H2H who was the greatest Super-Middleweight ever

[SCtrojansbaby]

.....How so?

Have you ever seen boxers prepare for fights? Its more then just running sparring and stretching. You think they could do construction work or drive a taxi and still prepare? Even a job like congressman, there is a reason Pacquioa took a leave of absence.

[Rockin']

Being a fighter is the hardest thing anybody can do. When I was fighting I had to have a job, I worked nights bar tending at a nice restaurant. I mean just starting out I was being paid well, $800 a for a 4 round fight. Take out the managers cut, trainers cut, cornermans cut, uncle sams cut and thats just not much to live on in for one month. And thats just assuming that the opponent didnt back out for whatever reason leaving me with no cash for the month of training.

When speaking of taking care of yourself 24/7 he's right. I'd get up at 5 or 6 to do my roadwork, sleep and then at the gym from noon until about 3. ****, shower and shave and its off to work until 2 or 3 am. I was dog tired rolling into work.

It's tough.............Rockin'

[Rockin']

If Toney would have been right for the Jones fight I think he may have beaten him that night. James was awsome at super-middle but since Jones beat him I have to say Roy Jones was the best super middle.......Rockin'

[BennyST]

Have you ever seen boxers prepare for fights? Its more then just running sparring and stretching. You think they could do construction work or drive a taxi and still prepare? Even a job like congressman, there is a reason Pacquioa took a leave of absence.

Do you know how many champions today also have day jobs? Find out for me, because I know a lot that do, and we can talk further.

As for the other stuff......well?

Oh, and one other thing.....Carl Froch. You said fighters today are better because they don't have day jobs and you used the example of Froch. Explain to me, please, how Carl Froch is better than Johnny Famechon who I know did have a job at a bar during the day? Please, explain how that works?

[BennyST]

You are wrong, below average fighters Otis Griffin and Monte Barrett are full time boxers, while even really good top 10 in there division fighters like Carl Froch and Michael Katsidis would have needed a day job back then

Wow! Two guys. I can find two fighters who are actual champions...not hacks that still have day jobs. Big deal. I do know what you mean and I agree in a very small way. More top pros today make their full living with boxing, but that still equals only about 3% of the pros or less. It was the same back then because there were twenty times the fighters.

Anyway, pay is an issue for an accountant fan, not us. The ability is much easier to see. SEE!!!

[JAB5239]

Have you ever seen boxers prepare for fights? Its more then just running sparring and stretching. You think they could do construction work or drive a taxi and still prepare? Even a job like congressman, there is a reason Pacquioa took a leave of absence.

I saw boxers preparing daily for fights for about 8 years when I was fighting myself. I know for a fact that most have jobs and can't afford to live on just boxing alone. That luxury belongs to only a very small percentage of fighters. Here is an article on Peter Manfredo jr. While he may not be the best fighter out there he is world class and a contender.

Peter Manfredo, Jr. Interview
www.pound4pound.com
By Barbara Pinnella

This Friday, November 12th, “The Pride of Providence” Peter Manfredo, Jr. (35-6, 19 KO’s) will step into the ring with Jhon Berrio (15-7, 11 KO’s). I spoke with him last week about, among other things, his upcoming fight, his toughest opponent to date, and retirement.

While I have continued to speak with Peter off and on, I have not seen him since he was at Wild Card Boxing Club preparing for his fight with Jeff Lacy, a man to whom he suffered one of his six losses. He has lost to fighters who many would consider monsters, such as Lacy, Sakio Bika, and Joe Calzaghe. Sergio Mora also got the best of him – twice – as did Alfonso Gomez. I was curious as to which opponent he felt was his toughest adversary.

He did not have to think long. “Bika, definitely. It’s the hardest I’ve ever been hit by a human being, I didn’t think a human being could hit that hard! He never got me down, and I’m proud of that. It’s kind of like a Raging Bull kind of moment – you never got me down, right? But I’m kind of glad the ref stopped it when he did, because he probably would have seriously hurt me.

“Me, being a warrior, I’m not going to quit. There’s no towels being thrown in and I’m going to be there until the end. But I wasn’t going to win that fight. I wasn’t fighting the right type of fight, I wasn’t boxing him, I was trying to **** him and knock him out, which was ******!”

With regard to his upcoming opponent Berrio, Manfredo Jr. knows nothing about him. “I just signed with Lou DiBella, and we’re working with Jimmy Burchfield. They told me who I was going to fight, I said OK, and I don’t know anything about him. I guess my father looked at him a little bit on YouTube and said he’s game and he comes to fight, and I need to watch out ‘cause he can crack. He has 15 wins with 11 KO’s. But I’ll be prepared. I feel good; I feel sharp. I’m in shape and I’m ready.”

It is an added bonus that this fight is in his home town. “It’s nice fighting at home, because it’s convenient. I sleep at my own house, I go to my favorite places to eat, I go to the gym and work out, so it’s nice.”

I just had to ask about the two other previously mentioned Contender fighters, Gomez and Mora. “Gomez is a great fighter, and so is Sergio. You know a lot of people think we hate each other (with regard to Mora). He’s not my favorite person in the world, Sergio; I think his attitude kind of changed when he won The Contender. But then again, he’s become a World Champion, he’s done well, he’s fought some of the best out there.

“And Alfonso Gomez same thing, I can’t take anything away from that kid, he’s a warrior, he’s a fighter. He’s fought Miguel Cotto, he’s fought Ben Tackie, he’s fought Arturo Gatti, he just beat Javier Castillo. The kid can fight, and I like him, because he’s got a great attitude about him and that’s what the sport needs.

“And you know, we’re all Contender brothers. Whether we fought each other or not, time goes by too fast. I kind of miss all those guys I was on the show with. I miss those times, so I’m definitely pulling for them, and I hope they make all the money in the world.”

As has been the case throughout most of his career, Peter is trained by his father, Peter Sr., and while the two have certainly had success, Manfredo Jr. would still like to come back out to California. “I wish I could afford to come out there to Wild Card with Freddie (Roach) but I can’t anymore. With the kids and being a family man, it’s tough to leave now.”

It’s hard to be a professional athlete and at the same time, be a father. Peter is trying to juggle both right now. “I’m definitely winding down,” he told me. “I’m going to be 30 in a couple of weeks, and the older you get the harder it is to cut weight. But doing so I’ve captured that IBO World title. Now I want to get one more and kind of end my career.

“But I have a three-fight plan,” he continued. “I want this fight, I have another fight – if all goes well with the one coming up – on January 14th on ESPN in Key West, Florida, and then after that I want to go after another World title; end my career on top.

“But you know when you win another World title that’s when the money’s going to come, and I might not be able to retire, but that’s the plan. You’ve got to have a game plan, and that’s the game plan,” he laughed.

“There hasn’t been that much money out there for me because I haven’t been on TV. TV brings the money, people have to see you. I just won the World title, but who cares? I wasn’t on TV, so who cares? But I fight wherever they want to give me a payday. I’m from the old school, that’s what I do for my job. But I’m looking to make a big payday, you know, pay my house down, live comfortably, let my wife and my kids have a good life. Wherever that fight is going to be, that’s where I’ll go.”

Should he get to retire, his wishes are pretty simple. “I’d work, and I’d be a family man. I want to be home in time for dinner with my kids, I don’t see my kids enough. They’re only small for a short amount of time and you can’t get that back.”

He has three children, two daughters ages eight and five, and a son who is three.

“I have two part-time jobs and I fight, so I’m at the gym at night, and that’s the lifestyle I’ve always had growing up. I was never home for dinner with my family, and I don’t want that for my kids. I want to live the American Pleasantville kind of dream.”

I’m sure he will get to do that – eventually. First he has some opponents to deal with and more fights to win. Good luck to Peter on Friday night and as always, I want to thank him for his time.

[BigStereotype]

One of these things is not like the other...Roy Jones is BY FAR the greatest SMW of all time.

[SCtrojansbaby]

If Peter Manfredo needs a day job then he must:
1. have a horrible manager
2. either have a really bad accountant or he never got an accountant and is horrible with money.

Peter Manfredo had to make about half a million in boxing + endorsements.

[StarshipTrooper]

If Peter Manfredo needs a day job then he must:
1. have a horrible manager
2. either have a really bad accountant or he never got an accountant and is horrible with money.

Peter Manfredo had to make about half a million in boxing + endorsements.

If SCtrojanman keeps posting here then he must:

1. have a horrible inability to catch a hint


Poet

[JAB5239]

If Peter Manfredo needs a day job then he must:
1. have a horrible manager
2. either have a really bad accountant or he never got an accountant and is horrible with money.

Peter Manfredo had to make about half a million in boxing + endorsements.

Take a third out for taxes, a cut for your corner every fight, travel expenses, training expenses, sparring partners etc., etc., and there really isn't a lot left to live on when you're trying to support a family. The overwhelming majority of fighters are in the same boat. Unless you're an elite fighter or one with a huge following you simply aren't getting rich. Do you really think a few hundred thousand is enough to live on without having any other income coming in?