With Hopkins it's sort of funny. I mean sure you can say he should retire because he can't fight as well as he once could, and more importantly isn't entertaining to watch anymore... But the thing is, he takes less punishment in fighting at an elite level than several of the guys you say still have it, take against basically anyone. I mean Hopkins must retire, but Casamayor still has it? Am I missing something? You think Hopkins would get his ass knocked out of the ring and forced to go life and death against a limited brawler like Katsidis? Honestly Hopkins is just such an enigma. He'll always find a way to keep himself out of harms way until he literally has NOTHING left. I really think Hopkins could fight at an elite level for longer than basically anyone you have on the has it list. All of those guys could potentially be within one tough fight of retirement.. Hopkins basically won't allow anyone to give him a tough fight. And I do realize he is 43... Just such a tricky bastard.
Winky as well, imo easily has less in the tank than Bhop.
The guys you've listed that should retire could still beat about half the guys in the divisions they are in respectively. So it kind of depends on what level opponent they are fighting. I agree if you mean fighting for top status, but B-Hop, Tito, and Morales just came of decent performances against champions, they could still fight on and I wouldn't question them for a little while. Holyfield is a shell of his former self and needs to call it a day. Unfortunately I think he probably will continue on....Toney is pretty much done I just cant see him getting in proper shape anymore. Castillejo was in a good competitive fight but really took a big shot, he definately needs a long time off after that and at his age a layoff means it's probably over.
B-hop could easily go on for another 2-3 years if you ask me, he's a fighter through and through, and maybe one of the best conditioned 'old guys' in the sport.
but what about in terms of mantaining their legacys??
Tito will never ever be the enigma that he once was, erik morales time has come and gone. His legacy is there for all to see, does anyone really wanna see a generation of stars who took up the sport because of him beat the guy and tarnish an amazing career.
Castillejo is a tough one - never quite gained the recognition he deserved and a mutual observer would probably claim that he should perhaps consider 2-3 more years. But after the way he suffered in that last fight - if people around the guy have any respect for him they`ll tell him to call it a day and not spend an eternity of retirement considering what could of been.
I have the same logic with regards to bhop - sure the guy is 43 years old and yet still can come out of a fight looking like he has just got out of bed. But it dont matter how hard you train or how well mentally prepared you feel, no man of 43 can sustain the same physical agility he had 10 years ago.
Lennox Lewis had it spot on. He knew when it was time to get out of there and for that reason he`ll always go down as one of the all time greats!!
After last fridays debacle does Chris Byrd also belong to the retired list...
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Arturo "THUNDER" Gatti 1972-2009
To alcohol...the cause of and the solution to all of lifes problems...- Homer Simpson
I have to agree with that one. Also, I was on some website and saw Wayne McCullough (sorry, I know I didn't spell it right) talking about being excited about some upcoming fight he was going to be in. Shouldn't he retire? I thought he had suffered some kind of brain problem several years ago.
Absolutely
I would also add Antwun Echols, give someone else the ESPN replacement gig. ODLH should retire too IMO. He still has some skill but every time from here on out that he fights a name fighter he will be taking away someone that deserves a shot. Oleg Maskaev also to add to the list.
Yori Boy is done, 103 fights is enough for anyone. Jose Luis Castillo can't make weight where he's effective, can't be effective where he can make weight.
If your talking hurting the legacy then yes it does, but I'm sure picking up another title in lightweight would cement Morales(IMO he already is) in the HoF. He wants that soo bad he would be the first Mexican to win titles in 4 diff. divisions. I think Tito could be competitive against Super middleweights RJJ was too much but I think he could hang with alot at SMW. Tito just seems to be looking to get paid, if he was serious I think he would have took a warm-up at the new weight...B-Hop was 1 point from probably being considered p4p today. I don't think that fight hurt his legacy. I kind of think it improves it, he fought the best in the division at 43 and almost beat him, looked alot less beat-up as well.
Like Johnny said, Chris Byrd definitely.
I can think of some younger guys who are shot all ready and shouldn't be fighting, Courtney Burton and Willie Gibbs come to mind.
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