Many ATG's have retired in there Prime! Not just PBF.

[Dorian]

Michael Spinks

[Left Hook Tua]

Michael Spinks

well let's just hope there's a "tyson" waiting for floyd's "spinks" when he comes back from retirement.

[wmute]

There's a only a few boxers who retired in their prime who are great. If fact none of them are in the top 10 ATG.
Ali and SugarRR retired late losing a few bouts in thier old age. So did George Foreman, SRL, Duran, JCC, Louis, etc...etc...

Robinson retired the 1st time at age 31
Leonard retired 2millions times
Foreman retired at age 28 or something like that.

3 out of the 7 fighters you mentioned retired in or close to their primes. not bad huh?

[TheGreatA]

Robinson retired the 1st time at age 31
Leonard retired 2millions times
Foreman retired at age 28 or something like that.

3 out of the 7 fighters you mentioned retired in or close to their primes. not bad huh?

They didn't stay that way and I doubt Mayweather will either. Many of them actually had their greatest accomplishments past their prime (Foreman regaining the HW title at age 45, Leonard decisioning Hagler, Robinson winning the MW title 3 more times).

Perhaps Mayweather will have his final defining moment as well. I really doubt this retirement of his will last.

[wmute]

floyd has been champ at 130 , 135 , 140 , 147 and 154.

look at his resume. it's good but all time great?

is he the greatest 130 lber ever? better than arguello? azumah?

is he the greatest 135 lber ever? better than duran? benny? esteban?

is he the greatest 140 lber ever? better than chavez? pryor?

let's not even bother talking about his resume at 147 and 154. in fact...... shouldn't have even bothered mentioning his career at 140 either.

we throw around all time great way too much.

don't even bother mentioning his titles in 5 divisions. i think armstrongs campaign from 126-160 is more impressive. and is it really that hard to win titles in 5 divisions nowadays with all the super/junior weight classes and all different orgs? if manny beats diaz for the wbc belt he'll be a champ in 5 divisions too. is he an atg? how about oscar and his titles at from 130 to 160 if you count the wbo belt? oscar is very good but is he all time great?

floyd is a great fighter. he is one of the most skilled fighters ever.

greatness , however , is based on your legacy and resume. floyd's resume is very good not great.

certainly not all time great.

he would beat all those greats at 30-35-40 except the ones bolded.

You forgot Pea, on which I am very undecided.

The best chance at 130 would come from Saddler, styles make fights. Neither Nelson and Arguello had the right style to beat him. Arguello was awesome but way too straightforward... straight right hands on that type of defense? I dont think so... Nelson would do better.

The 130 fighters should be considered p4p because they were smaller men... in the era of same day weigh ins floyd would start his career at 135.

The fact that I rate him the best ever at 140 (and pick him to beat both Pryor and JC) doesnt matter that much, because Duran would have been the best if he ever toched that weigh class...

But I have no doubt that he is the best fighter to grace 130.

[wmute]

They didn't stay that way and I doubt Mayweather will either. Many of them actually had their greatest accomplishments past their prime (Foreman regaining the HW title at age 45, Leonard decisioning Hagler, Robinson winning the MW title 3 more times).

Perhaps Mayweather will have his final defining moment as well. I really doubt this retirement of his will last.

I agree with Foreman's best achievement. Partially on Robinson, his streak before and after winning the ww title is up there IMO.

I definitely disagree on Leonard... his best job is the 1st Hearns fight IMO, one of the best victories by any fighter ever, Hagler was his best job at the negotiating table, and denying a rematch.

I doubt Mayweather will stay retired, but like Leonard and Robinson he will pay the price of his inactivity in terms of loss of sharpness, unless his comeback is as pathetic as fighting old or dehydratd people like Leonard did after Hagler... If he comes back to fight Cotto after more than 1 year off, that's going to be a pretty bold move, much more like Robinson than Leonard.

[TheGreatA]

he would beat all those greats at 30-35-40 except the ones bolded.

You forgot Pea, on which I am very undecided.

The best chance at 130 would come from Saddler, styles make fights. Neither Nelson and Arguello had the right style to beat him. Arguello was awesome but way too straightforward... straight right hands on that type of defense? I dont think so... Nelson would do better.

The 130 fighters should be considered p4p because they were smaller men... in the era of same day weigh ins floyd would start his career at 135.

The fact that I rate him the best ever at 140 (and pick him to beat both Pryor and JC) doesnt matter that much, because Duran would have been the best if he ever toched that weigh class...

But I have no doubt that he is the best fighter to grace 130.

I guess he means strictly resume, Mayweather had his best work at 130 but his only achievement at 135 was beating Castillo, at 140 he beat up Gatti, at 147 he defeated Baldomir, Hatton and Judah, at 154 only one fight against De La Hoya.

As far as resumes go, I don't think he will rated top 5 in any division other than SFW where he had wins over Genaro Hernandez, Corrales, Manfredy, Chavez and others.

[Stickman]

Barry Sanders retired at 30years old. He was also within one seasons striking distance from beating Walter Paytons all time career rushing yards. Barry stated that he no longer had "the competitive spirit".

Jim Brown retired without ever playing a game past 29years old. The year he retired he was named MVP of the Entire NFL. He was breaking records and setting new ones with every game he played.

Michael Jordan also retired at age 30years old from basketball due to loss of desire. This is after winning 3 straight championships and a NBA Finals MVP award.

Athletes, the top ones compete for more than just a check or records. Its a competitive spirit that allows them to compete at there SUPER ELITE Level. They could've all set records and cashed huge checks by going on but all decided that loss of spirit/desire wouldn't allow them to compete as they once had.

We dont call Barry Sanders, Jim Brown or Michael Jordan cowards. We don't accuse them of being scared of losing so why are we doing it to PBF. He could've cashed a huge check against DLH which most feel he would've won comfortably. But like the other great athletes he chose to bow out when his spirit/desire for the sport vanished. Why are we blaming him for that?

This assumes that Mayweather is an all time great...he is not. He had the potential to be, the athletic prowess, the skill, talent, ability, blah, blah, but not the drive, ambition, or the willingness to fight enough other great fighters to be in the same class as actual all time great fighters. An ATG should be actively hunting other great fighters to step into the ring with, not cherrypicking opponents to ensure a win at any cost.

[guzi815]

Barry Sanders retired at 30years old. He was also within one seasons striking distance from beating Walter Paytons all time career rushing yards. Barry stated that he no longer had "the competitive spirit".

Jim Brown retired without ever playing a game past 29years old. The year he retired he was named MVP of the Entire NFL. He was breaking records and setting new ones with every game he played.

Michael Jordan also retired at age 30years old from basketball due to loss of desire. This is after winning 3 straight championships and a NBA Finals MVP award.

Athletes, the top ones compete for more than just a check or records. Its a competitive spirit that allows them to compete at there SUPER ELITE Level. They could've all set records and cashed huge checks by going on but all decided that loss of spirit/desire wouldn't allow them to compete as they once had.

We dont call Barry Sanders, Jim Brown or Michael Jordan cowards. We don't accuse them of being scared of losing so why are we doing it to PBF. He could've cashed a huge check against DLH which most feel he would've won comfortably. But like the other great athletes he chose to bow out when his spirit/desire for the sport vanished. Why are we blaming him for that?

That's cool, and very true. The thing is, all of the formentioned played on "Team" sports. It left all of people, in particularly the fans, wanting more of thier talent and skills to keep on competing against other teams. Neither Mr. Sanders, Jordan or Jim Brown said "They are bored of the sport". Other wise you wouldn't have seen them comentating games.

Just for the record, Jordan lost his Dad, and called it quits, never from "loss of desire". Jordan did for the team, so did Mr. Brown, as so did Mr. Sanders, though Detroit only made the play off's two times in Sanders' 10 year tenure. Mr. Mayweather left alot of unanswered questions. With Mr Mayweather it was I, I, I..and Me, Me, Me. There is no "I" in TEAM. With or with out, the show must go on. Should Mr. Mayweather decide to engage in a REAL, and RISK-"FULL" boxing match he would get a whole lot more respect from just about everybody. that's all I have to say. Peace out Bro.

[Xplosivo]

This assumes that Mayweather is an all time great...he is not. He had the potential to be, the athletic prowess, the skill, talent, ability, blah, blah, but not the drive, ambition, or the willingness to fight enough other great fighters to be in the same class as actual all time great fighters. An ATG should be actively hunting other great fighters to step into the ring with, not cherrypicking opponents to ensure a win at any cost.

he isnt? then who is? let me guess joke calslappy? LMFAO