Fighters that thought they were tougher than anyone and fought anyone

[15round]

Thinking back to the 80's I thought about Duran and even past his ideal weight he moved up to fight Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Iran Barkley and Davey Moore. I can't remember much more than that it has been so far back. In the last twenty years I just see entertainers like Mayweather and Pac that pick and choose based on their chances to win and make the most money.

[Willie Pep 229]

"Tougher" is qualifier that doesn't always fit all confident fighters one thinks of . . . (I'm being vague) - I'll try again with a example. . . I believe SRL thought he could beat anyone and although he cherry picked his fights there really isn't anyone he ducked (maybe Pryor depending how you want to view the legitimacy of his retirerment.)

I don't think of him as 'tough' but he fought the fights the fans wanted and always believed he would win.

Not sure there is a difference but Duran got to that level becuse he was indeed tough; Leonard got becuse of confidence.

Does that make SRL tough or does he need a longer resume?

[Anthony342]

"Tougher" is qualifier that doesn't always fit all confident fighters one thinks of . . . (I'm being vague) - I'll try again with a example. . . I believe SRL thought he could beat anyone and although he cherry picked his fights there really isn't anyone he ducked (maybe Pryor depending how you want to view the legitimacy of his retirerment.)

I don't think of him as 'tough' but he fought the fights the fans wanted and always believed he would win.

Not sure there is a difference but Duran got to that level becuse he was indeed tough; Leonard got becuse of confidence.

Does that make SRL tough or does he need a longer resume?

Leonard has a damn good resume for such a short career. And was Leonard really that much of a cherry picker? Only fights I can think of are the second Duran fight, which he had quickly signed to take advantage of Duran's troubles making weight and possibly Hagler with that classless publicity stunt they showed during the Legendary Nights episode when people thought Leonard would announce a fight with Hagler around 1984 but instead announced another retirement, leaving Hagler and Hearns to fight each other in '85, then later fighting Hagler when he was ready to retire in 1987. Other than that, Leonard fought everyone when they were just as prime or past prime as he was.

[QueensburyRules]

Thinking back to the 80's I thought about Duran and even past his ideal weight he moved up to fight Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Iran Barkley and Davey Moore. I can't remember much more than that it has been so far back. In the last twenty years I just see entertainers like Mayweather and Pac that pick and choose based on their chances to win and make the most money.

- -Don't see any advanced thinkin' here.

Sam Langford fought more HOF fights than anyone well on past his prime. I could go on, but why bother?

[billeau2]

- -Don't see any advanced thinkin' here.

Sam Langford fought more HOF fights than anyone well on past his prime. I could go on, but why bother?

Advanced thinking tends to run from the hills when you come in to shiat up a thread... Maybe if you hide in the hills with the same binoculars you look at your neighbor with, it might make an appearance?

[billeau2]

Toughness is an ephemeral quality... hard to judge. The appearance of toughness is not very enlightening either... Was Lewis tough? when he got rocked out twice? No...When he took Vitalie's shots, was gasping for air and managed to stay in the fight? Yes... Was Greb tough for fighting with one eye? Or deranged? Is a fighter like Hollyfield, Marciano, or Armstrong "tough" because of the style they employ? as compared with Whitaker or Ali?

For Queenie: Was Valuev Tough fighting with Gigiantism? Was Wilt the Stilt soft for not fighting Ali?

[15round]

- -Don't see any advanced thinkin' here.

Sam Langford fought more HOF fights than anyone well on past his prime. I could go on, but why bother?

It is because you cannot think! You are the number one TROLL on boxing scene. Sam Langford is not back to the 80's.

[Anthony342]

Advanced thinking tends to run from the hills when you come in to shiat up a thread... Maybe if you hide in the hills with the same binoculars you look at your neighbor with, it might make an appearance?

That doesn't just deserve a laugh, it deserves a Tim Curry IT laugh:

[15round]

Toughness is an ephemeral quality... hard to judge. The appearance of toughness is not very enlightening either... Was Lewis tough? when he got rocked out twice? No...When he took Vitalie's shots, was gasping for air and managed to stay in the fight? Yes... Was Greb tough for fighting with one eye? Or deranged? Is a fighter like Hollyfield, Marciano, or Armstrong "tough" because of the style they employ? as compared with Whitaker or Ali?

For Queenie: Was Valuev Tough fighting with Gigiantism? Was Wilt the Stilt soft for not fighting Ali?

Good points. I may be biased because it was the 80's I started watching boxing as it was more available. I miss those weekends waiting for fights on CBS Sports Saturday, Wide World of Sports and Sports World. Back then boxing was a fans sport where the fan would have influence on what fights were made. Now the promoters and fighters control and fans don't see the fights they want, or it is later when the fighters are past prime.

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Thinking back to the 80's I thought about Duran and even past his ideal weight he moved up to fight Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Iran Barkley and Davey Moore. I can't remember much more than that it has been so far back. In the last twenty years I just see entertainers like Mayweather and Pac that pick and choose based on their chances to win and make the most money.

Duran would fight anybody, the true mark of an ATG. I always felt James Toney would as well. I also don't recall Thomas Hearns avoiding anybody either.