
Originally Posted by
ruthless rocco
Listen kids. Sometimes the truth is harsh and sometimes it takes some strong language to try and get one's point across. I feel badly that your feelings are hurt but let's look at the examples you've provided as rebuttal.
Duran - 14 of his 16 loses were when he fought above 150LBS. This shows he was out of his depth. Floyd is not going to lose a bunch of fights against much bigger guys at the end of his career when he's worked so hard to be perfect for the last 18 years. He's also not the style of fighter Duran was. He's slick, he's finesse. He wants to look untouchable. He's not looking to brawl some guy 3 weight divisions higher than him just to look like a tough guy. He doesn't have anything to prove except that he's better than his peers within his weight class.
Armstrong - He has an amazing numerical record-- 101-21-10!!! He fought from 120LBS to 148LBS. Crazy numbers indeed! Whats crazier is that he fought bums all the time. 30 fights into his professional career he was fighting Young Danny 0-0-1 // Kid Moro 8-12-5 // Benny Pelz 31-29-22. Crazy! between 1933 and 1935 he fought Perfecto Lopez 8 times; and with a record of 16-12-7 Perfecto he was clearly wasn't. Was he a worthy and deserving opponent tho? 50 fights into his professional career he fought guys like Leo Lomelli 24-14-8 // Lester Marston 9-10-4. Could you imagine if Floyd was fighting guys with records like that right now?!?! Floyd catches shit for fighting Marcos Maidana for his 47th fight; for his, Armstrong fought Sal Hernandez 12-5-4! 100 fights into his pro career Armstrong fights Lew Jenkins 51-26-5, who had lost 5 of his last 6 fights and Earl Turner 16-5-4. I'm sure Floyd could get to 170-0-0 if he fought a career filled with bums!
Robinson - 13 of his 19 loses came in the last 5 years of his career when he was fighting over 155LBS. He lost to guys with records like: 14-4-2 // 15-4-1. He fought 14 times in 1965 alone! Did these final years do anything for his longevity? Why did he fight so late into his life? He was broke. Floyd is not going out like that - I don't know why you'd want anyone to end their career that way. You're being cruel to suggest that this is something to look up to.
Roy Jones - Moves up to cruiserweight at age 34 and fights a terrible heavyweight who is lucky to have a title: John Ruiz. This speaks more to the quality of the heavyweight division than it does to Jone's bravery or desire to push himself. To prove this, he chooses to not defend the heavyweight title and then proceeds to lose 3 fights back at light heavy withing a one year span.
Toney - I love James Toney! He is a fat fuck who was too lazy to train. He did like to challenge himself at the buffet but did not like to push himself in the gym--so yeah, he went up to heavyweight.
What you guys fail to understand is that Floyd has held the top spot in boxing for most of his career. He's been undisputed top 3 p4p for about a decade. He's rich. He makes more money than any other athlete in the world, and he does it without sponsorship deals. He calls himself TBE because that's his brand. He's marketing himself--and he's so good at it that people continue to want to pay $75 to watch his fights. The proof is that he still makes more money than anyone else in sports. You get all mad because he isn't fighting guys that are younger, harder hitting, bigger and heavier than him--but of course he isn't. He needs to keep winning to keep his brand. Why would he fight GGG? Does Golovkin bring big money to the table? No. Does he have fans outside of hardcore boxing fans that will ensure that Floyd will make EVEN MORE money? More money than he did fighting a Robert Guerrerro or Marcos Maidana? No!!! These are really basic business and marketing concepts and that's why I'm telling you you're stupid and asking you if you think before you post. I know you all want boxing to be brainless and about which sad bastard can beat the hell out the other more sad bastard until they both have brain damage... but that's not what boxing really is. It's a big money business that offers fighters the opportunity to make some money in exchange for their health. Few people have the talent, skill, discipline and intelligence to enter the sport and not just survive but thrive and dominate the way Floyd has and then leave with their health and brains and money. Floyd is about to do that. He is a boxing success story and you guys hate him for it. Over time, when people look back and see that Floyd retired 50-0-0, having been the highest earning athlete 5 years in a row AND that he finished his career beating guys with records like 42-0-1 // 37-2-0 // 35-3-0, some of them future hall of famers, then he'll be looked at as one of the best ever -- in the ring and in business.
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