Is Duran the greatest fighter still alive today?

[billeau2]

I think its less about not counting Spinks as a full blown HW at the time of the fight, and more about not counting Spinks work that late in his career and not at his best weight against him. As was stated, some have their greatness based on longevity and accumulating accomplishments on there way, and others based on height of their greatness at one point.

Heres a somewhat simple way I approach this point: When you look at Archie Moore, he is an incredible fighter when he was young. yet fitting him into a weight class is tough. Who would we want to see moore fight? If we could pick an opponent that really showed his ability? its tough... Would it be at light heavy? Middle weight? Ditto for his prodigy the man that studied him james Toney... Would it be amazing to see if Toney could beat klitsko? or fight at his best against the same roy jones? Even at light heavy?

If we do the same type thinking with Floyd for example, its imo a different kettle of fish entirely: I don't want to see Floyd at 140 and above... I want to see him at like 125, light weight... I would want him to fight someone like Pep, or even Saddler... Or armstrong AT 125. The weight class becomes all important.

To me that is the difference.

[Willie Pep 229]

We have to consider Spinks a full blown HW when he fought Tyson. He had already twice beaten Holmes and made easy work of Cooney. He had a much easier time with Cooney than Holmes did. All told he had four fights at HW by the time he met Tyson. Spinks is actually 6’3”, and was only 7 pounds lighter than Mike when they fought. Spinks lost that fight in the locker room prior to the fight. During hand wrappings, Butch Lewis made Tyson rewrap his hands three times. Third time was a charm, Tyson snapped and punched a hole in the wall in the adjacent room to Spinks. Spinks didn’t want to leave the dressing room. By the time he made the dreaded ring walk you could see the fear and hopelessness in his eyes as he climbed into the ring. He was a beaten man before the first punch was ever thrown.

Brother Leon would have given Tyson a better go. He wouldn't have walked scared. He would have gotten trampled as well but he would have been game, probably believeing he could win.

[markusmod]

Brother Leon would have given Tyson a better go. He wouldn't have walked scared. He would have gotten trampled as well but he would have been game, probably believeing he could win.

I could see that happen, too.

[The plunger man]

Did you really believe you needed to explain the current situation to me or were you just being condescending?

Tunney is a perfect example of what I am about. He went after Dempsey as dangerous as he might be. A master boxer who wasn't interested in your three fat ( sometimes crooked) men sitting at ringside to tell him he won.

Yes it was the first time the title changed hands via a decision but Tunney took it to Dempsey and won - nobody was counting 'points.'

What is so wrong with 1921? You believe the game is better today? In what way?

Today too many fighters enter the ring never intending to do anything more than to impress your three fat boys with their boxing skills.

It's a prize fight not a boxing exhibition. You seem to have lost sight of that.

And I bore easily!

I still want my money back from Leonard-Hagler that was not a prize fight. Now Leonard- Hearns, that was a prize fight.

yes and Leonard went after hearns and finished him and he starched Duran lol....styles make fights and only a dimwit would even suggest Leonard should stand toe to toe and slug it out with a granite chin hagler who was naturally 2 weights above him....but again pep you require a fighter to do that and sacrifice any chance he has of winning and succumb to that fighters style of fighting.
Duran which i consider him to be the greatest inside fighter in the history of the sport and although leoanrd lost a razor thin decision....his best avenue of winning was to beat Duran at boxing which is what he did

[Willie Pep 229]

yes and Leonard went after hearns and finished him and he starched Duran lol....styles make fights and only a dimwit would even suggest Leonard should stand toe to toe and slug it out with a granite chin hagler who was naturally 2 weights above him....but again pep you require a fighter to do that and sacrifice any chance he has of winning and succumb to that fighters style of fighting.
Duran which i consider him to be the greatest inside fighter in the history of the sport and although leoanrd lost a razor thin decision....his best avenue of winning was to beat Duran at boxing which is what he did

Please stop speaking to me T I find you repugnant!

[The plunger man]

Please stop speaking to me T I find you repugnant!

glad that we have finally resolved this....just stating the facts about styles and I’m happy you’ve seen sense

[GhostofDempsey]

glad that we have finally resolved this....just stating the facts about styles and I’m happy you’ve seen sense

“Seen sense”? Yeah, you’re a Floyd fan alright, LMAO!

[The plunger man]

“Seen sense”? Yeah, you’re a Floyd fan alright, LMAO!

. Yeah sure I am lol........I like fighters who take on punchers and beat them , I like fighters that move up in weight and beat dominant middleweight champions.....give me pacquaio , alexis arguello , sugar ray leonard ....I have no time for mayweather lol

[travestyny]

Please stop speaking to me T I find you repugnant!

If this was about me....


1. Wrong again
2. Another incorrect accusation. Batting 1.000 aren't you?
3. I also find you repugnant. For not being able to admit you are wrong, for false accusations, and generally being a blltch.


Now we can go back to ignoring each other, right?


Oh....

And Dempsey still ducked Harry Wills

[QueensburyRules]

I don't want to see Floyd at 140 and above... I want to see him at like 125, light weight... I would want him to fight someone like Pep, or even Saddler... Or armstrong AT 125. The weight class becomes all important.

To me that is the difference.

- -U want see him stink up great feathers, but he want stink up his fans wif Logan Paul