What do you guys consider to be his signature win? In my opinion he could have had many more if he wasn't ducked so much. But I think the Quintana tko is my personal favorite.
Ask Leonard what his signature victory is and he'll give you one answer : Hearns.
Maybe, maybe not, it depends on the day I suppose because I've heard him say Duran and Hearns alternately when the question has been put to him in the past. However, that's just his opinion. In the opinion of fans and analysts alike Leonard has 4 signature wins : Benitez, Duran, Hearns, and Hagler.
How anybody could just say Hearns was his signature win is beyond me, because Benitez was his first world title (a world title win is always a signature win unless it's a crummy alphabet belt nobody values), Duran was personal revenge, and Hagler was one of the greatest comebacks in boxing history.
Ali would probably tell you it's Foreman, but I haven't ready his biography so I'm not sure about that.
Neither have I, so I cannot comment on Ali's own personal opinion on the matter, but again - Fans and analysts alike view him as having at least 3 signature wins, not even counting his win over Frazier in the "Thrilla in Manila" or Ken Norton.
Also, I'm pretty sure both Ali and Leonard alike would consider winning gold at the Olympics to be signature wins.
Louis already said the best moment of his career was when he beat Schmeling in the rematch if I'm not mistaken.
Yes, he did. Doesn't change the fact that he also had career-defining fights with Conn and Walcott.
You're getting caught up in a fighter's opinion on what win mattered to them the most, not which wins were most historically significant. Naturally a fighter is going to pick one moment as their "best" when someone asks them to define their best win, but that's not the topic of debate here : The topic of debate here is that you said a fighter only has one signature (as in career defining) win per career, and that's simply untrue.
Anyway you're getting off the point, I was saying that I don't understand how a close decision that could have gone either way is a signature win.
I'm not off point at all, I clearly addressed that statement in my original response as well as subsequent replies. A close win is still a win, and when it comes against a big name opponet in a title fight, that's a signature win. Period.
Well that's just a stupid opinion, then.
Not every win is a signature win, I agree. But to say that throughout the course of any fighter's career (most of which last for decades) they are only allowed to have one signature win is full-on, chin-drooling, chest-poundingly retarded.
Ali had at least 3 signature wins in his colossal upsets against Liston, Foreman, and Spinks, respectively.
That's just one example - Many professional boxers have multiple signature (as in career-defining) wins over the course of their careers. Historically you can look at guys like Robinson, Leonard, Duran, and Louis. More recently you can look at guys like Mayweather, Pacquiao, Jones, and Hopkins - And that's just to name a few.
Ask Leonard what his signature victory is and he'll give you one answer : Hearns. Ali would probably tell you it's Foreman, but I haven't ready his biography so I'm not sure about that. I can tell you that's the fight he's most remembered for, easily. Louis already said the best moment of his career was when he beat Schmeling in the rematch if I'm not mistaken.
Is there a handful of fighters who arguably have several signature wins? Yes and they're among the greatest of all time, but to say it applies to many fighters is just ignorant.
Anyway you're getting off the point, I was saying that I don't understand how a close decision that could have gone either way is a signature win.
First of all a fighter only has one signature victory as far as I'm concerned. It's either his best performance or the defining moment of his career, or both. For example Morales' signature win is his victory over Pacquiao IMO.
Well that's just a stupid opinion, then.
Not every win is a signature win, I agree. But to say that throughout the course of any fighter's career (most of which last for decades) they are only allowed to have one signature win is full-on, chin-drooling, chest-poundingly retarded.
Ali had at least 3 signature wins in his colossal upsets against Liston, Foreman, and Spinks, respectively.
That's just one example - Many professional boxers have multiple signature (as in career-defining) wins over the course of their careers. Historically you can look at guys like Robinson, Leonard, Duran, and Louis. More recently you can look at guys like Mayweather, Pacquiao, Jones, and Hopkins - And that's just to name a few.
So then Chacon's win over Edwards isn't a signature victory?
Taylor's wins over Hopkins aren't signature victories?
Hagler's win over Duran isn't a signature victory?
Adamek's win over Cunninghame isn't a signature victory?
Morales' win over Barrera isn't a signature victory?
The list goes on and on.
First of all a fighter only has one signature victory as far as I'm concerned. It's either his best performance or the defining moment of his career, or both. For example Morales' signature win is his victory over Pacquiao IMO.
can someone explain to me how williams won round 1 against martinez in the first fight? i still don't get it. they both scored knockdowns ok but martinez rocked williams and had him flying halfway across the ring while williams grazed the back of martinez's head. also martinez rocked him during the round and hit him with a couple solid shots while williams landed nothing else of consequence. two of the judges gave it to williams? the other one had it even....ok shouldn't they by fired right there?
I don't understand how a close fight that could have gone either way is a signature win but maybe it's just me...
So then Chacon's win over Edwards isn't a signature victory?
Taylor's wins over Hopkins aren't signature victories?
Hagler's win over Duran isn't a signature victory?
Adamek's win over Cunninghame isn't a signature victory?
Morales' win over Barrera isn't a signature victory?
The list goes on and on.
margarito by far, and that's not a shot at paul williams, thats a great win IMO
unfortunately P-Dub lost to Quintana, Maravilla twice (IMO he lost the first fight too), and Lara. overall a slightly above average fighter, just a hair above Margarito in talent level which isn't saying much
i'm a huge floyd fan and I think Paul Williams would give Floyd his toughest fight in his career if he were still able to be a part of this sport
I don't understand how a close fight that could have gone either way is a signature win but maybe it's just me...
the only way williams could have won is if pierre benoist was judging 119-110 williams.........
It doesnt matter what my scorecard was.... My card doesnt make the difference in who won the fight or not, and your opinion doesnt change the fact that it was two prime fighters who fought an extremely close competitive fight, and Williams got the decision, which now is undoubtedly his best career win.
None of what I just said is personal opinion, all fact.
You can reply with whatever BS you like, nothing will change it.
Debating the fight round by round wont change it.
isn't that how you figure out who deserved to win?
jose luis ramirez's best win is whitaker. did you give the first round to williams like 2 of the judges even though he got knocked down ten times harder, completely rocked during the round, and outlanded? or maybe that was an even round...
It doesnt matter what my scorecard was.... My card doesnt make the difference in who won the fight or not, and your opinion doesnt change the fact that it was two prime fighters who fought an extremely close competitive fight, and Williams got the decision, which now is undoubtedly his best career win.
None of what I just said is personal opinion, all fact.
You can reply with whatever BS you like, nothing will change it.
Debating the fight round by round wont change it.
Im happy you came to that conclusion.
It wasnt a robbery, Williams best win is Martinez.
Fact.
jose luis ramirez's best win is whitaker. did you give the first round to williams like 2 of the judges even though he got knocked down ten times harder, completely rocked during the round, and outlanded? or maybe that was an even round...
martinez clearly won at least 7 rounds. there's no possible way to give williams rounds by being busy when martinez hit him with huge shots. williams punches had nothing on them and were not very accurate.
Im happy you came to that conclusion.
It wasnt a robbery, Williams best win is Martinez.
Fact.
Of course it was.
If by over and over you mean here and there in between constant volume punching from williams that also landed cleanly than sure.
Of course it was a close fight.
martinez clearly won at least 7 rounds. there's no possible way to give williams rounds by being busy when martinez hit him with huge shots. williams punches had nothing on them and were not very accurate. do you also think williams beat quintana in the first fight? same exact fight.
Obviously Martinez.
Close fights dont equal robberies, Paul won the fight.
Definitely not a robbery, it was a fairly close fight. That said, I think it was a clear Martinez win by a point or two, but it's a dead issue since Martinez avenaged it in brutal fashion in the rematch.
I'd say that was easily his best victory, whether you agree with the decision or not is irrelevant.
it wasn't that close though. Only one guy was getting rocked with haymakers over and over.
Of course it was.
If by over and over you mean here and there in between constant volume punching from williams that also landed cleanly than sure.
Of course it was a close fight.
Obviously Martinez.
Close fights dont equal robberies, Paul won the fight.
it wasn't that close though. Only one guy was getting rocked with haymakers over and over.