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A couple years back when he was fighting at 130-135 and he was a KO artist did we underate him? At those weight's he was a monster and seemed to be KOing people left,right and center. We seem to have forgotten this, me included, nowdays and many look at his boring victories over De La Hoya and Baldomir as reference to how he fights.
A few years back he was dominating people in such a fashion that most saw him as a power puncher,it was until he fought Castillo that he had to adjust he never really had to overcome his opponents style because his power did it for him, it over shadowed his skill. Only in recent years have the mainstream boxing community recognised his very high level of skill and ability to change his style to oversome adversity in his opponents such as when he fought the bigger Baldomir and De La Hoya to more recently when he KO'd Hatton even after looking uncomfortable in the opening rounds.
He had some tough fights and many may argue that Castillo won the fight but many years from now looking back all we will remember is the W on the record. His trash talking will go down as a mental trick much like Ali's was although hated by most at the time it will be forgotten. I think if he beats Cotto and Williams he can safely retire and even though at the time many will slate him for not fighting the next generation of fighters, he will be remembered as an all time great.
A few years back he was dominating people in such a fashion that most saw him as a power puncher,it was until he fought Castillo that he had to adjust he never really had to overcome his opponents style because his power did it for him, it over shadowed his skill. Only in recent years have the mainstream boxing community recognised his very high level of skill and ability to change his style to oversome adversity in his opponents such as when he fought the bigger Baldomir and De La Hoya to more recently when he KO'd Hatton even after looking uncomfortable in the opening rounds.
He had some tough fights and many may argue that Castillo won the fight but many years from now looking back all we will remember is the W on the record. His trash talking will go down as a mental trick much like Ali's was although hated by most at the time it will be forgotten. I think if he beats Cotto and Williams he can safely retire and even though at the time many will slate him for not fighting the next generation of fighters, he will be remembered as an all time great.
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