Re: Can you imagine what Riddick Bowe would do to Joe Louis?

Originally Posted by
Beanflicker
It drives me nuts. If I go and say "Floyd Mayweather has gone 18 years pro without a loss, and 16 years of that career was on the world stage fighting only champs and top 10 contenders", I'd get about 50 people going through his opponent list with a fine-toothed comb, "oh this guy sucks, that guy was too small, that guy was washed up, that guy was overrated, that guy was fighting at the wrong weight, ect". According to a lot of guys on here, Floyd never fought a real fight in his life. You talk to these people, the numbers don't matter at all, it's the quality. Fair enough.
Then those same people turn around and talk about how Joe Louis held the belt for 12 years, or Willie Pep has over 200 wins, ect. Where the fuck did the concern about quality over quantity go when now suddenly we're talking about old timers? These guys fought tons of bums. Joe Louis fought guys who had no business being in the ring with him for a lot of those years. Fat guys, frail guys, guys who had to be pushed into the ring by their corners because they were so scared.
Joe was the king for his time, but don't talk to me like he's going to whip a modern, 240lb monster with the same skills that he had. It's just crazy talk.
You have just encapsulated one of my most held principles. The same boxing fans who pump up past greats and dismiss the achievements of modern boxers would be completely disgusted if the modern fighter actually fought the same class of opponents that the old timer fought!!
"Enough with the games mate! Your messing with the Grand Master!"
Lennox Lewis
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