How would you rate the SIGNIFICANCE of Mayweather vs Pacquiao?

I agree with Sly here: when we judge how big a fight is, the best way to do it is to watch the very moment when it happened. Looking from your perspective I could see the argument made in favor of Duran-Leonard.

And seriously, since Duran had cemented his place in the history by defeating Leonard, how is their rematch happening months later a lesser fight?

 

Duran's physical condition, obviously.

 

So if Pacquiao decides not to train for the fight and comes up with an excuse, does that make Pac-PBF a smaller fight in historical sense? In my opinion, no. It becomes a worse fight but not a lesser one

 

Duran was out of shape and had to lose a lot of weight just to make welterweight. He was weight-drained and quit. This info would seem to indicate that the second fight was much less signficant when you know that one fighter is not close to his best shape for the fight.

 

Of course, because it will tell us much less about their relative prime abilities which is effectively the whole deal here. That's what we wanna know when guys fight, isn't it? Who's better? Exactly the same reason the fight becomes less significant if it happens when they're older.

 

I disagree with this take. If a fighter is obviously old in years, injured or whatever, then that's different and that's why Hopkins-Jones 2 was not a big fight. However I can't see how you can give a pass for a fighter for not training (and that is not just about Duran) since training is a big part of being a fighter. Thinking that way, you can take the very best performance from anyone and claim that this and that was wrong in the next fight. Thinking like that, prime Tyson KOed everybody in one round, prime Clay never got hit by anyone, prime Lewis never lost a round etc. I just can't look it that way

 

Well it comes down to 'what have they proven?'. After a 9 odd year reign as lightweight champion where he proved himself the best of the best there, then stepping up and beating Leonard like he did, then he's proven enough for us to have an accurate idea of his ability. What he does after that doesn't matter as much, for the same reason the last few years of Charles career don't matter, because he'd already proven enough to be rated extremely high historically.

If Ali had stopped training after Manilla, lost 3 fights in succession to inferior guys because he just didn't have the desire any more then retired would you rate him one iota lower? I wouldn't. He'd proven enough to be rated where he is - he already demonstrated his ability in the prime fights which mattered.

No Mas counts against Duran some what but nowhere bear as much as Montreal and his lightweight reign count for him.

For fighters who didn't have the opportunity or willingness to demonstrate their full ability yet, like say Tyson, then going off the rails counts negatively far more. Because he's forever a question mark at the highest level. Duran isn't. Charles isn't. Etc.

 

But WHOSE Fault is it that Duran was "Not Close to his Best Shape"???...He KNEW Leonard would IMMEDIATELY Excercise his Rematch Clause...It's a SLAP in the Face of Ray Leonard to DIMINISH the RE w/Duran, just Because Duran Wasn't Disciplined Enough to B in Shape for an IMMEDIATE RE....Are we Gonna Cut James Toney or Eddie Mustafa Muhammad SLACK Because they were "Not Close" to THEIR "Best Shape" in Fights???...Of Course Not....

Truth B Told, PRIME Sugar Ray Leonard was the Guy that Beat Tommy Hearns...If the Leonard that Duran Beat was "Prime", then Roy Jones Beat a PRIME Bernard Hopkins...But even REED WOULDN'T Say That...

This is what REED HATES about Duran; the Fact that he's Given EVERY SINGLE BENEFIT of the Doubt...The Loss to DeJesus was Because Duran "Wasn't in Shape", Supposedly...Same EXCUSE for the Loss to Leonard...He was Tooooo "Small" for Tommy Hearns & Toooo "Old" for The Rest of his Losses, yet we're Supposed to PRAISE Duran for Beating Davey Moore or Iran Barkley & ALMOST Beating Marvin Hagler....Guys Want to Have it BOTH Ways, when it Comes to Roberto Duran...

w/All DUE Respect to MWS & HUT, they have a HISTORY of GRANTING Duran Every Single Benefit of the Doubt, which is Why REED Specifically Quoted Your Post, Buddy....




REED

 

agREED...



REED:dancingBaby:

 

Most important fight since Leonard vs. Hearns...



The third most important fight in boxing history.....Ali vs. Frazier and Louis vs. Schmeling II

 

Maybe from a boxing fans perspective this fight takes the cake, but from the public perspective, boxing has lost its luster and most could care less.

When I was younger I remember everyone, boxing fan or not, being hyped up for Leonard-Hagler and for Tyson-Spinks. People who didn't watch boxing were talking about these fights. And maybe to a lesser extent, later on, DLH-Trinidad.

I can't see the same for this fight or any fight in boxing any time soon.

 

Yeah Tyson-Spinks had an insane build-up and the fight happened just three months after Tyson's last fight! Found some quotes on how big this particular fight was:

I think the magazine in question was KO Magazine

 

When the fight is signed, your comments will be proven accurate or inaccurate.

I think there will be worldwide general public interest in this fight. We'll see.

 

On the criteria you're clearly using - not within 300,000,000,000 miles.

 

Duran was the number one P4P fighter in the world and had just performed a vivisection on a very good Welterweight in Carlos Palomino... Leonard was the best Welterweight in the world based off a fine performance in stopping Benitez... it was boxing's brightest young star against the p4p king... it was an IMMENSE fight

 

yeah, he had only beaten BENITEZ

a nothing win, really

 

it was an incredible fight... its two of the very greatest fighters ever to live at or close to their peak condition and it was close and riveting... when two INCREDIBLE fighters get together, it isn't going to look like Gatti/Ward... if you don't think that fight is a gem, then you must hate every fight

 

I think Mayweather Pacquiao is getting way overrated in this thread. It's a huge fight, but I don't expect it to beat ppv records or anything.

DLH vs Tito was bigger, imo, for example. I'd say this fight is equal to Chavez/Whitaker, but no more.

Mayweather comes across as a douche and Pacquiao comes across as a juicer.

And even if these guys are p4p 1 and 2, Pacquiao doesn't have the aura of invincibility like other p4p #1 guys have and Mayweather is only p4p #1 because Roy dropped off the radar.

 

no. i thought it was a good fight. but it got tedious in spots when Duran was in SRL's chest. that's all.

Gatti/Ward isn't one of my favorite fights by the way.

 

agreed. I really couldn't be more excited for this fight, but people are losing their minds with some of the claims made in this thread.

 

whatever. Gatti/Ward's not among my favorites. but it doesn't mean that Duran/SRL I didn't get tedious when Duran was in SRL's chest all night.

SRL/Hearns was a far greater fight, as was SRL/Hagler.

 

SRL/HAGLER?? no way

SRL/Hearns was a great one, though... no doubt

 

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is bigger than Trinidad vs. De La Hoya....and if it happens in the next 12 months it will break the record for PPV buys...easily.

Yeah Mayweather and Pacquiao are just P4P #1 because they have NOT GOTTEN KNOCK THE FUCK OUT or drop off the radar like Roy Jones Jr...:doh:

 

Good win...but his only big win.

Pacman has beaten Barrera, morales, Hatton, De La Hoya, Cotto and Mayweather has beaten corrales, Castillo, Judah, De La Hoya, and Mosley.

You understand?

 

What Planet do you live on?

 

Who gives a fuck. Floyd doesn't wanna fight. Move on people. Both Pacman and Floyd have.

 

How about this...


YOU MOVE ON...get the fuck out of this thread...and let those of us that refuse to give up hope about this fight coming off, discuss it.

 

yeah you add up Corrales, Castillo and Hatton...and it still doesn't add up to a VICTORY over BENITEZ...

 

No problem. With pleasure. Waste your time. I have a life and refuse to waste it in this retarded thread. Enjoy.