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How 2 Dismiss 2 Champs at Once & Perfecting the Art of Mud Slinging
"How to Dismiss 2 Champions at One time & perfecting the Art of Mud Slinging."
Before I begin, let me start by saying that this article/letter may offend some of my fellow boxing enthusiasts and for that I will offer this apology: I apologize.
That being said...let's begin.
First and foremost...I am ashamed of my fellow boxing fans and I have finally crossed an invisible line in the sand regarding my distaste for what has become labled as "haters" within our sport.
Certainly I understand that their are fan-boys, rivalries, nuthuggers, and other names that define some of us that support our favorite fighters...but after this weekend...after listening to many of my forum brethrein...there's no other word for what's on my mind. Disgust.
I'm disgusted...deeply.
As promised, on Saturday November the 4th, 2006 Floyd Mayweather jr stepped into the ring with Carlos Manuel Baldomir at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada & handily defeated a rugged champion who had not seen a loss on his record in over 19 contests. As promised. At the end of the match three titles came together & we, as fans, made one step closer to having a unified star of the Welterweight division. Might I add...one that is worth talking about.
The fight went the distance and Baldomir gave it his best...but it just wasn't enough to his credit. The full 12 went to Floyd and it ended legitamately.
There was nothing for referee Jay Nady or the judges (Chuck Giampa 120-108 | Judge: John Keane 120-108 | Judge: Paul Smith 118-110) to be ashamed of as is the case of late with most of our title fights. This one went off with out a hitch....or did it?
At the end of the fight...the fight was all business and per the usual from Floyd Mayweather Jr: a complete shut out of magnificent proportions. The scores read two times over 120-108 and then 118-110. The stakes were high as this was a make or break fight for both men. The WBC, IBA, & IBO straps were all brought together for one grand occassion.
At the end of the night...they left unified around the waist & draped over the shoulders of the one true champion. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
This has not settled well with many of the fans.
Unfortunately...some of us have lost what the meaning of respect and on a whole...maybe even what boxing is...either that...or it's been misenterpreted along the way.
Many have complained that Floyd was "back pedaling and grabbing when he got hit."
Many are saying that Floyd was running the second half of the night. Many are saying the fight was a joke and a waste of money.
To those that say this...I ask you...do you not realize that this is slanderous to both men? Not just one...but both. This fight consisted of two men...two of whom were doing their very best to keep what they valued.
I mean, I really hate to interject that some of you might just not realize the full extent of what boxing actually is...but I'm starting to wonder. These actions, that so many of you are scrutinizing, are often referred to as strategies...& quite often...they are taught by some of the most respectable trainers in the game today. Often these tactics are noted & even acceptable by most fans. Not so with Floyd Mayweather.
The main issue is not what Floyd does or even when he does what he does. The problem with Floyd is the fact that he is Floyd. He has die hard fans and he has die hard haters. There's really no in between with Floyd Mayweather...the problem that will plauge him for the rest of his career...no matter how long ridden or short lived...is that he has more haters than he will have fans...and that is a crying shame.
I, being a fan of Floyd Mayweather, can say that he is one of the greatest fighters of my generation...but I can also admit that he is one of the most sorry arrogant human beings that I have knowledge of. Do I like Floyd? No. Would I want to hang out with or be seen with Floyd? No. Hell...I wouldn't even have a photo for keepsake snapped with Floyd.
The thing is...this is boxing. This aint personal. Does any of the above emotional strife I carry for Floyd Mayweather Jr pertain to boxing? No.
Is it justifiable to persecute Floyd for his personal life? No.
Does the fact that Floyd acts a fool in public, mistreats women, says the most ridiculous things humanly possible change the fact that he is a great boxer? No.
This isn't high school any more...this is boxing. One of the world's greatest past times & Floyd Mayweather Jr does it great justice while confined to the square circle.
Coming into this fight there were uncertainties...most revolved around Floyd moving up & facing a truely valid 147lb fighter. A fighter that was capable of devastating Floyd as he had Judah, a fellow slickster & speedster...there was also the possibility that Baldomir would devastate Floyd as he did Gatti a hard hittings gutty warrior that could take punishment.
None of this materialized in Baldomir's favor and now he has been written off as a second rate opponent who caught the right men at the right time.
Sadly but true...this has become the mentality of the debdicated boxing fan. The true pugilistic devotee. In this debdicated boxing fan's opinion...that in itself is a paradox...no...let's not be polite...that is a true sign of hypocricy. Baldomir was good enough leading up to the fight...but now...he's been demoted back to journeyman status and Floyd's performance has been poked & proded more than a corpse at a crime scene.
Floyd did what Floyd should have done...he fought a smart fight. He developed a lead. He outboxed Baldomir & he went on to win the fight by boxing from the outside...not running...but boxing. Many others have done so this year...but none have been scolded like Floyd. Floyd Mayweather...the man that rose from 130lbs to 147lbs over the span of nine years, took the titles, and dominated everyone he fought.
Floyd defeats another durable champion, overcomes the odds, takes the titles...but guess what...the "so called fans" still aren't satisfied. It's now time to write Floyd off with this performance...one that many dub as his worst to date...but prior...his worst to date was against Castillo...another durable champion and threat.
Next to satisfy the unsatisfiable "so called fans" must be a fight with Oscar or Margarito. If or when Floyd were to beat those two...Mosley would spring up next and if and when that foe fell vanquised...a laundry list of dozens more would rise.
For me...there's just a short list of three opponents.
#1: Oscar de la Hoya. Oscar, while past his prime, is still a worthy opponant and could very well be Floyd's downfall as he wishes yet again to defy the odds and conquer another weight class. This is something that I think Floyd should not do...but history and money is what makes Floyd tick. A contest between "the Golden Boy" and "the Pretty Boy" would be what most fans want to see materialize...as does Floyd, but one can bite off more than one can chew before one even knows it. Oscar would be a mouthful and I honestly don't know that Floyd has the stomach for a meal that size.
#2: Margarito. Ahhhhhhhhhhh Margarito. This one is just a silencer for me. Sure he's got a strap...but what has he proven? The man's a myth inside his bosses mind. Arum's got him so hyped up that he couldn't climb down from his perch with a twenty foot ladder. As a "champ" he's got four losses and as weak of a record as everyone screamed Baldomir had. Needless to say the Santos loss is still a sounding board for most of his detractors. While I don't think that Margarito is that great of a fighter technically...I do believe that he is a necessity for Floyd's record. As a fighter, Margarito does have the strengths to give Floyd a fight. The question will be...does have heart and fortitude to take the traditional accumulative beatings that Floyd hands out. I don't believe so...I just don't see him as the fighter to topple Floyd.
If anyone is that man...it is Oscar or Winky Wright. The latter is a whole other ball game that I don't even have the time to go in to detail over...ahhhhhhhhhhhhh fwock it...I got nothing but time.
#3: Ronald "Winky" Wright. To date...Wright is an enigma...he always has been the odd man out no matter what division he resides in. I honestly believe that Winky would cause Floyd more issues than Oscar. I give Oscar an edge on size...Winky? Skill & defense. Yes...I do believe that Wright has the skills & defense to shut Floyd down. I honestly think that Wright's jab & "shellish/hellish" guard would cut down a majority of Floyd's angles & negate his speed also. Wright has the abilities to walk Floyd down & counter him like no one else. Floyd has never faced anyone like Wright...and visa versa.
Just my opinion...right or wrong...maybe we shall see...maybe not.
Either way...I'd like to discuss it.
Sad but true...good discussions are hard to come by any more due to the constant "mud slinging"...it seems that we no longer discuss "The Art of Boxing" but more who can come up with the more witty slap.
In the past, I've been guilty of the some of the same shit that I'm complaining about...but hating on one of the better boxers of our time just for the fun of it...well...it really really makes some of us look quite ridiculous and I know that your'e better than that.
Maybe this long winded post will piss you off...maybe it won't...but one thing that I hope it will accomplish is that we all get back to the art of discussion...please people.
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Originally Posted by dasamm
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