Damaging a Legacy

[X]

I completely agree with you. Firstly, it's immensely arrogant of anybody to try and 'leave a legacy' ...... the whole point og having a history amongst the pantheon of greats is that you are judged after you have retired and you are judged by other people. Someone like Henry Maske taking undemanding fights against second rate fighters is much more telling than the fact he lovingly polished his record so his 'legacy' was untarnished.

Emperors, kings and statesmen leave legacies, not athletes.

Someone like Mike Tyson, for example, who was a genuinely fearsome and electrifying perfomer in his short prime would be remembered for just that - not the fact that he fell out of love for the sport, lost all discipline and direction and fought on for too long. People like Danny Williams didn't beat MIKE TYSON, they were just burgling an empty house. Doesnt affect how he will be remembered.

[marbleheadmaui]

I completely agree with you. Firstly, it's immensely arrogant of anybody to try and 'leave a legacy' ...... the whole point og having a history amongst the pantheon of greats is that you are judged after you have retired and you are judged by other people. Someone like Henry Maske taking undemanding fights against second rate fighters is much more telling than the fact he lovingly polished his record so his 'legacy' was untarnished.

Emperors, kings and statesmen leave legacies, not athletes.

Someone like Mike Tyson, for example, who was a genuinely fearsome and electrifying perfomer in his short prime would be remembered for just that - not the fact that he fell out of love for the sport, lost all discipline and direction and fought on for too long. People like Danny Williams didn't beat MIKE TYSON, they were just burgling an empty house. Doesnt affect how he will be remembered.

GREAT post.

[ICB]

If RJJ would of retired after beating John Ruiz, people would of been rating him up there with SRR. So yes i'd say he has damaged his legacy quite a fair bit.

[Master]

I think fighters can damage their legacy if they lose fights near their prime. The only way to know if a fighter was in their prime is when their career is over, and you can review it retrospectively. If Jones retired after Ruiz, Tyson after Spinks, their legacy would be higher than it is now.

Fighters like Duran, Holyfield and Holmes have had great moments long after their prime which can enhance their legacy. Duran beating Barclay, Holmes beating Mercer and Holyfield nearly beating Valuev (but that one may be stretching it a bit).