"Past his Prime" VS "SHOT"...big difference

[ReadyUp]

I think it's funny when posters here start to discredit a fighter's victories because "so and so" was out of his prime when that fighter is still a very capable and formidable fighter.

Case in point, several posters here have called Floyd's victory over Oscar meaningless because he wasn't the 25 year old Oscar and the fight was semi-close. The main point is that Oscar would still beat the majority if not all Junior Welter's out there. (not to mention all the advantages Floyd allowed Oscar) Sure he's not the bouncing Oscar of the past but his skills are not eroding the way a "shot" fighter would present himself.

When you see Jose Luis Castillo practically falling over his own feet, that goes beyond "his best days are behind him." At that point you can honestly say the guy has nothing left in the tank. All credit to Hatton for doing what should be done to a shot fighter...knock him out.

I think what it boils down to is that if a fighter can adapt and change his style accordingly as they age, it allows the fighter to still compete at the highest level, then you cannot discredit a victory over that fighter.

Floyd Mayweather is not the same fighter today as he was at 135. Does that make him past his prime as well? No, he's a different fighter today....but still Pound for Pound the BEST.

[EMPOROAR]

Oscar was not even near the top at 154. He fought virtually no names at 154. Spinks, Karmazin, Simms, etc. Those guys were all better then him. And we shouldn't even forget how damn inactive Oscar was. He was a fraud at 154 - 160. Fighter of the 90's...MY ASS.

And with Castillo...2 fights ago we were all commenting how he looked the "best he has ever looked" against Corrales for the 2nd time. And then he moves up, puts up a lackluster performance agasint Reyes and Ngoudjo. Still, Hatton knocked the guy out in 4 rounds. Let me repeat that one more time - 4 rounds. Monster performance on Hatton's part, IMO.

[-EX-]

Oscar De La Hoya is the most complete fighter at 154. Spinks could beat him like Floyd did, but Oscar is still an elite in boxing today.

I never said Castillo looked great a few fights ago. He caught Diego with one big shot. He looked like **** against Hatton and he barely beat Ngoudjo.

[Guest]

Oscar would beat any fighter at 154 not named Mayweather...

[Steelhammer86]

People have been saying Castillo is shot in order to discredit Hatton's win. Age 33 is too early for a fighter to be shot. Duran fought 100 more fights than Castillo, and continued until he was 50. He was in worse wars against bigger and stronger fighters as he moved up the weight divisions.

When it's November 10 and Hatton beats Mayweather, some of the haters will finally be silenced. There will be no excuse, Mayweather is far from shot...

[-Antonio-]

What evidence tells you he would? Beating Mayorga? Dont try to make Floyd's belt sound legit. Listen I respect Mayweather, but De La Hoya picked up a paper belt. Karmazin is tough, Spinks would frustrate him just as much as Floyd, and Simms is very good in his own right.

[Guest]

People have been saying Castillo is shot in order to discredit Hatton's win. Age 33 is too early for a fighter to be shot. Duran fought 100 more fights than Castillo, and continued until he was 50. He was in worse wars against bigger and stronger fighters as he moved up the weight divisions.

When November comes and Hatton beats Mayweather, some of the haters will finally be silenced. There will be no excuse, Mayweather is far from shot...

So you give Mayweather full credit for beating 33-year-old DLH, right?

[-Antonio-]

People have been saying Castillo is shot in order to discredit Hatton's win. Age 33 is too early for a fighter to be shot. Duran fought 100 more fights than Castillo, and continued until he was 50. He was in worse wars against bigger and stronger fighters as he moved up the weight divisions.

When it's November 10 and Hatton beats Mayweather, some of the haters will finally be silenced. There will be no excuse, Mayweather is far from shot...

Age has nothing to do with it. Its your track record, and Castillo turned pro when he was 16. Not everyone is Duran.

[Steelhammer86]

So you give Mayweather full credit for beating 33-year-old DLH, right?

DLH is 35 and not really shot, but he is several years past his best. He had been inactive for a couple of years before facing PBF. He lost to Hopkins the same way Castillo lost to Hatton, same punch - some said he was shot then.

Castillo won nine of his ten previous fights before facing Hatton. I noticed he did seem demoralized immediately before the fight with Hatton, I think all his financial woes may have had a negative psychological effect on him. But lets give credit to Hatton for a fine performance.

[ReadyUp]

People have been saying Castillo is shot in order to discredit Hatton's win. Age 33 is too early for a fighter to be shot. Duran fought 100 more fights than Castillo, and continued until he was 50. He was in worse wars against bigger and stronger fighters as he moved up the weight divisions.

When it's November 10 and Hatton beats Mayweather, some of the haters will finally be silenced. There will be no excuse, Mayweather is far from shot...

Age has nothing to do with a fighter's departure from being able to hold his own against the division's elite. Fernando Vargas was a helluva fighter but the guy is still young but slowed down substantially because of some of the fights he's been in. But since Roberto Duran fought until he was 50 then everyone should right?

What evidence tells you he would? Beating Mayorga? Dont try to make Floyd's belt sound legit. Listen I respect Mayweather, but De La Hoya picked up a paper belt. Karmazin is tough, Spinks would frustrate him just as much as Floyd, and Simms is very good in his own right.

The evidence is Oscar is far more complete than all 3 of the fighters you mentioned. HOWEVER, Spinks is a problem and a half for anyone INCLUDING FLOYD. Karmazin is a tough guy but what you see is what you get, no adjustments. Spinks showed that.

And Sims, good fighter with a great showing over Rivera. Don't believe for a second that Oscar De La Hoya is Jose Rivera.