Fighters who declined rapidly.

[IronDanHamza]

Yeah but he went fron blowing out journeymen to losing to them.. Not saying he was great. But he was even worse post calzaghe

He started losng to Journeyman 5 years later.

I disagree I don't believe he was worse. He was always that bad.

[IMDAZED]

I'm mostly looking for fighters who relied on speed and athleticism, then declined rapidly when those faded.

I know RJJ and Sergio Martinez are two.

RJJ didn't decline rapidly. It began years before, I'd say around the time he fought Harmon.

[IMDAZED]

Yeah but he went fron blowing out journeymen to losing to them.. Not saying he was great. But he was even worse post calzaghe

I don't remember him really blowing out anyone of note. Yeah he stopped them but he never looked great doing it IMO. Lacy was just overrated. He struggled in most of the bouts leading up to the Calzaghe one.

[VG_Addict]

RJJ didn't decline rapidly. It began years before, I'd say around the time he fought Harmon.

I'm comparing him in the McCallum fight to him in the Harmon fight, and he looks slower, and got hit more in the Harmon fight.

[IMDAZED]

I'm comparing him in the McCallum fight to him in the Harmon fight, and he looks slower, and got hit more in the Harmon fight.

Yep you could see the decline in that Harmon fight. And it got progressively worse.

[IronDanHamza]

RJJ didn't decline rapidly. It began years before, I'd say around the time he fought Harmon.

Roy Jones decline is similar to Floyd Mayweather's decline.

Between Harmon, Gonzalez, Kelly, Woods, Ruiz (2+ years) he barely lost a round, and that disguises the decline. But if you look closely you can see it.

Similar to Mosley, Ortiz, Cotto, Guererro, Canelo. 3+ years and barely lost a round, dominated all with ease other than Cotto so that disguises the obvious and clear decline in his game. So when he has a hard time with Maidana a young strong guy who's going to push the pace on him people were shocked, I wasnt. Because I could already see the decline and I knew that a fighter like Maidana will expose them.

Similarly to Tarver with Roy, people were shocked how bad he looked but the signs were already there long before.

Diffefence if Floyd's superior fundmentals have allowed him to last longer and get out unscathed. Hopefully it stays that way.

[IMDAZED]

Roy Jones decline is similar to Floyd Mayweather's decline.

Between Harmon, Gonzalez, Kelly, Woods, Ruiz (2+ years) he barely lost a round, and that disguises the decline. But if you look closely you can see it.

Similar to Mosley, Ortiz, Cotto, Guererro, Canelo. 3+ years and barely lost a round, dominated all with ease other than Cotto so that disguises the obvious and clear decline in his game. So when he has a hard time with Maidana a young strong guy who's going to push the pace on him people were shocked, I wasnt. Because I could already see the decline and I knew that a fighter like Maidana will expose them.

Similarly to Tarver with Roy, people were shocked how bad he looked but the signs were already there long before.

Diffefence if Floyd's superior fundmentals have allowed him to last longer and get out unscathed. Hopefully it stays that way.

Exactly, exactly, exactly. When I saw the Harmon fight, I knew he was in trouble. But these guys are so good, took years for the masses to realize.

[billeau2]

Jeff Lacy another example of a fighter not being good in the first place and looking bad/losing when he fought good/decent

You beat me to it! Indeed one has to make this distinction between being exposed and being in decline.

Some fighters can look great stepping up the ladder... Nando for example. And then they get to a place where a really good fighter can do what they do better and they have no answer for it. Juan Ma, is another. This kid looked like that rare commodity: a ****er in the lower weight classes. But he couldn't make the jump, couldn't **** well enough.

[billeau2]

Sam Peter was not a great fighter obviously, but he was considered an up and commer. Seems to me that after the second Toney fight he got really slow and more ponderous that before. Even though he isn't a great fighter, its interesting because heavyweights generally have more assets to stay a decline, i.e. they do not rely on speed and reflexes as much as the lower weight classes. You see guys fighting into their forties who can maintain their punching power, but Peter seems unable to do this.

BTW how about Prince naseem? didn't he hit a wall after Barrera?

[baya]

RJJ didn't decline rapidly. It began years before, I'd say around the time he fought Harmon.

it was rapid. i remember like it was yesterday, people including myself thought it was ****** to go up and fight ruiz for the heavyweight strap but he proved how special he was in that contest with speed and power; a SOLID 205ish for fight night. the next contest taking place at light heavy - having to lose almost 30lbs between fights at 35 ruined him.

he fell off a cliff.