Moonangie wrote:Boring fight. Yes, Mayweather is good. But he didn't have to do too much to beat Manny last night. It's a shame we'll probably never see him in a real fight.
This fight needed to happen 5+ years ago.
Downloaded a torrent of the fight, and watched various random parts of it. Terribly boring and uninspiring, from what I saw.
Mayweather's dad fought- not sure how he turned out mentally after years of boxing- I actually wonder how that influenced the son, who seemingly fights as if it is more important not to get hit than to inflict punishment.
The greatness of a fighter is determined by his best opponents, and how he chooses to fight them. I heard someone talk about him not evenmaking the top 20 on their boxing greats list, and I have a feeling it is based on this.
I remember some of Sugar Ray Leonard's fights. Great defensive fighter, but he could also take punishment, as well as dish it out.
First fight vs Roberto Duran he seemed to want to prove that he could go toe to toe. He lost. Second fight, he went defensive, a la Mayweather, and Duran went 'No Mas."
Against Hagler, Leonard stayed away until the end of each round, at which time he mixed it up and scored enough in flurries to win the round.
Perhaps the best fight I ever saw was Leonard/Hearns #1. Saw it in Indianapolis' Market Square Arena on a big screen. Hearns actually outboxed Leonard at times. Leonard came back, but Hearns reasserted himself. Last few rounds Leonard just stalked him- completely out of character. Took his punishment while trying to land the big punch. Finally ended it in the 14th, if I remember correctly.
I never really got to see the pre-prison Cassius Clay- don't think Ali was ever the same after his time in jail, even though he won all those big fights. I consider Leonard the greatest fighter I ever saw.
Mayweather isn't in the same category as Leonard, Hagler, Duran, Robinson, etc., and despite his record, he is not at the same level as a Marciano. I think he could have been in this group, despite the fact that he does not seem to be a good person, but he chose a different path.
For what its worth, though, he will end his career with his mind intact (however much folks might not like that mind), something many of the best fighters don't have later in their lives.
EnySpree: Can we agree to agree not to mention Phil Jackson and triangle for the rest of our lives?
