Floyd's competition vs Manny's competition

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Pt II

Ray leonared: in a dead tie with Benitez. He had to turn in a dog fight to win that. So then he goes after Duran in 1980... Ray lost his first title shot to a guy who didn't have a title.
Had been fighting since 1968 and his best days was at LW. Had Floyd lost his 1st title fight to Hernandez; wouldn't we be all over him about that?

Thomas Hearns who got beat by Pryor in the amatuers, outboxed Ray! Up on the scorecard and turned his eye a grayish color; Hearns was a KO artist..and outboxing Ray? Once again the dog came out and he stopped Hearns- not a round too soon. 2 more fights and Ray retired due to what he claimed were retina issues. So at this point what made SRL great?
Pryor challenged him- he moved UP in weight.
Great comeback fight against Haglar-when he felt Haglar was vulnerable after watching him goe to toe with Mugabi. & everybody started whoopin' Mugabi's ass after that. Even Duran took Haglar the distance. Duran was loooonnggg past his best days when he was a beast at LW.

Ray then got outboxed by Lalonde, so he had to break out a fight. Has another bout with a fat-chaloopa of Duran. Then an utter Bullshit draw with Hearns. Terry Norris whooped him all night long & Camacho stopped him damn.

Yet I hear how Ray would have outboxed Floyd. How? Duran may have said no mas & quit 2nd fight, but he damn sure wasnt out of the fight. So who did Ray (OUTBOX)?
The book called In the Corner- details the Petronelli brothers saying their man Haglar gave away the 1st 4 rounds and had to be motiviated to take the fight. And that's not negotiating on Ray's part? Negotiating the way we point out Floyd's? I agree, concede FLoyd is shrewd, but SRR wasn't? SRL wasn't?

SRR- didnt he say he was too pretty to fight Burley? Only fought Gavilan a 2nd time because spectators claimed he lost the 1st one..then went on to fight Ragin Bulls 5 times? why?
Seems like that black man didn't want to fight his own brothers, so where was the various styles he took on? He fought white guys who were straight ahead brawlers, flatfooted, powerful & predictable.

Floyd's competition over the years has been more versatile than anyone I can think of, but I do concede he wanted nothing to do with the long rangy PW or AM...while Pacman's competition once again seemed dominated by contractual obligations of catchweights.

Final note RIP Manny Steward- I sat front seat at the Canastota Boxing Hall of fame when he said: Ray Robinson's handlers didn't want him fighting rangy fighters with jabs, thats why he had so many fights with the same people-especially toward the end of his career.

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last one: With Murad Muhhamad I think Pac would have taken on all comers, but with Arum it was more strategic to inhouse.