Floyd Mayweather quit fighting for his legacy.

[KingTito]

Ok, let me put it to you like this...14 unique wins over people who have held a major title at some point in their career and 7 unique wins over people who have held a legitimate/linear weight class title at some point in their career. How many more of those would he need to rack up?

The fact that Ray Robinson beat Jake LaMotta 4 times impresses historians more than beating 6 inferior top 10 contenders once. The fact that he fought Basilio 3 times, Fullmer and Pender twice, Olsen 4 times, etc. is what impresses historians about his resume. Earlier in his career at the lighter weights he was beating all comers, but Robinson is mostly remembered for rivalries against other top tier fighters (even though some of his worst performances came against those fighters).

Now, think about Floyd's history again. He already took on all comers. And now he's trying to make memorable rivalries and be well compensated for them. As long as he fights Cotto, I'm fine with it. And I'm proud of him for getting that doughie because I'm tired of the story of boxing legends being that of some old punch drunk guy who either pissed away all of his money or being too punch drunk to enjoy it. If that makes me "******ed" as some of you seem to think I am for being a Floyd fan then I'm a proud "******ed" Floyd fan.

Don't get me wrong. I have no problem with him making the money he does, and I certainly don't want him (or any fighter) to come out of boxing with serious effects. I'm just saying that I'd rather see him make rivalries with Cotto and another top WW instead of ODLH and Hatton. ODLH is pretty much out of the serious boxing picture and Hatton shouldn't be fighting anyone above 140. Neither one of them are serious top 10 WW contenders. I just want him to fight the best and ODLH and Hatton aren't his best competition. Basically, I'd rather see him fight Cotto and let's say Margarito instead of ODLH and Hatton, although I understand why he's doing it. It makes sense when it comes to making money, but I want my "p4p champ" to fight like he is. He'd make great money either way, and he'd still be popular. He'd a lot more of one thing though if he fought the best competition, and that's respect, and that definitely counts for something.

[Thread Stealer]

He's looking for the big paydays. It's really nothing new. Big name fighters nowadays get paid more than in the past, so they don't fight as often as before since they don't have to.

In theory it's nice to think that fighters once they reach a certain level in their bank account and have a future spot in Canastota, that they'll fight for their all-time standing rather than for money. But it tends to be the other way around. They look for the paydays. Look at Lennox Lewis wanting a rematch with Mike Tyson. If Sugar Ray Leonard would've beaten Michael Nunn in 1989, it would've done wonders for his all-time standing (which is already pretty high). But there were bigger paydays, and easier matches, in rematches with Tommy Hearns and Roberto Duran. Oscar De La Hoya is trying to fight the big names in lower weight divisions rather than the top guys @ 154. Look at the end of Larry Holmes's title reigns and the choices he made.

The motives really aren't that much of concern to me, it's the end result that matters. Ray Robinson fought for the money, hell, he didn't even like the sport. It was all business for him. Money was his main concern, but look at what he achieved. He's arguably the greatest of all-time. Mayweather looking for rematches with De La Hoya and Hatton does **** all for his all-time standing. If Cotto's the biggest payday for him, then we'll see Mayweather-Cotto. Then that will do a lot of good for his all-time standing, if he wins.

[javelin_fangs]

Don't get me wrong. I have no problem with him making the money he does, and I certainly don't want him (or any fighter) to come out of boxing with serious effects. I'm just saying that I'd rather see him make rivalries with Cotto and another top WW instead of ODLH and Hatton. ODLH is pretty much out of the serious boxing picture and Hatton shouldn't be fighting anyone above 140. Neither one of them are serious top 10 WW contenders. I just want him to fight the best and ODLH and Hatton aren't his best competition. Basically, I'd rather see him fight Cotto and let's say Margarito instead of ODLH and Hatton, although I understand why he's doing it. It makes sense when it comes to making money, but I want my "p4p champ" to fight like he is. He'd make great money either way, and he'd still be popular. He'd a lot more of one thing though, and that's respect, and that definitely counts for something.

I know this is not a popular thing to say on a message board, but a win over Margarito really doesn't amount to a hill of beans. He beat Baldomir already shouldn't that count? I mean really, Margarito? Seriously? Instead of DLH? I don't care if DLH has lost a step he'd run through Margarito about as easily as he did Mayorga. I'd rather see Cotto take care of Margarito to be honest.

Then if Floyd is going to fight the Hatton rematch in spring '09, I want to see Cotto-DLH in spring '09 as well. That'd be the ultimate setup for Mayweather-Cotto. Margarito can fight the Mosley-Judah winner and/or Williams-Quintana 2 winner. Whoever, comes out of that can get the leftovers.

[Brandish]

Ok, let me put it to you like this...14 unique wins over people who have held a major title at some point in their career and 7 unique wins over people who have held a legitimate/linear weight class title at some point in their career. How many more of those would he need to rack up?

The fact that Ray Robinson beat Jake LaMotta 4 times impresses historians more than beating 6 inferior top 10 contenders once. The fact that he fought Basilio 3 times, Fullmer and Pender twice, Olsen 4 times, etc. is what impresses historians about his resume. Earlier in his career at the lighter weights he was beating all comers, but Robinson is mostly remembered for rivalries against other top tier fighters (even though some of his worst performances came against those fighters).

Now, think about Floyd's history again. He already took on all comers. And now he's trying to make memorable rivalries and be well compensated for them. As long as he fights Cotto, I'm fine with it. And I'm proud of him for getting that doughie because I'm tired of the story of boxing legends being that of some old punch drunk guy who either pissed away all of his money or being too punch drunk to enjoy it. If that makes me "******ed" as some of you seem to think I am for being a Floyd fan then I'm a proud "******ed" Floyd fan.
__________________
"Yo, I meant it when I said 'no one can shine on a song that features me!'/That's why I said it so vehemently/You need to replace the hate with respect/I'm probably the best yet, Poet Laureate!/" -Canibus

what a great post good k coming your way

[Greatness=Floyd]

Legacy? Look at my sig. Thats his legacy kid. Floyd already accomplished more than most Boxers could ever. So why should he have to fight Cotto? What is Cotto gon do for his legacy? He's just gon be anotha W on his resume. De La Hoya, Hatton, Baldomir are all more accomplished fighters than Cotto. Why doesnt Cotto fight THEM since he's so used to fighting Floyd's left overs?

[KingTito]

I know this is not a popular thing to say on a message board, but a win over Margarito really doesn't amount to a hill of beans. He beat Baldomir already shouldn't that count? I mean really, Margarito? Seriously? Instead of DLH? I don't care if DLH has lost a step he'd run through Margarito about as easily as he did Mayorga. I'd rather see Cotto take care of Margarito to be honest.

Then if Floyd is going to fight the Hatton rematch in spring '09, I want to see Cotto-DLH in spring '09 as well. That'd be the ultimate setup for Mayweather-Cotto. Margarito can fight the Mosley-Judah winner and/or Williams-Quintana 2 winner. Whoever, comes out of that can get the leftovers.

Well Margarito was just an example I threw out there. My main point is that I just want Mayweather to fight better competition. I'm just saying that instead of fightin ODLH and Hatton when those fights really don't matter in boxing, why not fight Cotto and the Margarito-Cintron winner or the Mosley-Judah winner or the winner of Quintana-Williams if they were to have a rematch. I'd rather see him fight the other WW champs, starting with Cotto. Like I said though, I know why he's doing it, and it's hard to blame him. He's making a ****load. Good argument none the less. One of the better boxing arguments I've been in.

[javelin_fangs]

Well Margarito was just an example I threw out there. My main point is that I just want Mayweather to fight better competition. I'm just saying that instead of fightin ODLH and Hatton when those fights really don't matter in boxing, why not fight Cotto and the Margarito-Cintron winner or the Mosley-Judah winner or the winner of Quintana-Williams if they were to have a rematch. I'd rather see him fight the other WW champs, starting with Cotto. Like I said though, I know why he's doing it, and it's hard to blame him. He's making a ****load. Good argument none the less. One of the better boxing arguments I've been in.

If Mosley beat Judah impressively, then I'll grant that because Shane Mosley has accomplished a lot in the sport of boxing and will be remember as one of the better lightweights and welterweights of this era. Floyd already beat Zab. Zab is my favorite fighter, but he had his chance at Floyd and he blew it. He'd have to do more than just beat Mosley to earn a rematch. I'd actually love to see Zab and Ricky Hatton fight if Zab can get past Shane Mosley.

[KingTito]

If Mosley beat Judah impressively, then I'll grant that because Shane Mosley has accomplished a lot in the sport of boxing and will be remember as one of the better lightweights and welterweights of this era. Floyd already beat Zab. Zab is my favorite fighter, but he had his chance at Floyd and he blew it. He'd have to do more than just beat Mosley to earn a rematch. I'd actually love to see Zab and Ricky Hatton fight if Zab can get past Shane Mosley.

Actually yea, I completely forgot about the Judah fight. A rematch would be pointless. If Mosley won that and maybe another fight, say if he got a title, then it'd be nice to see him fight Cotto then Mosley instead of ODLH and Hatton. That's basically what I'm trying to say. I just want the WW champs to fight each other, and the most significant fights to be made. I don't like the two rematches Mayweather wants.