Floyd Mayweather Jr Needs To Be Tested

**El Gamo** · 10-03-2006 08:04 PM

http://www.doghouseboxing.com/DHB/Casile_100306.htm

Outrageous statements declaring greatness has been done over and over in the world of boxing. The only time it really seems to mean anything is when the person making those statements, follows through. Right now we have a fighter in Floyd Mayweather Jr., that has all the god given talent in the world. He certainly has the mouth and most importantly he wants to go down as the greatest fighter of all time. He has compared his talent to Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson. I can not say that he does not have the same ability, but let’s compare accomplishment, not ability.

Mayweather, a pro fighter for TEN years is 36 – 0 – 24 (KO’s). Sugar Ray Robinson was 36 – 0 – 25(KO’s) less than TWO years into his career and the irony is that he fought Jake La Motta in his Tenth year. He defeated LaMotta but he was tested. Robinson fought for 25 years, and finished with a record of 173 – 19 – 108(KO’s). We also have to keep in mind that a majority of those losses came 17 years into his career. He was amazing. Mayweather also claimed to be
better than Muhammad Ali. That statement could be closer to the truth, considering the amount of wins and KO’s both fighters had after 10 years, but ALI lost 3 years of his first ten years and he fought a much better grade of opposition. Mayweather does not seem to be looking very hard for his Frazier or LaMotta.

He seems content on beating his mandatory and dethroning the lesser fighters. He is winning, that is a fact that is undeniable, but his legacy will be lost in his inability to be more active and to fight the best. There is the possibity of Floyd suffering the same fate as Roy Jones Jr. Jones waited so long to fight anybody that would give him a real fight that by the time he actually found the WILL to do it, his skills had diminished and he was knocked out by two fighters of lesser talent. Yes, Roy had the talent, just like Mayweather, but he squandered it to keep his record clean. But where is his legacy? What makes a fighter great is not his record. It is who he is willing to fight. Oscar De La Hoya never ran from anyone. He has losses, but those were real fights. He did not get KO’d by Oba Carr, or Yory boy Campos, or Vargas. He lost is toe to toe battles, with the best the world had to offer, and his legacy will be rewarded for it.

Mayweather seems to believe that if he keeps fighting lesser opponents he will somehow be considered great because he has the skill. But I think it was Muhammad Ali who said it best. “To be a great fighter, you need the WILL and the skill, but a little more WILL.” Right now Floyd Mayweather’s skill is unbelievable, possibly the best since Ali, but his will is that of an average fighter clinging to the top and looking for the biggest purse. As time passes the skill will go and if the WILL is not there, his legacy will pass right along with it. I will not call Floyd Mayweather Jr., a fraud. His is a tremendous talent that should be showcasing it on a broader scale with better opponents. Maybe it is all about the money and like he said, “I don’t care about belts, I don’t need trinkets, other fighters need me, to make money”. That statement may be even sadder than the Ali, Robinson statement, but deep in our hearts we all wish he had the WILL.

We all wish he could be like the movies, and step up to that “dare to be great” situation, but we all know that is fantasyland. It is the major reason Rocky 6 is due to hit theaters in December, giving fight fans what they yearn for. A fighter with the WILL to be a champion.

“The Philadelphia Boxing Report” ESPN 920 Philly.

**Wacko3205** · 10-03-2006 08:14 PM

Floyd has been tested.

He's beaten some great fighters on his way up.

My problem is that if he loses on the move up...everyone will forget what he did to get to the top.

Grates on me nerves.

**El Gamo** · 10-03-2006 08:24 PM

I don't think people will forget BUT some blame must be put on him surely? Even the most avid PBF fan must admit that from Castillo the second time,he has not really taken any career defining fights. Nothing that has shown us more about the mystique of PBF,they have all been fighters coming off losses(Judah etc),unknown mandatorys for titles he dropped soon after(Brusseles) and shot fighters(Mitchell). Baldo is a step up but still not much of a threat.Look at all the badass fighter at 140-147,and look who he has fought?

The only thing that annoys me is when PBF fans say what has so and so done to get a shot,PBF is not some king who chooses who he fights etc. You fight the best,the most dangerous to prove you are the best. Look at Pernell Whitaker when he was P4P numero uno,he fought loads of dangerous guys who maybe were not well known and I am not merely alluding to Margarito.

The same problem will occur when/if he moves to 154,he'll fight Spinks,beat him and says he's the best ever etc. Noooooo!!!

**killersheep** · 10-03-2006 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by El Gamo

I don't think people will forget BUT some blame must be put on him surely? Even the most avid PBF fan must admit that from Castillo the second time,he has not really taken any career defining fights. Nothing that has shown us more about the mystique of PBF,they have all been fighters coming off losses(Judah etc),unknown mandatorys for titles he dropped soon after(Brusseles) and shot fighters(Mitchell). Baldo is a step up but still not much of a threat.Look at all the badass fighter at 140-147,and look who he has fought?

The only thing that annoys me is when PBF fans say what has so and so done to get a shot,PBF is not some king who chooses who he fights etc. You fight the best,the most dangerous to prove you are the best. Look at Pernell Whitaker when he was P4P numero uno,he fought loads of dangerous guys who maybe were not well known and I am not merely alluding to Margarito.

The same problem will occur when/if he moves to 154,he'll fight Spinks,beat him and says he's the best ever etc. Noooooo!!!

The answer that Baldopumpkinhead can say is that "look I beat the same two big names you did Zab Judah and Arturo Gatti."

**El Gamo** · 10-03-2006 09:15 PM

Yeah KS,and that's what PBF's team says justifys him fighting Floyd so using that theory,if Paul Williams beats 1 more fighter than PBF beat,he is entitled to a shot at Floyd too> BS!! Williams himself said that he himself knows that Floyd doesnt want any of big boys at WW like Margarito and Williams.I'd actually like to see Williams beat up Zab and call out Floyd,would be interesting what new theory team Mayweather comes out with.