When are you considered Great?

**Silencers** · 04-15-2008, 09:28 AM

To me it's when a fighter fights and beats the best there is to fight.

**Sugarj** · 04-15-2008, 09:32 AM

Probably an accumulation of the below:

When you upset the odds a number of times. Winning when your not supposed to and proving the doubters wrong.

Show real superiority over opponents consistently and over a good few years.

Facing the best opponents out there.

Proving your fighting heart by rising off the canvas to win fights or triumph over real adversity to find a way to win.

Being a good sportsman and example outside the ring. (even though not all the greats were!!!).

**Boogie Nights** · 04-15-2008, 09:34 AM

Originally posted by steptwome

Are we all seemingly duped by the notion that all fighters become great when boxing retires YOU. Ali - Holmes, should never have happened but he strived for GREATNESS. Leonard - Norris was a lopsided embarrassment, yet again another fighter striving for GREATNESS.....my question again .....when do YOU attain GREATNESS? Is it when you are pounded into a submissive state, peeling yourself from the canvass in an attempt to recapture the HEYDAYS of yesteryear, or when you go out on your "shield" in an embarrassing fashion, for the Casual Boxing fan, Critic and others alike.

everyone has a different opinion of what greatness is and how each fighter defines it. i know plenty of people, even on this site, who think muhammad ali was a bum, who fought and beat other unworthy bums. i mean what's a guy suppoused to do to convince anyone otherwise.

i think you become great when you convince people that you're more than an ordinary fighters. that can happen on any given moment, in any given fight.

**steptwome** · 04-15-2008, 09:38 AM

Originally posted by silencers98

To me it's when a fighter fights and beats the best there is to fight.

Are you missing the Point?
So Ali - Holmes, ~ Leonard - Norris were fights that NEEDED TO HAPPEN? question: Why? To Attain GREATNESS? Neither fighter had anything to prove.

**niceguy45** · 04-15-2008, 09:41 AM

when a fighter risks everything record, legacy, status, etc to fight the best opponents available no questions ask

**KESSLER** · 04-15-2008, 09:41 AM

When your name is Ricardo Mayorga.

**Silencers** · 04-15-2008, 09:42 AM

Originally posted by steptwome

Are you missing the Point?
So Ali - Holmes, ~ Leonard - Norris were fights that NEEDED TO HAPPEN? question: Why? To Attain GREATNESS? Neither fighter had anything to prove.

1. Money
2. One last shot at glory.

They were already great, they knew that. They wanted the spot light on them one last time, and make a couple of bucks along the way.

**steptwome** · 04-15-2008, 09:44 AM

Originally posted by boxing_prospect

everyone has a different opinion of what greatness is and how each fighter defines it. i know plenty of people, even on this site, who think muhammad ali was a bum, who fought and beat other unworthy bums. i mean what's a guy suppoused to do to convince anyone otherwise.

i think you become great when you convince people that you're more than an ordinary fighters. that can happen on any given moment, in any given fight.

Why are fighters considered BUMS, when they are clearly OUTMATCHED. Not everyone that steps through those ropes becomes a master of the CRAFT. Is it the dominant fighters fault that he is superior or even better than the opposition.

**Ras44** · 04-15-2008, 09:49 AM

Maybe after you are dead, and 60-70 years have passed dince you've stopped boxing, when boxing historians can take your career as it is, without hype, without much monetary considerations, when your comments don't dictate which fights casual boxing fans want to happen, and when you can be viewed objectively as a boxer, taking only into consideration your accomplishments inside the ring. When you don't carry the banner of an entire generation, etc.

When are you considered Great?