Comments Thread For: Marquez: Mayweather Won't Be Greatest With Pacquiao

[davidandrei]

My only gripe with Mayweather is I felt he could have done more. He could have went balls out and Gatti'd everyone. With all the natural ability that he and everyone else says he has, he should be able to do anything he wants with any fighter he wants. He has given that perception to the public and he and his fans truly act that way that he is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Defensive fighting I feel is too reactive to be hugely entertaining. I don't care what these sweet science guys say, I pay money for these fights too. Just because im not as hardcore as them to like defensive boxing doesn't mean their opinion is better than mine. Im simple guy so for me a style is only either offensive or defensive. Just let the hands go and ill be a fan for life. I don't care if you brawl or box.

the basketball comparison is a little unfair. tim Duncan can be boring as **** but that's a different sport and hes got a team. a boxer has to win and be entertaining all on his own.

[fabie]

One of the greatest DEFENSIVE FIGTHER OF ALL TIME, yes, I can buy that but very far from the GREATEST EVER. But even then Mayweather would have to be put against greatest defenders such as Sweet Pea Whitaker, Willie Pep and the like...

It is fair. Mayweather as one of the ATG, sure, maybe in the TOP 50-100, I can buy that.

Greatest Defensive FIghter ever? Maybe he is the TOP 3 ever? The question mark of course is the quality of his fights, the conditions and the number of fights that has to be factored in.

[Muscles72]

He has a valid point there.

[_original_]

JMM is right in that Mayweather won't be consider the very best ever if he beats Pacquiao, there's just not enough ATG's out there to achieve that today. He'd have to have at least 10-15 Pacquiao type fighters on his resume to be considered the GOAT IMO.

However, I will have to disagree with my Lord and Savior Marquez in bashing Floyd's style, I think it's amazing to watch and he'll go down as one of the top 5 most skilled fighters ever IMO.

[davidandrei]

the only thing you can say for sure with Mayweather is that he is a ****ing character. one of the most memorable famous characters to go down in the history of boxing. His boxing is great too hof atg. But the character that attracts fans and haters alike and is talked about with hate and revelry every day is on par with Ali.

[boxingfocus]

The man has a point. I remember Floyd saying something like "It's now how you win, but how long you win" after the second Maidana fight(a fight in which he basically won using illegal tactics), but let's be real, would Ali's win over Foreman be as great if it wasn't by dramatic knockout? I think any person who respects the sport knows the answer.

It's not just the manner of the victories, but the status of the opponents. Foreman was a killer going in to that fight. He had demolished everybody - people were massively concerned about Ali's health going in to this fight because Foreman was so dangerous. There was drama leading in to the fight, and drama coming out of it. The footage from this fight alone eclipses anything Floyd could put together from the entirety of his career.

Then there's the activity. Even missing almost 4 prime years due to the Vietnam war, Ali has 61 fights, going 55-2 before he became an old man in the ring. What does activity mean? It means he fought everybody. There isn't a name worth mentioning from his era whom he failed to fight.

Then there's the rivalries. The double over Sonny Liston or the trilogies with Frazier and Norton. Mayweather only has 1 rival really, and he refuses to fight him.

Then main drama from Mayweather's career seems to be public arguments with his dad or the stint in jail for abusing an ex. His supporters will say it is because he's that good that he simply doesn't get in trouble in the ring, but a great fighter is nothing without great fights and I can't really think of many performances in Floyd's career that I'd consider great fights - perhaps his win over Hatton or his demolition of Corrales being the only two. He's had many great performances, but will he be remembered for that?

I think of the greats and I think of the great moments in their careers. Lewis eviscerating Golota, knocking Rhamen out cold, smashing Briggs, buckling a worn Tyson. Sugar Ray turning away Duran, pummelling Hearns or turning it on against Hagler despite a 2 year ring absence. Lately Floyd's career has really been missing the kind of entertaining drama that would sear him fondly into the memories of impartial spectators. Sucker punching Ortiz? Who wants to see that.

[-Makunouchi-]

This mrquez comments is the very reason why ***** floyd is ducking pac for 5 years now.

He knows that a win over pac at this stage would only move him a few.
A lose to pacquiao would mean disaster to his pampered career,

He is the only fighter who ducked the best opposition available for him and settled for a much lesser opposition.

Pac will always be greater than floyd no matter what!

Ask legends about it

[Skip Bayless]

well marquez has a ko over pac and he isnt considered goat so he probably has a point

[davidandrei]

This mrquez comments is the very reason why ***** floyd is ducking pac for 5 years now.

He knows that a win over pac at this stage would only move him a few.
A lose to pacquiao would mean disaster to his pampered career,

He is the only fighter who ducked the best opposition available for him and settled for a much lesser opposition.

Pac will always be greater than floyd no matter what!

Ask legends about it

i agree with this totally. but if floyd beat pacquiao, he and his fans will milk the **** out of that and somehow become greater than tbe. and what can anyone say after he beats the guy who everyone thought had the best chance of beating him. he will just say ydksab and whats the response? i bet every floyd fan be on the forums talkin about put your eyes down when you talk to me. so maybe it doesnt do too much for legacy but it definitely gives him braggin rights and you know these mother****ers love to brag.

[Prophet2525]

It's not just the manner of the victories, but the status of the opponents. Foreman was a killer going in to that fight. He had demolished everybody - people were massively concerned about Ali's health going in to this fight because Foreman was so dangerous. There was drama leading in to the fight, and drama coming out of it. The footage from this fight alone eclipses anything Floyd could put together from the entirety of his career.

Then there's the activity. Even missing almost 4 prime years due to the Vietnam war, Ali has 61 fights, going 55-2 before he became an old man in the ring. What does activity mean? It means he fought everybody. There isn't a name worth mentioning from his era whom he failed to fight.

Then there's the rivalries. The double over Sonny Liston or the trilogies with Frazier and Norton. Mayweather only has 1 rival really, and he refuses to fight him.

Then main drama from Mayweather's career seems to be public arguments with his dad or the stint in jail for abusing an ex. His supporters will say it is because he's that good that he simply doesn't get in trouble in the ring, but a great fighter is nothing without great fights and I can't really think of many performances in Floyd's career that I'd consider great fights - perhaps his win over Hatton or his demolition of Corrales being the only two. He's had many great performances, but will he be remembered for that?

I think of the greats and I think of the great moments in their careers. Lewis eviscerating Golota, knocking Rhamen out cold, smashing Briggs, buckling a worn Tyson. Sugar Ray turning away Duran, pummelling Hearns or turning it on against Hagler despite a 2 year ring absence. Lately Floyd's career has really been missing the kind of entertaining drama that would sear him fondly into the memories of impartial spectators. Sucker punching Ortiz? Who wants to see that.

Muy excelente! Great post! I particularly liked this --

"Then there's the rivalries. The double over Sonny Liston or the trilogies with Frazier and Norton. Mayweather only has 1 rival really, and he refuses to fight him."

Pretty much destroys any argument for Floyd's TBE claim before it even starts. Thanks for the read!