My take on the Oscar/Floyd fight

Before this fight there was so much press about this mega fight "saving" boxing...and while i think that is being overly dramatic...this certainly was a HUGE chance for boxing to bring back a mainstream audience. Well...it's not going to happen...and we can blame both Floyd and Oscar for that. There was really no passion shown by either of these guys. After all the hype, knowing so much was on the line...they give us that?! Now, some of you boxing "purists" are gonna jump out of your seats screaming that Floyd exhibited tremendous skill and poise or that Oscar fought valiantly to no avail...blah, blah, blah. Bottom line....this was not a FIGHT....this was not two fighters who left their heart in the ring and give the MILLIONS of people watching, a show they could be excited about...instead...it was two fighters who wanted to make $$$ and not look bad. Sure, Oscar pressed the action a bit more and would try and land flurries....and every once in a while Floyd would pick his spot and throw a crisp shot...but is that it?! Oscar looked content with throwing flurries at the end of some rounds and going to the cards and Floyd also looked perfectly content with doing just enough to win 7-8 rounds and going home. So after all the hype, after 24/7, after all the talk of the importance of this fight in bringing good light and popularity back to boxing...this is the the result we get for one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport?! Would this fight have made fighters like Ali, Hagler, Duran, Hearns, Leonard, Chavez, etc....proud? Those fighters gave us a show. They exhibited their skill, heart, and sense of the dramatics. For me...the most exciting part of this fight was the last 10 seconds....the only time where you got a sense that both fighters just let go...trading hard punches till after the bell. Again, some of you so called boxing purists will try and persuade me that Floyd showed his defensive mastery and that Oscar tried to cut the ring off and that boxing isn't only about knockouts and going toe to toe, etc. But that is ultimately a cop out. Both these fighters should have realized the importance of this fight and had a sense for the kind of stage they where on. They could have thrilled us...but instead they put on a business like performance. S***...the interviews with Floyd Sr. where more entertaining than the actual fight.

I have to agree with ya... CC

Your spot on, cc

I am glad there are some others who agree.

8) Well I dont agree with that It might have gone to Mayweather but it wasnt enough to beat the champion Vegas went with the money bottom line 8)

It seems like some people REALLY want to believe that this fight lived up to the hype. Bottom line...it wasn't the best fight of THIS year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zhubin

It seems like some people REALLY want to believe that this fight lived up to the hype. Bottom line...it wasn't the best fight of THIS year.

---

It was a good fight.......but far from great. I knew it would never live up to the hype because that would be impossible. It could of been a lot worse but Floyd did actually stand toe to toe (even if it was for just a few seconds) and that made the fight that little bit better for me.

Good initial post zhubin CC

Some fans can be so friggin fickle, its sickening sometimes ::**

I partially agree. I do think ODH tried to make a fight. He definitely didn't show desperation, but he pressed the fight, and attempted. PBF on the other hand was certainly comfortable going to the cards without a drop of blood spilled by either guy. At least bloody his nose, bust his lip, black eye??? P4P champs should try to beat the other guy, I was disappointed and I did buy into some of the hype. I thought this would be a career defining moment for PBF. I thought he would really fight and show his heart. Nope he showed his defensive prowess, but lots of people bought the fight cause he said he was gonna go for the ko.

Thoroughly disappointed. It's like going to a restaurant and ordering something you were craving and they bring you something different. It wasn't inedible food, but it wasn't what I ordered.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by luvfightgame

I partially agree. I do think ODH tried to make a fight. He definitely didn't show desperation, but he pressed the fight, and attempted. PBF on the other hand was certainly comfortable going to the cards without a drop of blood spilled by either guy. At least bloody his nose, bust his lip, black eye??? P4P champs should try to beat the other guy, I was disappointed and I did buy into some of the hype. I thought this would be a career defining moment for PBF. I thought he would really fight and show his heart. Nope he showed his defensive prowess, but lots of people bought the fight cause he said he was gonna go for the ko.

Thoroughly disappointed. It's like going to a restaurant and ordering something you were craving and they bring you something different. It wasn't inedible food, but it wasn't what I ordered.

---

a win is a win, is a win, is a win.......the fight could not live up to expectations unless Floyd Sr's hair attacked a small child and then started spitting fire at those around him....:)

I don't think a win is a win. That is what separates the legends of the sport from the others. People remember the fighters that exhibit their all in the ring....the fighters who not only show great skill...but also great heart....fighters who are able to create drama and lasting memories. That is one thing that makes boxing, and sports in general, so compelling. If it was only about skill and technical prowess....people would have no emotional connection. Boxing brings that out more than any other sport. When two fighters battle each other and leave everything in the ring...it is both brutal and magical. Again, that doesn't mean that two fighters should just stand in the middle of ring and beat each other senseless. But it does mean showing your spirit and heart...not just doing enough to notch up a victory. Years from now...will people remember this fight...or will they remember the hype for this fight? Only a few months ago we witnessed the Barrera/Marquez fight. That fight displayed two fighters with tremendous skill and heart. It was by no means a slugfest...but it had me on the edge of my seat. Afterwards i knew i had witnessed two great fighters who left everything in the ring and had the people watching truly excited. I only wish that all the millions of fans...especially the ones who normally wouldn't watch boxing....had witnessed a fight like that on Saturday. Instead, we witnessed a business like effort on what was supposed to be one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by THE Bigragu

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by luvfightgame

I partially agree. I do think ODH tried to make a fight. He definitely didn't show desperation, but he pressed the fight, and attempted. PBF on the other hand was certainly comfortable going to the cards without a drop of blood spilled by either guy. At least bloody his nose, bust his lip, black eye??? P4P champs should try to beat the other guy, I was disappointed and I did buy into some of the hype. I thought this would be a career defining moment for PBF. I thought he would really fight and show his heart. Nope he showed his defensive prowess, but lots of people bought the fight cause he said he was gonna go for the ko.

Thoroughly disappointed. It's like going to a restaurant and ordering something you were craving and they bring you something different. It wasn't inedible food, but it wasn't what I ordered.

---

a win is a win, is a win, is a win.......the fight could not live up to expectations unless Floyd Sr's hair attacked a small child and then started spitting fire at those around him....:)

---

;D ;D ;D

I think if Floyd was more aggressive it would have been better. His strategy was to wait for ODH to tire. That's what they kept saying in his corner. He could have went for a stoppage. Instead he went for points. Hearns and SRL was what I was looking for.

fighters at this level cant go out and put on this kind of show ,people will not accept it and if you think this fight lived up to half the hype your wrong in my view but what the hell were talking about this 3 days later and pbf and odh are at home counting millions that in my eyes dont deserve hell the first undercard was better

At the end of the day...both guys made their money...so i highly doubt that they care much about what the casual fan thinks. Too bad. But there are some truly exciting matches coming up...and they wont cost us $65.00.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zhubin

Before this fight there was so much press about this mega fight "saving" boxing...and while i think that is being overly dramatic...this certainly was a HUGE chance for boxing to bring back a mainstream audience. Well...it's not going to happen...and we can blame both Floyd and Oscar for that. There was really no passion shown by either of these guys. After all the hype, knowing so much was on the line...they give us that?! Now, some of you boxing "purists" are gonna jump out of your seats screaming that Floyd exhibited tremendous skill and poise or that Oscar fought valiantly to no avail...blah, blah, blah. Bottom line....this was not a FIGHT....this was not two fighters who left their heart in the ring and give the MILLIONS of people watching, a show they could be excited about...instead...it was two fighters who wanted to make $$$ and not look bad. Sure, Oscar pressed the action a bit more and would try and land flurries....and every once in a while Floyd would pick his spot and throw a crisp shot...but is that it?! Oscar looked content with throwing flurries at the end of some rounds and going to the cards and Floyd also looked perfectly content with doing just enough to win 7-8 rounds and going home. So after all the hype, after 24/7, after all the talk of the importance of this fight in bringing good light and popularity back to boxing...this is the the result we get for one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport?! Would this fight have made fighters like Ali, Hagler, Duran, Hearns, Leonard, Chavez, etc....proud? Those fighters gave us a show. They exhibited their skill, heart, and sense of the dramatics. For me...the most exciting part of this fight was the last 10 seconds....the only time where you got a sense that both fighters just let go...trading hard punches till after the bell. Again, some of you so called boxing purists will try and persuade me that Floyd showed his defensive mastery and that Oscar tried to cut the ring off and that boxing isn't only about knockouts and going toe to toe, etc. But that is ultimately a cop out. Both these fighters should have realized the importance of this fight and had a sense for the kind of stage they where on. They could have thrilled us...but instead they put on a business like performance. S***...the interviews with Floyd Sr. where more entertaining than the actual fight.

---

I disagree completely. Another idiot thinking it should have been a summer blockbuster!! ::**

Let me guess Miles...you are one of those "boxing purists" who thought he witnessed a fantastic fight? Haha. If you want to call me, and many others, an idiot for feeling cheated by an uninspired fight that was billed as the biggest event in recent years...that's just fine. Hopefully, boxing can win back some of the casual fans it seems like it desperately wants...with great upcoming fights that truly create some excitement and don't cost $65.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zhubin

Let me guess Miles...you are one of those "boxing purists" who thought he witnessed a fantastic fight? Haha. If you want to call me, and many others, an idiot for feeling cheated by an uninspired fight that was billed as the biggest event in recent years...that's just fine. Hopefully, boxing can win back some of the casual fans it seems like it desperately wants...with great upcoming fights that truly create some excitement and don't cost $65.

---

Yup, and although many boxing purists think PBF won if you ask the average person watching who won they will most likely say ODH. And that they wouldn't want to see another fight with PBF cause he runs. That's reality. And huge ppv's come from normal people that don't know squat about boxing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zhubin

Before this fight there was so much press about this mega fight "saving" boxing...and while i think that is being overly dramatic...this certainly was a HUGE chance for boxing to bring back a mainstream audience. Well...it's not going to happen...and we can blame both Floyd and Oscar for that. There was really no passion shown by either of these guys. After all the hype, knowing so much was on the line...they give us that?! Now, some of you boxing "purists" are gonna jump out of your seats screaming that Floyd exhibited tremendous skill and poise or that Oscar fought valiantly to no avail...blah, blah, blah. Bottom line....this was not a FIGHT....this was not two fighters who left their heart in the ring and give the MILLIONS of people watching, a show they could be excited about...instead...it was two fighters who wanted to make $$$ and not look bad. Sure, Oscar pressed the action a bit more and would try and land flurries....and every once in a while Floyd would pick his spot and throw a crisp shot...but is that it?! Oscar looked content with throwing flurries at the end of some rounds and going to the cards and Floyd also looked perfectly content with doing just enough to win 7-8 rounds and going home. So after all the hype, after 24/7, after all the talk of the importance of this fight in bringing good light and popularity back to boxing...this is the the result we get for one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport?! Would this fight have made fighters like Ali, Hagler, Duran, Hearns, Leonard, Chavez, etc....proud? Those fighters gave us a show. They exhibited their skill, heart, and sense of the dramatics. For me...the most exciting part of this fight was the last 10 seconds....the only time where you got a sense that both fighters just let go...trading hard punches till after the bell. Again, some of you so called boxing purists will try and persuade me that Floyd showed his defensive mastery and that Oscar tried to cut the ring off and that boxing isn't only about knockouts and going toe to toe, etc. But that is ultimately a cop out. Both these fighters should have realized the importance of this fight and had a sense for the kind of stage they where on. They could have thrilled us...but instead they put on a business like performance. S***...the interviews with Floyd Sr. where more entertaining than the actual fight.

---

If you expected a slugfest from two of the greatest BOXERS of any generation then you drastically misjudged the merits of the fighters on show. I disagree with you wholeheartedly. I do not think Oscar or Floyd fought like men out for a paycheque. I saw Oscar display tremendous heart in trying to maintain the pace he set in the early going. He wanted to prove he was the better man. He doesn't need the money, nor has he needed it for a long time. And Mayweather showed fantastic character to actually fight his way back into contention.

Really, what did you expect? Barrera-Morales IV?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zhubin

Let me guess Miles...you are one of those "boxing purists" who thought he witnessed a fantastic fight? Haha. If you want to call me, and many others, an idiot for feeling cheated by an uninspired fight that was billed as the biggest event in recent years...that's just fine. Hopefully, boxing can win back some of the casual fans it seems like it desperately wants...with great upcoming fights that truly create some excitement and don't cost $65.

---

It WAS the biggest fight in recent years. What on earth led you to believe it would be the BEST fight in recent years, though? Surely you can make the distinction between "biggest" and "best".

I never would expect either of these two fighters to display the heart of Barrera or Morales. They don't need the money?! Now that's funny. Not sure what society you live in...but people, ESPECIALLY if they are business men, want more money. Sure Oscar is rich...but he runs a promotion company...he wants to bring as much income and exposure to that as possible...and hey...that's not a problem. And if you read my earlier posts...i mentioned a fight does not always have to be a slugfest. But all the great and memorable fights have shown two men who leave their ALL in the ring. If you think you saw that...i guess we where watching different fights. And luvfightgame, you are right...huge ppv's do come from "normal" people. And as much as you want to discount their knowledge of the sport....if they feel like they didn't get what was advertised....that's boxings loss. If the sport, and the media, desperately wants it's popularity to rise....you wont get that with these kind of fights. Whether you like that or not...or even care...THAT is reality.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zhubin

I never would expect either of these two fighters to display the heart of Barrera or Morales. They don't need the money?! Now that's funny. Not sure what society you live in...but people, ESPECIALLY if they are business men, want more money. Sure Oscar is rich...but he runs a promotion company...he wants to bring as much income and exposure to that as possible...and hey...that's not a problem. And if you read my earlier posts...i mentioned a fight does not always have to be a slugfest. But all the great and memorable fights have shown two men who leave their ALL in the ring. If you think you saw that...i guess we where watching different fights. And luvfightgame, you are right...huge ppv's do come from "normal" people. And as much as you want to discount their knowledge of the sport....if they feel like they didn't get what was advertised....that's boxings loss. If the sport, and the media, desperately wants it's popularity to rise....you wont get that with these kind of fights. Whether you like that or not...or even care...THAT is reality.

---

Who said anything about Oscar or Floyd not wanting the money? I said they don't need the money. Again, you have to ascertain the difference between "want and "need". They are both millionaires many times over. You are talking as if they both went through the motions. Pure boxers do not "leave it all in the ring". Warriors like Gatti do. When have you ever seen a Chris Byrd leave it all in the ring? Oscar has been known to engage in the occasional memorable fight, but it was never going to happen against Mayweather unless you appreciate the more subtle aspects of boxing.

There's no shame in not appreciating the more subtly entertaining fight, but if other people do then don't knock them for it. There really is no accounting for taste, my friend.

"Pure Boxers"!!! History has many examples of fighters who have tremendous skill AND heart. And where did i say i don't appreciate "subtle" fights. But NOTHING about this fight, and everything leading up to it, was subtle. It was advertised to create excitement, to to bring in not only the purist, but the casual sports fan who normally wouldn't shell out $$$ to see a fight. That is how the media AND the fighters SOLD it. Chris Byrd doesn't generate interest and money for the sport. As i said before...the only time in this fight where BOTH fighters showed a spark...where they said "hell with it...lets put it out there"...where they laid it out on the line...was the last 10 seconds. You think this will be remembered along side of the Hagler/Hearns/Leonard or Morales/Barrera/Pac/Marquez or so many other fights where the fighters raised their level to thrill us. Where all those fighters purely warriors....unskilled brutes just slugging it out?! They all had/have tremendous skill to go along with pride, heart....and most importantly....a sense of what is at stake....not only for themselves....but for the people watching. So call me tasteless.

If Floyd had fought like he did in the last 10 seconds from the get go he would have been blown out by the middle rounds. Of course this is what you wanted to see, like many others.... But if you actually followed each fighter there was no reason to expect a war, obviously..

zhubin, you know your stuff. If you talk the talk you have to walk the walk, we watched a lie.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zhubin

"Pure Boxers"!!! History has many examples of fighters who have tremendous skill AND heart. And where did i say i don't appreciate "subtle" fights. But NOTHING about this fight, and everything leading up to it, was subtle. It was advertised to create excitement, to to bring in not only the purist, but the casual sports fan who normally wouldn't shell out $$$ to see a fight. That is how the media AND the fighters SOLD it. Chris Byrd doesn't generate interest and money for the sport. As i said before...the only time in this fight where BOTH fighters showed a spark...where they said "hell with it...lets put it out there"...where they laid it out on the line...was the last 10 seconds. You think this will be remembered along side of the Hagler/Hearns/Leonard or Morales/Barrera/Pac/Marquez or so many other fights where the fighters raised their level to thrill us. Where all those fighters purely warriors....unskilled brutes just slugging it out?! They all had/have tremendous skill to go along with pride, heart....and most importantly....a sense of what is at stake....not only for themselves....but for the people watching. So call me tasteless.

---

And you actually bought into the hype? When will people learn that the buildup is orchestrated to sell tickets?

Who cares how it was marketed? If you were actually gullible enough to swallow all the pre-fight hype then God help you, mate. It was the biggest fight of recent times, but hype, talk, promotion, it's all just for show.

I did not call you tasteless either. It's like talking to a brick wall. I said that there is no accounting for taste. All that means is that different people appreciate different things. It was not meant to knock your taste for the sport.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Scrap

zhubin, you know your stuff. If you talk the talk you have to walk the walk, we watched a lie.

---

Then I'm afraid you will find yourself sorely disappointed the vast majority of the time. Very few fighters can back up what they say outside of the ring.

If you actually believe what half of the fighters say then you are as deluded as they are. Show me a fighter who will not talk up his own ability and I'll show you a liar.

I know qiute a few, Im lucky as a rule I dont pay to watch, what I watched Saturday was 2 fighters not wanting to lose but doing nothing to win, to me thats dissapointing.

Why should it be all for show?! Isn't that one of the problems?! There are plenty of examples in recent fights where the fighters lived up and backed up the hype. So how can you say "who cares how it was marketed?" It's one thing to not live up to the incredible expectations...it's an entirely different thing to NOT EVEN TRY!!! They set up the show and you want people to buy the copout that "it's just a show." You obviously thought it was a terrific fight...it seems like you felt they put their all in the ring. I, and many others, certainly don't. You might be right...there might be only a handful of fighters that back up what they say...but those are the fighters that people embrace...they are the ones that create lasting memories. Wish there was more like them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zhubin

"Pure Boxers"!!! History has many examples of fighters who have tremendous skill AND heart. And where did i say i don't appreciate "subtle" fights. But NOTHING about this fight, and everything leading up to it, was subtle. It was advertised to create excitement, to to bring in not only the purist, but the casual sports fan who normally wouldn't shell out $$$ to see a fight. That is how the media AND the fighters SOLD it. Chris Byrd doesn't generate interest and money for the sport. As i said before...the only time in this fight where BOTH fighters showed a spark...where they said "hell with it...lets put it out there"...where they laid it out on the line...was the last 10 seconds. You think this will be remembered along side of the Hagler/Hearns/Leonard or Morales/Barrera/Pac/Marquez or so many other fights where the fighters raised their level to thrill us. Where all those fighters purely warriors....unskilled brutes just slugging it out?! They all had/have tremendous skill to go along with pride, heart....and most importantly....a sense of what is at stake....not only for themselves....but for the people watching. So call me tasteless.

---

cc# 54 excellent reads mate !

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Clydey_2_Times

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zhubin

"Pure Boxers"!!! History has many examples of fighters who have tremendous skill AND heart. And where did i say i don't appreciate "subtle" fights. But NOTHING about this fight, and everything leading up to it, was subtle. It was advertised to create excitement, to to bring in not only the purist, but the casual sports fan who normally wouldn't shell out $$$ to see a fight. That is how the media AND the fighters SOLD it. Chris Byrd doesn't generate interest and money for the sport. As i said before...the only time in this fight where BOTH fighters showed a spark...where they said "hell with it...lets put it out there"...where they laid it out on the line...was the last 10 seconds. You think this will be remembered along side of the Hagler/Hearns/Leonard or Morales/Barrera/Pac/Marquez or so many other fights where the fighters raised their level to thrill us. Where all those fighters purely warriors....unskilled brutes just slugging it out?! They all had/have tremendous skill to go along with pride, heart....and most importantly....a sense of what is at stake....not only for themselves....but for the people watching. So call me tasteless.

---

And you actually bought into the hype? When will people learn that the buildup is orchestrated to sell tickets?

Who cares how it was marketed? If you were actually gullible enough to swallow all the pre-fight hype then God help you, mate. It was the biggest fight of recent times, but hype, talk, promotion, it's all just for show.

I did not call you tasteless either. It's like talking to a brick wall. I said that there is no accounting for taste. All that means is that different people appreciate different things. It was not meant to knock your taste for the sport.

---

Casual fans and people who know nothing about boxing will buy the hype. That's what the hype are for. THat's why they do all those bullshit and promotions for. To attract more people into the fight. I really don't think the casual people are dumb enough to expect a slugfest from the two fighters but we did expect a great performance from the two. As zhubin has said, we expected both fighters to put their hearts out in this fight to make it a great fight. And they failed to deliver in the casual fans eyes. This is one reason why boxing is on the decline. Fights like this. Unless you please the casual fans, boxing will continue to decline because casual fans are 100 times greater(in quantity) than boxing purists.

The best 'performance' was in the wearing of that MExican hat.
Safe fighting so that you dont risk ever going down through over commitment is no means to base the taking a title off of anyone.

i agree with you wholeheartedly ;D Id CC you if I could :)

8) Im with you on that Andre it wasnt enough to take a title. 8)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by luvfightgame

I partially agree. I do think ODH tried to make a fight. He definitely didn't show desperation, but he pressed the fight, and attempted. PBF on the other hand was certainly comfortable going to the cards without a drop of blood spilled by either guy. At least bloody his nose, bust his lip, black eye??? P4P champs should try to beat the other guy, I was disappointed and I did buy into some of the hype. I thought this would be a career defining moment for PBF. I thought he would really fight and show his heart. Nope he showed his defensive prowess, but lots of people bought the fight cause he said he was gonna go for the ko.

Thoroughly disappointed. It's like going to a restaurant and ordering something you were craving and they bring you something different. It wasn't inedible food, but it wasn't what I ordered.

---

8) Mayweather walked out of there with a black eye. Oscar is the one that looked untouched after that fight. 8)

I must admit though if it was in the old days and went for 15 rounds Mayweather would ended up winning it fair and square.

8) Yea those 3 extra rounds may have really tired out the GoldenBoy but it went 12 Andre! Just didnt seee enough from Mayweather to take a belt away! 8)