What would it take change your mind about Floyd?

[Vladimir303]

hatton in no way was really considered a GREAT fighter though. he may have been ranked, but he was not a great fighter. you cant use that as a point of debate when talking about floyd's competition. Marketability, yes, but not "greatness". the same thing with Oscar, he was GREAT during his career but has not won a meaningful fight in the past 6 years. thats right, 6 whole years. some posters say that the Oscar that fought Floyd that night could had beaten any WW out there but thats just BS because he hasnt done so at all.

That's exactly what I'm talking about and I'm not denying that. But you're proving my point. The guy was 44-0 coming into the fight, considered the Real legitimate Jr.welter champ. He defeated a future hall of famer and probably one of the greatest 140's of all times in Kostya Tszyu ending his career. He was a 2-division champ like Cotto and many favored him because of his Castillo-esque style which gave Floyd problems.But he still wasn't great. So what's the difference with Cotto? It's the same thing, people think that Cotto has something the other guys don't and are sure that he will beat Floyd.

But what if he doesn't? Is Cotto considered a great fighter regardless of how he performs against Floyd?

I don't think he is and some guys will come out and call him overrated I guarantee...just like Hatton.

[Vladimir303]

2. Are you Floyd's accountant or matchmaker? Cotto has emerged as the number one contender (and is much more marketable than PBF or his groupies claim he is) in the division that Mayweather occupies, why not fight the guy? If you can tell me why DLH or Hatton rematches are more logical fights, then go right ahead and preach on preacher man. If not, then Cotto makes the most sense from a boxing standpoint.

Thanks for listening.

You set this up perfectly for me to bring out an old thread of mine.

My response to the above: http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=167562

You're welcome.

[Clegg]

But what if he doesn't? Is Cotto considered a great fighter regardless of how he performs against Floyd?

I don't think he is and some guys will come out and call him overrated I guarantee...just like Hatton.[/SIZE]

So Floyd should fight nobody, because whoever he fights might be considered overrated afterwards? He should fight the best.

[Vladimir303]

So Floyd should fight nobody, because whoever he fights might be considered overrated afterwards? He should fight the best.

Floyd can fight whoever he wants at anytime he wants. He'll tell you himself that, "I call the shots, I've paid my dues and have nothing else to prove". That's his right. Will he be the greatest of all times because of that? No and he probably will not be even if he fought Cotto and Margarito so it doesn't matter.

What I'm saying is, his legacy doesn't depend on beating Cotto. Anybody who disagrees with that, I'll ask again, is Cotto a great fighter.

Will beating Cotto get him the type of love Leonard got for beating Hearns or Duran.....two other all-time greats.

I'd like an answer to that.

[Mr. Ryan]

Will beating Cotto get him the type of love Leonard got for beating Hearns or Duran.....two other all-time greats.

I'd like an answer to that.

It will earn him a greater standing in boxing history among those that chronicle it. Him not fighting Cotto and his excuses and reasonings why he shouldn't have hurt his credibility among many pundits because then it forces them to ask, "Why would he not want to fight Cotto?" When placed alongside pointless rematches with Hatton and DLH, it looks even worse.

[Fox McCloud]

It will earn him a greater standing in boxing history among those that chronicle it. Him not fighting Cotto and his excuses and reasonings why he shouldn't have hurt his credibility among many pundits because then it forces them to ask, "Why would he not want to fight Cotto?" When placed alongside pointless rematches with Hatton and DLH, it looks even worse.

I honestly can't come up with an answer to that. The undefeated, 5 division champion, P4P #1 fighter who's elusive style has allowed him to **** with the overwhelming majority of his opponents can't actually be scared of someone, can he?

Seriously, as unlikely as it seems to me that he is scared, some of his recent behavior is kind of giving the impression that he is. I'm having trouble knowing what to think.

[Clegg]

Floyd can fight whoever he wants at anytime he wants. He'll tell you himself that, "I call the shots, I've paid my dues and have nothing else to prove". That's his right. Will he be the greatest of all times because of that? No and he probably will not be even if he fought Cotto and Margarito so it doesn't matter.

Yes it does, because while he may not be considered the best ever if he beats them, it will enhance his reputation.

Will beating Cotto get him the type of love Leonard got for beating Hearns or Duran.....two other all-time greats.

Perhaps not, but beating the other 3 champions will get him the kind of respect that RJJ and Hopkins got.

Did Hopkins look like a future ATG going into the fight with RJJ? No, but Jones still fought him. Cotto is young, we don't know how highly he'll be rated once his career finishes.

[Mr. Ryan]

I honestly can't come up with an answer to that. The undefeated, 5 division champion, P4P #1 fighter who's elusive style has allowed him to **** with the overwhelming majority of his opponents can't actually be scared of someone, can he?

Seriously, as unlikely as it seems to me that he is scared, some of his recent behavior is kind of giving the impression that he is. I'm having trouble knowing what to think.

He went to welterweight to fight Judah and to have a middle ground to get a fight with DLH. Fighting young, prime welterweights is too big a challenge for him. He knows he should be at 140.

[Fox McCloud]

He went to welterweight to fight Judah and to have a middle ground to get a fight with DLH. Fighting young, prime welterweights is too big a challenge for him. He knows he should be at 140.

Then he might be mentally handicapped for making Hatton come up to 147. That would have been the perfect out for him, considering Cotto wasn't the absolute #1 guy for him at the time, because Cotto's biggest win was over Judah at that point, not Mosley, which has skyrocketed him up in status.

[Vladimir303]

I honestly can't come up with an answer to that. The undefeated, 5 division champion, P4P #1 fighter who's elusive style has allowed him to **** with the overwhelming majority of his opponents can't actually be scared of someone, can he?

Seriously, as unlikely as it seems to me that he is scared, some of his recent behavior is kind of giving the impression that he is. I'm having trouble knowing what to think.

I honestly think it's just an attitude. He is lashing out at his critics.

You remember him saying, " no matter what I do people still won't give me my credit". Some people are still waiting for him to break down again and cry like he did at the Baldomir Press conf.

To me it seems like he is not letting it get to him anymore. At Espn FNF the other day he said "people are telling me to fight this guy and that guy, I'm telling them, I'll fight on my terms when I feel like it".

It's a rebelious attitude.