Comments Thread For: Larry Merchant on Floyd Mayweather, History and Legacy

[amayseng]

[QUOTE=apollocreed;8364251]

Obviously it would be great if everyone fought everyone, like it used to be, but i just think times have changed since then, unfortunately for boxing. This is due to a lot of different factors, not just one. (PPV, 4 different belts, so many weight classes, the way the media works etc). I just think its a bit naive to expect it to be just like it was in the 50's and 60's, even though it would be great if it was. I guess i'm more of a realist than an idealist - I would prefer it if it was that way, but i understand why it isn't.
If I was Floyd, I would probably steer my career the same way he has.
It would have been great if he'd beaten Cotto, Margarito, Williams etc as well, but I can see why doesn't think he has to. He's proved how good he is - you don't have to fight everyone there is to prove youre the best. Boxing is a hard, hard sport. The fans don't tend to take into account the damage that it does to a fighter in later life - look at Ali now, he's my hero, but he's in a bad way now, because of boxing.

It would be great for boxing if everyone fought everyone, but i think those days are gone.
The really big fights still get made most of the time. If Pac v Floyd doesn't, that really would be a crime.

valid and excellent points, and understandable.

however, for floyd to say he is the best ever then he needs to beat the best out there competing with him,

so he brings that arguement on himself

i am realistic, i know he cant fight everyone, but there are a few he could have definitely silenced the critics by beating

yes it is a different era, unfortunately

but look at the 80's

hagler leonard hearns and duran,

that is where shane fits in because he has their mentality, he wants to face the best no matter what
god bless em

[apollocreed]

[QUOTE=amayseng;8364334]

valid and excellent points, and understandable.

however, for floyd to say he is the best ever then he needs to beat the best out there competing with him,

so he brings that arguement on himself

i am realistic, i know he cant fight everyone, but there are a few he could have definitely silenced the critics by beating

yes it is a different era, unfortunately

but look at the 80's

hagler leonard hearns and duran,

that is where shane fits in because he has their mentality, he wants to face the best no matter what
god bless em

yeah, it would be great if it was still like the 80's. i think the only that could happen is if there was only one or two belts, and not as many weight classes though, like it used to be. that way, you could only claim to be the best if you were the champ. its too easy to avoid taking high risk fights now. if i was a pro fighter, i'd probably be the same, thats just the way it works now - they have the option of assessing the risk and reward factor. i understand why a fighter may choose to not fight another, even if they think they can beat them.
ultimately, boxing is flawed beacuse its so badly organised - it needs one ruling governing body, like every other popular sport. its the only sport where you choose who your opponent is - every other sport, its chosen for you. think about it. a football team, or a tennis player don't choose who they play. if they did, they would take the low risk ones as well! thats why the super 6 has been great for boxing - elite fighters being made to fight each other. one for every weight class would be superb.

shane has that mentality that he wants to fight everyone, and i commend him for it, but to honest, i think he comes across as almost too honest and too eager to please for his own good, in todays age. i know that sounds harsh, but what i'm saying is that its the way boxing is run that is to blame for the best not fighting the best all the time, not the fighters.

thats my rant over. i think i need to chill out for a bit haha. (i skived off work today so i've got time on my hands!).

[amayseng]

[QUOTE=apollocreed;8364443]

yeah, it would be great if it was still like the 80's. i think the only that could happen is if there was only one or two belts, and not as many weight classes though, like it used to be. that way, you could only claim to be the best if you were the champ. its too easy to avoid taking high risk fights now. if i was a pro fighter, i'd probably be the same, thats just the way it works now - they have the option of assessing the risk and reward factor. i understand why a fighter may choose to not fight another, even if they think they can beat them.
ultimately, boxing is flawed beacuse its so badly organised - it needs one ruling governing body, like every other popular sport. its the only sport where you choose who your opponent is - every other sport, its chosen for you. think about it. a football team, or a tennis player don't choose who they play. if they did, they would take the low risk ones as well! thats why the super 6 has been great for boxing - elite fighters being made to fight each other. one for every weight class would be superb.

shane has that mentality that he wants to fight everyone, and i commend him for it, but to honest, i think he comes across as almost too honest and too eager to please for his own good, in todays age. i know that sounds harsh, but what i'm saying is that its the way boxing is run that is to blame for the best not fighting the best all the time, not the fighters.

thats my rant over. i think i need to chill out for a bit haha. (i skived off work today so i've got time on my hands!).

no you are spot on with the whole post and rant haha


the super six is great, i have been asking for a tournament for years


i agree, a guy wins a belt then doesnt fight for 14 months, but still has the belt, ridiculous

of course floyd is gonna be more reserved about who he fights and when and for how much, he is 33 now, so just like shane ignored him in 2000 because shane and dlh were highly paid ppv attractions and floyd wasnt, floyd can ignore malignaggi and other fighters like that as well

ppv has honestly ruined the sport

my dad said he watched ali on abc on saturdays, along with hagler and duran and those guys

we got shiiiiiiiiisted big time

[Rome-By-Ko]

[QUOTE=amayseng;8364171]

I really don't agree with the whole 'Merchant's been around the sport for 50 years, so everything he says is right' ****. Just because you've watched a lot of boxing, that doesn't mean you understand it properly.


understandable about fighting and not fighting. look at kevin loles dumbass along with dan rafeal...he is another goofball


the thing with merchant is that he has had the pleasure of watching some of the greats and he was in that era when the best FOUGHT the best

that is something we are missing

That's why when Larry the Legend Merchant is gone I will miss him.He tells it like it is from the old school view.From a era when the fights that were suppose to be made were made.Now it's a bunch of bitchin an not enough fighting

[HyperUppercut]

[QUOTE=romebyko;8364779]

That's why when Larry the Legend Merchant is gone I will miss him.He tells it like it is from the old school view.From a era when the fights that were suppose to be made were made.Now it's a bunch of bitchin an not enough fighting

When larry the old hatin ass fool is gone, the only thing I will miss is when he complains about boring fights while commentating. his interviews are some straight up bullshyt. I understand he is an old school lover and all, but he needs to learn how to appreciate a slugfest and a good technical match. He can't act like the typical kno-nothing ******* all the damn time. And in his old age, that is what he is resembling.

[Hankey]

[QUOTE=amayseng;8364334]

valid and excellent points, and understandable.

however, for floyd to say he is the best ever then he needs to beat the best out there competing with him,

so he brings that arguement on himself

i am realistic, i know he cant fight everyone, but there are a few he could have definitely silenced the critics by beating

yes it is a different era, unfortunately

but look at the 80's

hagler leonard hearns and duran,

that is where shane fits in because he has their mentality, he wants to face the best no matter what
god bless em

who cares what he says, he's a fighter who doesn't think anyone can beat him. its up to boxing people to determine his place.


blaming floyd for thinking and saying he's the best is poop.

[amayseng]

who cares what he says, he's a fighter who doesn't think anyone can beat him. its up to boxing people to determine his place.


blaming floyd for thinking and saying he's the best is poop.

who cares?

the boxing world cares

when a guy says he is the best ever then doesnt attempt to beat the best in his division then people care

that is evident with any sport

[Rome-By-Ko]

[QUOTE=HyperUppercut;8364842]

When larry the old hatin ass fool is gone, the only thing I will miss is when he complains about boring fights while commentating. his interviews are some straight up bullshyt. I understand he is an old school lover and all, but he needs to learn how to appreciate a slugfest and a good technical match. He can't act like the typical kno-nothing ******* all the damn time. And in his old age, that is what he is resembling.

See the point you seemed to be missing is Larry does not care how the fight is fought more so then who is fighting umm.If you got a guy who is leagues above the guy he is in the ring with then of course he is going to have something to say.Larry wants the best to fight the best and you should want this too.Larry does not spare the truth and that's what's wrong with boxing to much ass kissing.Bottom line May's defining fights were not with prime fighters that's a fact why be mad at Larry for pointing out the truth?Why not be mad at May for cheating himself and the fans?Why not be mad at what boxing has become were the best avoid the best while you have MMA guys jumping in with the best fighters their sport has to offer time and time again?I love boxing cause growing up the best fought the best prime vs prime now you got Dawson not fight Cloud Pav not fighting Pwill Marquez not fighting Kats Khan not fighting Maidana ect ect...Its not only Floyd but he is the one who set that trend you get me.Larry has a right to be a lil mad being he has been in the sport for so long and has seen what it has become.

[rommel357]

[QUOTE=HyperUppercut;8364842]

When larry the old hatin ass fool is gone, the only thing I will miss is when he complains about boring fights while commentating. his interviews are some straight up bullshyt. I understand he is an old school lover and all, but he needs to learn how to appreciate a slugfest and a good technical match. He can't act like the typical kno-nothing ******* all the damn time. And in his old age, that is what he is resembling.

Larry Merchant doesn't ***** about technical fighters or fights or sluggfest or sluggers, he just wants to see a good fight like most of us. Who the **** wants to see a boring fight. Manny vs Clottey, boring, Floyd vs Mosley, boring.

[amayseng]

[QUOTE=romebyko;8365072]

See the point you seemed to be missing is Larry does not care how the fight is fought more so then who is fighting umm.If you got a guy who is leagues above the guy he is in the ring with then of course he is going to have something to say.Larry wants the best to fight the best and you should want this too.Larry does not spare the truth and that's what's wrong with boxing to much ass kissing.Bottom line May's defining fights were not with prime fighters that's a fact why be mad at Larry for pointing out the truth?Why not be mad at May for cheating himself and the fans?Why not be mad at what boxing has become were the best avoid the best while you have MMA guys jumping in with the best fighters their sport has to offer time and time again?I love boxing cause growing up the best fought the best prime vs prime now you got Dawson not fight Cloud Pav not fighting Pwill Marquez not fighting Kats Khan not fighting Maidana ect ect...Its not only Floyd but he is the one who set that trend you get me.Larry has a right to be a lil mad being he has been in the sport for so long and has seen what it has become.

apparently that guy didnt read the article

i have been saying chad dawson, as gifted and talented as he is, has fought 40 year olds the last 4 fights, i mean look at his last 6 fights.....

2009-11-07 175 Glen Johnson 173½ 49-12-2
XL Center, Hartford, Connecticut, United States W UD 12 12
~ referee: Mike Ortega | judge: Glenn Feldman 117-111 | judge: Duane Ford 115-113 | judge: Michael Pernick 115-113 ~
~ interim WBC light heavyweight title ~
~ International Boxing Organization light heavyweight title ~

2009-05-09 175 Antonio Tarver 175 27-5-0
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W UD 12 12
~ referee: Robert Byrd | judge: Duane Ford 117-111 | judge: Patricia Morse Jarman 117-111 | judge: Alan Davis 116-112 ~
~ IBF light heavyweight title ~
~ International Boxing Organization light heavyweight title ~

2008-10-11 174 Antonio Tarver 174 27-4-0
Palms Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States W UD 12 12
~ referee: Jay Nady | judge: Max DeLuca 118-109 | judge: Dave Moretti 117-110 | judge: C.J. Ross 117-110 ~
~ IBF light heavyweight title ~
~ International Boxing Organization light heavyweight title ~

2008-04-12 173¾ Glen Johnson 172½ 47-11-2
St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Florida, United States W UD 12 12
~ referee: Tommy Kimmons | judge: Nicolas Hidalgo 116-112 | judge: Peter Trematerra 116-112 | judge: Jack Woodburn 116-112 ~
~ WBC light heavyweight title ~

2007-09-29 172¾ Epifanio Mendoza 175 28-4-1
Arco Arena, Sacramento, California, United States W TKO 4 12
~ time: 2:30 | referee: Jon Schorle | judge: John Keane 30-27 | judge: James Jen-Kin 29-28 | judge: Duane Ford 30-27 ~
~ WBC light heavyweight title ~

2007-06-09 174 Jesus Ruiz 174¾ 19-4-0
Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, Connecticut, United States W TKO 6 12
~ time: 2:00 | referee: Johnny