There is a particular reason why floyd is so important to the sport of boxing

I read countless threads, over the last few years i have been on here i have read thread after thread. I have seen so many fans come through here, as long as their fighter is active, theyll be here, and when that fighters hype dies down, they are gone. Different waves of fans come and go on here. Defending their fighter to the nth degree. In particular though, with floyd mayweather, the only time i can think of when he was actually liked on here was after he beat the hell out of arturo gatti and before that, he was mostly thought of as a good fighter who was underrated. I didint imagine hed be the biggest fighter in the sport, or at least the most polarizing. But there is something that has come to my attention, its something wmute and dirt e gomez mentioned more than a year ago. Who the hell is there to replace mayweather? Im being serious. Mayweather is one of the last fighters in boxing who represents the sport in its truest form. From defense to offense, mayweather has the total package. Guys like toney, hopkins, calderon etc are leaving the sport. It seems now more than ever, with our amatuer program in disarray, the dearth in pure boxers is becoming evident. Sure there is pacman, a once in a lifetime fighter, but more and more i am seeing guys who more or less fight like pac over the years, there will be another like him, maybe he wont be filipino, but theyll be another. But more and more im looking around and im seeing very few fighters with the total package, lineares, donaire, juanma and a few others are all i can really think of that REALLY have it all. Growing up there were guys like Whitaker, Tyson, Jones Jr, Ray Leonard, Vernon Forrest etc who had it all. It seems there are fewer and fewer as time goes on, and even as they come on, they dont get the support. Boxing, now more than ever, is about knockouts as opposed to the specticle of the sport, so more and more youths are likely throwing defense and fundamentals out the window. Just last night i had to argue with another poster about how important the amatuer program is and that turning pro young and being successfull is VERY rare. If this is the mentality that people are taking with amatuers and how it prepares you for the pros, we are going to see less and less complete fighters in our sport. Granted that poster is obviously a newcomer to the sport and had little knowledge beyond pacman, its still something im seeing and dealing with more and more. For alot of you, you could care less, you want knockouts, you want to spend more time on resumes and belts and weight classes etc, thats fine. But without mayweather the p4p list got thin as fukk, even ring magazine admitted this, complete fighters are becoming less and less and less, this is why for me, mayweather is so important, i dont care if he stays undefeated or not, i just want him in the sport as long as he can sustain it, because the sport needs his influence and his technical brilliance, because when its gone, its gone. I'll speak to Mayweather first. One of the last things you said was one of the reason I was so bothered by him "retiring", or even taking time off. Floyd is a great fighter, someone who can out box you, out think you and out fight you. With so many great fights on the horizon it was a waste for him to leave. I know it's his career and all, but from a (boxing) fan stand point, we want to see as many elite talents like Floyd taking those great fights. He is that type of pure, somewhat complete boxer in the lineage of Whitaker, Toney, Hopkins etc that I gravitate toward. It would be a shame if we didn't get to watch a talent like that show his ability against the best. These fighters aren't necessarily disappearing from the sport, but I see your concern that the truly great ones have one foot out the door. Toney is a shell of himself and Hopkins is an old man. I think Joe Calzaghe was another guy who could beat you several ways and was a cerebral fighter, but he's done as well. Juan Manuel Marquez is staring father time in the face too. Fighters like Lopez, Donaire, Linares, Dawson and the others still have something to prove, but we should appreciate this new batch of guys on the come up. It really is a lot to ask for a large group of young talent which possesses a great deal of technical ability, heady awareness, and outstanding natural talent. I'm optimistic...I don't think fighters like Floyd are just going to die off. I know there has been a dip in overall talent as of late, and some guys have shifted to a more aggressive approach, but fighters will come along who can do everything if properly schooled.

I certainly hope so too. I hope but I am not sure that once the elite training will be where talent comes from, we will get higher again. I mean, if things go bad (bye bye crafty fighters), it's not going to be pleasant. But if things go well... we could have some great great style innovation in boxing as we see fighters influenced by 2 "cultures "(my favorite example of that is Jose Napoles with cuba+mexico). Who knows what's next... Linares is venezuelan+japanese, and he is my favorite young gun stylewise. Indeed, it would be really bad if boxing doesn't have crafty fighters, the sport would be missing something without them, but I think it's just a cycle, I mean there was Whitaker, then Toney, then Hopkins, then now Mayweather, I'm pretty certain that there will be someone after Mayweather. Yeah, we're seeing more and more of that cross cultural boxing style, it'll be interesting to see what can happen there. Korobov is like a mixture of European and American styles.

So... I was disappointed in Mijares, not because he lost do Darchinyan, but because he could not find anything resembling an answer to the question of Vic unorthodoxy and power. i kept mijares off the list in particular because he engages when he doesnt have to, its to the point where its foolish to do so, i understand a fighters need to want to pull the trigger, but a guy of his talent shouldnt even be doing it unless there is an opening, its funny because guys like hopkins and mayweather NEVER make that mistake, but they pay a price sometimes in fandom since they pretty much tune out the crowd while they win a fight.

What you're saying is very true, the number of fighters who can do what guys like Mayweather can do today are coming fewer and farther between but I'm sure someone will come along, you're right though. I certainly hope so too. I hope but I am not sure that once the elite training will be where talent comes from, we will get higher again. I mean, if things go bad (bye bye crafty fighters), it's not going to be pleasant. But if things go well... we could have some great great style innovation in boxing as we see fighters influenced by 2 "cultures "(my favorite example of that is Jose Napoles with cuba+mexico). Who knows what's next... Linares is venezuelan+japanese, and he is my favorite young gun stylewise.

TRUE WORDS. We will find out. Maybe, you are right, but I hope you are wrong. LOL I am with you in hoping in this, but I second silencers observation and also remember that most lighter weights fighter have a shorter span at the top. So I would definitely not bet on it.

Heres one thing to think about For the longest time, the come forward brawling style was considered the staple of Mexican boxing. When one thought brawl, one thought Mexican Boxing. In the past year, there had been 5 Mexican boxers on the P4P list at the same time. Juan Manuel Marquez Rafael Marquez Antonio Margarito Christian Mijares Israel Vazquez Those highlighted in red where/are considered technicians before brawlers. That means that the best Mexican fighters were tacticallly superior technicians. Sure, they have lost, but that happens when you fight the best. My point is, the country that is supposed to be the "least skilled Boxing wise" just happened to have the most technically sound boxers on the P4P list at one point. That speaks to the fact that the art of boxing is going no where. Fans have always favored action over substance. Its part of the BUSINESS and entertainment of Boxing. But there will always be those who are pefrectionist. It's kind off topic but I agree wih you. I am very happy of JMM success and beint in the spotlight after being obscured by Erik and Barrera.

He's important because boxing needs as many of its most talented to be active...and Floyd is mos def. one of (if not the most) talented in boxing right now.

Even though he has lived a clean life 34 is still relatively old for a boxer, Calderon relies a lot on his legs, speed and reflexes, which are normally the first things to go with a boxer, I would be really surprised if he's boxing the way he is now in 3 years' time. TRUE WORDS. We will find out. Maybe, you are right, but I hope you are wrong. LOL

Juanma and Linares are the future, I agree there. As for Gamboa and Valero...I don't think so So... I agree on Linares. Sad thing Linares might be one of those who always gets injured since he already had a bad injury at his ridiculously young age. If he gets past that, he should end up being the shit. Juanma at thist point is at his physical peak and he is just too much for everyone he faces, I haven't seen him go out of this way in a fight. I think (and hope) that he will show more faces of his game. Donaire is amazing at what he does, but like Juanma I have not seen him change, cos he does not have to. I was disappointed in Mijares, not because he lost do Darchinyan, but because he could not find anything resembling an answer to the question of Vic unorthodoxy and power.

true, true, true. Still, I am told IronBoy got a serious commitment to the sports and is always working out. Not like Cotto, who loves to screw around, drink rum and whiskey, and get himself in trouble for hitting on OPP. So Calderon might still fight longer than expected. We got a tons of athletes who are productive beyond 35 and even 40. Think about a Jerry Rice. His body conditionning workup was sick. How many hits did Jerry took while playing NFL for 2 decades??? So far, I had not seen Calderon slowing down, nor taking a break, a la PBF. Even though he has lived a clean life 34 is still relatively old for a boxer, Calderon relies a lot on his legs, speed and reflexes, which are normally the first things to go with a boxer, I would be really surprised if he's boxing the way he is now in 3 years' time.

Calderon is very well skilled but he's reaching the end of the line, I mean how long can he keep doing what he's doing? He's already in his mid-30s, a fighter like him can get old real quick. But Calderon (who IS amazing and the best active rican fighter by a mile IMO) will likely be done very soon too! true, true, true. Still, I am told IronBoy got a serious commitment to the sports and is always working out. Not like Cotto, who loves to screw around, drink rum and whiskey, and get himself in trouble for hitting on OPP. So Calderon might still fight longer than expected. We got a tons of athletes who are productive beyond 35 and even 40. Think about a Jerry Rice. His body conditionning workup was sick. How many hits did Jerry took while playing NFL for 2 decades??? So far, I had not seen Calderon slowing down, nor taking a break, a la PBF.

How about Ivan Calderon? That little dude got skills, arguably as good as Floyd's. But at his weight, the exposure is much less than a guy like PBF. If you are a real boxing fan, you must like boxers like PBF and Calderon. No way around it. But Calderon (who IS amazing and the best active rican fighter by a mile IMO) will likely be done very soon too!

thats true floyd is one of a kind i dont know why people hate him so much..he might talk trash sometimes but that makes the boxing game more interesting esspecialy if we watch shows like 24/7..we need a bit pre entertaiment foreplay makes it much more fun..im a floyd fan but i also respect every other boxer who enters the ring..you hardly see floyd fans puttin hatefull threads against other boxers. some of them are doing it all the time now with pac

you hardly see floyd fans puttin hatefull threads against other boxers. you cannot be serious.

That would be the normal thing, but look in the past. Look at the 90s, count crafty fighters. Then look at the 80s, count them. ... ... Thinking about the 40s 50s is actually scary, in a single division you had Charles, Walcott and Moore, in another one Burley and Robinson... The problem is that that number is steadily decreasing with time. And there is another thing, which is bothering, the trainers... who is going to train the guy who will come along? What you're saying is very true, the number of fighters who can do what guys like Mayweather can do today are coming fewer and farther between but I'm sure someone will come along, you're right though. How about Ivan Calderon? That little dude got skills, arguably as good as Floyd's. But at his weight, the exposure is much less than a guy like PBF. If you are a real boxing fan, you must like boxers like PBF and Calderon. No way around it. Calderon is very well skilled but he's reaching the end of the line, I mean how long can he keep doing what he's doing? He's already in his mid-30s, a fighter like him can get old real quick.

There aren't too many that can do what he does but I'm sure there is someone somewhere who will come along and dazzle us with his skills, it's just a matter of time. How about Ivan Calderon? That little dude got skills, arguably as good as Floyd's. But at his weight, the exposure is much less than a guy like PBF. If you are a real boxing fan, you must like boxers like PBF and Calderon. No way around it.

there is always a chance that a guy like roach, who was no more than a clubfighter at best will come along and try to continue someones career in the sport. Even anne wolf or someone like that has a chance to put back into the sport what they gave. But i do wonder though, who will train those guys? i do reckon guys like roger and floyd mayweather will be around for awhile, mcgirt and quite a few others. But it is an issue that should very well be raised. sadly, i dont have any idea how our olympic team will look in 2012, i never thought USA boxing would decline so badly. looking at every class since the dream boxing team in 84, to 88, to 92 then 96 and then 2000 and it just gets worse from 04 to 08. honestly, i think we should just forget about olympic boxing until it is restructured to represent how the sport is truly practiced. it wont matter if the US isn't representing as long as we produce great professional talent.

Heres one thing to think about For the longest time, the come forward brawling style was considered the staple of Mexican boxing. When one thought brawl, one thought Mexican Boxing. In the past year, there had been 5 Mexican boxers on the P4P list at the same time. Juan Manuel Marquez Rafael Marquez Antonio Margarito Christian Mijares Israel Vazquez Those highlighted in red where/are considered technicians before brawlers. That means that the best Mexican fighters were tacticallly superior technicians. Sure, they have lost, but that happens when you fight the best. My point is, the country that is supposed to be the "least skilled Boxing wise" just happened to have the most technically sound boxers on the P4P list at one point. That speaks to the fact that the art of boxing is going no where. Fans have always favored action over substance. Its part of the BUSINESS and entertainment of Boxing. But there will always be those who are pefrectionist.

there is always a chance that a guy like roach, who was no more than a clubfighter at best will come along and try to continue someones career in the sport. Even anne wolf or someone like that has a chance to put back into the sport what they gave. But i do wonder though, who will train those guys? i do reckon guys like roger and floyd mayweather will be around for awhile, mcgirt and quite a few others. But it is an issue that should very well be raised. sadly, i dont have any idea how our olympic team will look in 2012, i never thought USA boxing would decline so badly. looking at every class since the dream boxing team in 84, to 88, to 92 then 96 and then 2000 and it just gets worse from 04 to 08. Remember that Roach worked alongside Futch for a while. Hopefully he is going to take someone under his wing. Hopefully Roach will be teaching someone like Futch did to him, it's kind of vital. I will throw in there the names of a few top level fighters who could be great trainers IMO. Hopkins and Mayweather could be great trainers. Jones had amazing ring IQ (the way he calls fights... unbelievable), but I wonder if someone fighitng with his style can be a good trainer. James Toney is probably too instinctive to transfer that. JMM worked with Nacho for many years and is excellent himself. I love watching Rafa, but he woudl forget to teach defense to his fighters.

That would be the normal thing, but look in the past. Look at the 90s, count crafty fighters. Then look at the 80s, count them. ... ... Thinking about the 40s 50s is actually scary, in a single division you had Charles, Walcott and Moore, in another one Burley and Robinson... The problem is that that number is steadily decreasing with time. And there is another thing, which is bothering, the trainers... who is going to train the guy who will come along? there is always a chance that a guy like roach, who was no more than a clubfighter at best will come along and try to continue someones career in the sport. Even anne wolf or someone like that has a chance to put back into the sport what they gave. But i do wonder though, who will train those guys? i do reckon guys like roger and floyd mayweather will be around for awhile, mcgirt and quite a few others. But it is an issue that should very well be raised. sadly, i dont have any idea how our olympic team will look in 2012, i never thought USA boxing would decline so badly. looking at every class since the dream boxing team in 84, to 88, to 92 then 96 and then 2000 and it just gets worse from 04 to 08.