Golden Egg that laid the path for PBF. And damn...Floyd took it to another level. Time will tell if all the Floyd has bought..all the bling-bling he's bought will catch up. Only he know how he has handled his taxes cause guys like Old Larry & George...took that tax money out& suffered short run as opposed to paying a piece down...and end up like Joe Louis or Manny & his issue with taxes in 2 countries....I hope, really do Floyd managed to pay it off, cause interest on owing is an evil thing. especially when it accumulates over years.

Holmes, Foreman didn't amass wealth after Ali, they built it on their own. & now they are old farts living on the interest(that kind is a heavenly thing!) sir that isn't just smart that is WISDOM!

 

Julio Cesar Chavez

sorry i'ts a top 5:

2. Mayweather
3. Hopkins
4. Calzaghe
5. Billy Joe Saunders

 

Pacquiao should be there too.

From Rags to Riches
From Rags to Congressman
From Rags to Senator

Now that's an accomplishment of a Smart person and not too many boxers has gone from nothing to Senate.

 

Lots of humans make money their priority in life, 99.99% have little money or even debt (becoming literally losers), they do lame financial planning & comically carry themselves as smart people, yet they fail to achieve 1% of their supposed central goal in life (money), making them not as Smart as Mayweather

Money Mayweather is one of the extremely few people who boldly made it clear, his goal in life is money & he precisely achieved his goal.

Holyfield & Tyson were already declining financially & done as boxers at 42. Mayweather is still undefeated & the richest at 42

 

Floyd isn't even 2 years away from the ring. With George & Larry U got to add another 2 LOL! 22 years away from the ring & worth $ in many ways.

Holyfield had hundreds of millions for most of his life..but overtime he lost it. Not like Tyson. That is my statement on Floyd. He aint been away long enough for me to say he is smart with his money or decisions in life. I say he is hands down the best promoter of himself & disciplined. Because he is walking a path that was paved for him and has yet to prove he can pave a new direction.

His promoting of his fighters IMO not very smart. His TMT I dunno...maybe it will be great some day but today his own Tank to B Jack aren't able to say they are being promoted by a brilliant or smart promoter. Stalled the careers of those like Andre Direll because he chose an incompetent 50 cent...who actually formed TMT.

As far as Some people dying poor doesn't mean they're not smart, I know you know that. Chance has to come. that is why I tend to lean on Holmes, Foreman Hopkins & DLH- he broke the barrier of how a fighter can turn promoter. Even bought out our Bible of Boxing. He can makes his own rankings!

I totally agree with you that PBF wanted to be rich. That is why he still doesn't rank up there with Ali who wanted to use his platform for humanity - in other words Ali didn't die broke because he chased Glory & the money followed. Floyd chased $...hoping the glory would follow.

Long after Floyd-there will be the Muhammad Ali Act. Movies portraying him...nations adoring him. Again, Chasing glory got him that- its called living for eternity through fans, Floyd won't have that. And when Floyd leaves this earth...the money goes where for us to determine just how smart he is or was?
We may still have GBP promotions, but will we have TMT?
Floyd is persistent and disciplined like Donald Trump. Smarts doesn't always make money.

Money can make Floyd's life very comfortable. Provided he is smart with taxes. Curbs his gambling habits, stop making it rain in strip clubs ( most I can do is make it drizzle)! LOL! If he doesn't get a handle on that, his kids may live to see the IRS beat the hell out of his accounts.

.Longevity of wealth takes more than smarts it takes wisdom which is the culmination of time & experience!
Holmes survived it. Hopkins never had the talent of Floyd yet he amassed a wealth & gained a name that has him honored by his mayor all they way to the prison murals of him. His life inside & outside has preserved him as being remembered as such.
20 years from today...will be the best way to determine how smart Floyd was. As of now, He is the richest boxer, nowhere near smartest IMO, but I dig you respect the man who put the hundreds to the millions! Peace sir!

 

While Mayweather is the smartest in boxing, he is extremely Machiavellian-Careful in balance to other traits seen in the top promoter, for that reason he will never be a Don king or Bob Arum.

Ex-Boxers taking shorter-framed-less talented boxers under their wing is protective mentoring, not promoting

A legendary Promoter main two traits are the same as any successful Corporate Leader just with extra Grandiose Narcissism ICW Sadism, this balance make for fantastic promoters.

Grandiose Narcissism ICW Sadism, allows for much more drama, because those traits create unpredictable outcomes & at the end of the day that is what the fans want. So far none of the promoters around match Don King or Bob Arum. Al Haymon stands out as an excellent talent manager, but he lacks in the Sadistic department, so he treats his boxers the same way he treats a show-girl.

 

Bernard was smart but also cagey and very battle tested/experienced. I'd put #'s 2, 4, 5 in the "instinctive" category. Klitschko is a good example of a smart fighter. I think FMJ is the most recent epitome of a "smart fighter."

 

Mayweather
Marquez
B-hop
Usyk
Canelo

old school to new school

 

Ali
Leonard
Robinson
Duran
Jones Jr

 

I can't answer the loud prayer call is at it again (mind you I am in a heathen place)...Its weird how Billions of non-religious people...Have to be reminded of how much better than them the illiterate guy was, multiple times every day!

The average Joe/Moe can barely get the hag to say his name...

 

So that means he is in the business of promoting to never make it to the top $ because he prefers to be Machiavellian-Careful? OK.

So he is mentoring short-framed boxers as opposed to promoting the best fighters? Sounds like charity work. I pity his stable as I can't imagine , Tank or Buea Jack, Vidall Riley, Lanell Bellows, Andrew Tibeti to name a few.. all want to be mentored as opposed to being promoted to make top$? OK.

I don't know the promoters top traits so you got one up on me.

You are right, these two evil empirical masters were shrewd or as U state Grandiose Narcissism ICW Sadism.

Inside the ring I agree. Promoting himself I agree. Outside the ring? We will have to agree to disagree. Any guy who gets locked up during his career for beating up women shows he is suspect in intellect. (outside the ring) I've met some women who ask for a whoopin' with their sharp tongued mouths, Just Don't do it! Seriously I wouldn't be surprised if there is a dossier building on him- so that when he pisses off the wrong people- it will come out & we may see another great entertainer whose private life showed their weakness when making intelligent decisions outside their career.

His ability inside the (game) of boxing showed he is the ultimate self-promoter. His ability to ensure his fights were all where he wanted them to be (Vegas for 12 years in a row) Masterful, you've express this clearly, no one has ever done it.
Again, outside the ring?
https://thejasminebrand.com/2017/07...-3-mill-tax-lien-released-still-owes-29-mill/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/robert...heres-how-irs-can-release-yours/#c1b4bb948e79

Here is what I was mentioning a few posts back: "$3.3 million federal lien has been released by the IRS – due to it being paid in full – which only leaves him with another $29 million owed in back taxes. The IRS hit Mayweather with a $22.2 million federal tax lien. Uncle Sam accused him of failing to pay his 2015 taxes."

Again, a smart fighter doesn't mess with the undisputed champion. I mean UNDISPUTED; aka IRS. Smart people don't negotiate with IRS, you don't treat them like an electric bill and pay the amount to keep it on. You pay them in full, not the minimum. Now this was 2017, I don't know his current scenario. But that was only 2 years ago.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/f...tegy-would-knock-out-your-finances-2017-07-19
All links are related to one topic: taxes. He owes.

Here is the apex of my argument: "Jeffrey Morse, told Fight Hype that Mayweather is deferring tax payments, noting that “if he is investing money and getting a rate of return that far exceeds what he has to pay the IRS in interest, then any smart business person is going to take advantage of that deferral."

Key word is 'deferral' Every major African-American entertainer that went bankrupt without having drug habits for example, were victims of their own attorneys telling them "defer"

Let me end with my one of my picks :Hopkins being interviewed by marketwatch!
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/money-talks-qa-boxing-champ-bernard-hopkins-2011-08-18

On making windfall ( a lot of loot at 1 time like PBF's PPV events- ) "people who come into a windfall (lottery winnings, sale of a business, etc.) typically run afoul of tax issues similar to those Mayweather is facing."

Professor Bernard Hopkins on credit vs money: "But it ain't cash. One thing about cash, you've got to feel it, you've got to exchange it, and every time you give somebody a dollar out of your pocket, your pocket gets lighter. But with a credit card, it's like free money. Then the interest knocks it out of the ballpark."

Professor Hopkins on mentoring young fighters: "You can't teach them. They want rims, Rolls Royces, change and a leather jacket. I can't do it. I've still got my Costco card in my wallet."

Professor Hopkins on taxes: "Here's a multimillionaire, I'm sitting on $30 million after taxes."
(meaning he didn't give bare minimum like Floyd did & then go out & buys cars & bling bling & holding stacks of money to his ear like it's a phone.
Floyd does have some investments, some properties, but when one owes taxes? Interest in that way Big E? Is worse than those who fear a red-tailed horned dude call the devil. On earth the IRS is the undisputed Pimp. Undisputed champion. Floyd as I see it is heading for fall if he doesn't take care of just that (1) problem.
richest in boxing? Yup. Best self promoter? Yup!. Smartest? Here's Hopkins statement on why he is way smarter than Floyd;

"The talent might make you rich, but it doesn't make you smart.
--Bernard Hopkins. One of the smartest boxers outside the ring-who ever lived!

 

Promoting keeps him relevant & serves his real interest (promoting himself for another low risk-high pay fight/event)

• Mayweather top dog is Tank
• De La Hoya top dog is Canelo

Both Oscar & Mayweather were crafted by Bob Arum, when Arum promoted them he started them early tall & lean at the lowest weight possible, this allows for more high-risk fights & reduces the need for protection & excessive judges expenses.

Mayweather & De La Hoya could easily do the same & take lean Gold medalists under their wings & allow them to be super-stars, but they chose to take vulnerable boxers. Who will be wholly dependent on them, so Davis & Canelo know they will fall apart without Mayweather or De La Hoya...This protects the ego of Mayweather & De La Hoya...and in the same time it helps the short stubby no-medalist Davis-Canelo earn Money & be grateful to their master (Mayweather-De La Hoya). The weak sadistic element in both Mayweather & De La Hoya, makes them less interested in seeing agony & pain (the Drama Arum & King gave boxing)

The difference between Mayweather & De La Hoya, is that Mayweather is smarter. He is not in promoting to nurture his ego alone or make event-to-event % $, he is still looking for 100% winnable events, where he keeps all the money. McGregor fight was as smart as it gets, the casuals encouraged Mayweather to keep looking (100% he will fight again in some kind of big event)

 

I always assumed the 5'8 Floyd began at a lower weight because he left the amatuers as a featherweight to which was why he won his title at Superfeather. Ithought he fought at the best weight for him, not of out contractual obligations to Arum, but I have nothing to back it up. Just comparing his weight @ Olympics then turning pro. Same with Oscar at GG title was bantam U.S. National Championship at feather, then won his title at Superfeather because that was his close to walk around weight. Or did both fighters have to lose weight to win their SuperFeather titles?

3. When I google for Oscar tax problems, Floyd names comes up, go figure lol!

2. Oscar got Canelo Alvarez the largest sports deal in history: A 5 year, $365 million contract. I call that pretty smart.

https://www.businessinsider.com/canelo-alverez-new-contract-dazn-365-million-2018-https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_...s-5-year-11-fight-deal-worth-365-million-dazn


& the #1 difference is Floyd beats women in stockings & Oscar just prefers to wear stockings!