Deeper look at Manny and Floyd opponents

**mikeeod** · 10-30-2014 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by Beanflicker

And to say things like "Manny dared to be great" and "dared to take hard fights" like Floyd didn't is just foolish.

People choose to remember Floyd as he is today, but either don't know, forget, or choose not to remember that at one point Floyd was a boogeyman in the sport that none of the top guys would get in the ring with because he was so good but a virtual unknown (high risk, low reward). Floyd was calling out DLH back when Floyd was at 130 and DLH was 154.

On here I've seen guys (maybe you were one, can't remember) say that it is unfair to ask Floyd to fight GGG at 154 or 160...etc. Well, the same was said about Manny jumping up to face Oscar, but Manny DARED TO BE GREAT. Many will counter that it was great match making and Oscar wasn't himself because he was drained...etc., all of which are valid points to a degree. At the end of the day though, the ENTIRE boxing world thought that it was a horrible move by Manny and that there was no way he could overcome the size deficit.

I will put it like this, Floyd would have fought guys like Prime Shane, Kostya, Paul Williams, Margo, Manny...etc. I have no doubt, and I think he would have won most, if not all of those fights. That being said, he was TOO GOOD of a business man and pride (vs. Manny), not pushing hard enough (Shane) and circumstances (Kostya, Williams and Margo) all got in the way. He either wanted too much control (Manny), didn't create the interest necessary (Shane) or the guys got beat while he was letting public interest increase to a major PPV attraction (Kostya vs. Hatton, Margo vs. Williams and Williams vs. Quintana).

Guys like Leonard, Duran, Hearns, Hagler, Hop, Oscar, Manny...etc., they made the fights happen for legacy more than what was smarter for business. So, while many of those missed opportunities wasn't Floyd being scared...etc., he still had a hand in them not happening. I credit the other guys for favoring superior competition, and while I don't rank them all (Oscar...etc.), I can see where it leaves the discussion open for debate. The problem with these discussions on here is that if someone disagrees that Floyd is the GOAT or that there is a question as to his historical standing vs. other greats it completely collapses into the "you're a hater, you say Floyd is a bum and never fought anyone...etc." discussions that lead no where.