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The ingredients that make up a true champion are evident in few and sometimes recognized after they are gone. I guess what I am getting at is more and more fighters are getting the respect they fought for after they retire and are gone from the sport. While the y are fighting and trying for the glamour and money in the sport in end they get past making money and the big fights is about respect? You have to ask yourself sometimes what defines a fighters legacy? Is it his record just as simple as wins and losses? Is it the competition he fought against and beat? Is it how many belts and titles he ld and in what weight classes he was dominate? Is it that he never ducked anyone and he conducted himself with class and dignity in and outside the ring? I mean look around and you will see a lot of old talent sticking around past their respective prime and still slugging it out. Slugging it out and for what I ask myself. I look at some of the fighters who are big names in the sport right now and who we always throw the word legacy and all time great in when speaking about them. Here is the list I come up with most talked about active fighters talked about on this site. Joe Calzaghe, Oscar De la Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley, Roy Jones Jr, and Bernard Hopkins. I look at that group of names and I think to myself why are these guys still fighting? What do they have left to prove?
Oscar what are you trying to prove I mean what good is fighting the P4P #1 when he is 2 or 3 weight classes below your actual weight class? Do you think you are cementing your legacy by fighting Manny? I mean I give Manny more credit for stepping up to take on that challenge then I give you for accepting it. At best I think Oscar is here for the money. Losing your fight with Money May and him retiring screwed up your 3 fight plan so you fight Steve Forbes in front of you home town crowd a glorified sparring match at best and now you fight Manny? Come on Oscar if you are trying to cement you legacy then take on the likes of a Cotto or a Margarito even a rematch with Shane would be legacy like fight. This brings me to your business partner or one of them Bernard Hopkins. Bernard Roy lost and if Calzaghe won’t give you a rematch then retire my man nothing left to prove X. You beat a top P4P guy in Pavlik and did it in great fashion. This would be the best way to go out for you. I would just call it quits nothing can be more satisfying then going out on top P$P #3 right now at 43 years old. The ingredients I spoke of are all here and add a little bit of ferocity and B Hop is King in my book. Shane a fight with Margarito would be great if it happens in January. The legacy for Shane always fights the tough fights. Gets beat and the next fight for Shane is a rematch when everyone else would be looking for a quick easy win. Classy guy and has a ton of heart. Shane if you can beat Tony then maybe a rematch with Cotto would be in order. No better way to go out then with a win over the top WW and avenging your loss to Cotto. There would be two big money fights there as well.
Roy you wanted to erase the thought of you laid out in two consecutive fights. The thought of going out on a losing streak. You wanted to be remembered as a winner sir cause you are a winner. P4P the baddest man throwing down. Former Middle Weight Champ, Former Super Middle Weight Champ, Former 3 Time Light Heavy Weight Champ and Former Heavy Weight Champion of the world Roy Jones Junior!!!! Enough said Roy you got nothing to prove. Retire Roy your legacy is cemented in that introduction alone sir. Joe 46-0 Super Joe still being debated as an ATG? Still not convinced? Joe I ask you sir do you consider yourself and all time great sir? Ruled his division for over 10 years. Recognized as the Undisputed SMW Champ the Linear LHW Champ and P4P #2 in the world. You beat Eubank, Lacy, Kessler, Hopkins and dominated Jones. You have been doubted and talked about on this site and I am sure many others. You are loved by most and hated by some. You know Joe they say if you don’t have someone hating on you your doing something wrong. So I guess you must be doing something right.
So whether their fighting for fame fortune or for respect their legacy is how they will be remembered. In my book every fighter has a legacy they fight for. Whether or not they will be talked about after they are done fighting or how they will be talked about depends on their legacy. Right now I think of tough fights and never ducking no one I say Shane Mosley. I think of fighting for respect I think of Joe Calzaghe or Bernard Hopkins. I think of fighting for fame and fortune I think of Oscar De la Hoya. When I think of P4P greatness and unbelievable physical natural ability I think of Roy Jones. Just my personal thoughts on these fighters. To be a Champion you need the ingredients mentioned and there is n doubt it the names mentioned definitely have t….Lefty
Oscar what are you trying to prove I mean what good is fighting the P4P #1 when he is 2 or 3 weight classes below your actual weight class? Do you think you are cementing your legacy by fighting Manny? I mean I give Manny more credit for stepping up to take on that challenge then I give you for accepting it. At best I think Oscar is here for the money. Losing your fight with Money May and him retiring screwed up your 3 fight plan so you fight Steve Forbes in front of you home town crowd a glorified sparring match at best and now you fight Manny? Come on Oscar if you are trying to cement you legacy then take on the likes of a Cotto or a Margarito even a rematch with Shane would be legacy like fight. This brings me to your business partner or one of them Bernard Hopkins. Bernard Roy lost and if Calzaghe won’t give you a rematch then retire my man nothing left to prove X. You beat a top P4P guy in Pavlik and did it in great fashion. This would be the best way to go out for you. I would just call it quits nothing can be more satisfying then going out on top P$P #3 right now at 43 years old. The ingredients I spoke of are all here and add a little bit of ferocity and B Hop is King in my book. Shane a fight with Margarito would be great if it happens in January. The legacy for Shane always fights the tough fights. Gets beat and the next fight for Shane is a rematch when everyone else would be looking for a quick easy win. Classy guy and has a ton of heart. Shane if you can beat Tony then maybe a rematch with Cotto would be in order. No better way to go out then with a win over the top WW and avenging your loss to Cotto. There would be two big money fights there as well.
Roy you wanted to erase the thought of you laid out in two consecutive fights. The thought of going out on a losing streak. You wanted to be remembered as a winner sir cause you are a winner. P4P the baddest man throwing down. Former Middle Weight Champ, Former Super Middle Weight Champ, Former 3 Time Light Heavy Weight Champ and Former Heavy Weight Champion of the world Roy Jones Junior!!!! Enough said Roy you got nothing to prove. Retire Roy your legacy is cemented in that introduction alone sir. Joe 46-0 Super Joe still being debated as an ATG? Still not convinced? Joe I ask you sir do you consider yourself and all time great sir? Ruled his division for over 10 years. Recognized as the Undisputed SMW Champ the Linear LHW Champ and P4P #2 in the world. You beat Eubank, Lacy, Kessler, Hopkins and dominated Jones. You have been doubted and talked about on this site and I am sure many others. You are loved by most and hated by some. You know Joe they say if you don’t have someone hating on you your doing something wrong. So I guess you must be doing something right.
So whether their fighting for fame fortune or for respect their legacy is how they will be remembered. In my book every fighter has a legacy they fight for. Whether or not they will be talked about after they are done fighting or how they will be talked about depends on their legacy. Right now I think of tough fights and never ducking no one I say Shane Mosley. I think of fighting for respect I think of Joe Calzaghe or Bernard Hopkins. I think of fighting for fame and fortune I think of Oscar De la Hoya. When I think of P4P greatness and unbelievable physical natural ability I think of Roy Jones. Just my personal thoughts on these fighters. To be a Champion you need the ingredients mentioned and there is n doubt it the names mentioned definitely have t….Lefty
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