How much credit does a fighter deserve for beating an old legend?

[ßringer]

How much credit do you give a fighter for beating an old or past prime legend? How do you break it down? I'm really not sure myself of this myself. I've seen some people say "a win is a win" and others say that because the legend would've won had he been the same fight he was X number of years ago.

I mean, on the one hand you have a legend in the sport on your record as a win, which on paper looks great. (And history is written by the books.)

But on the other hand, they're past their prime, and it makes you wonder if they even would've stood a chance against them in their prime.

Does it count more if the person the legend loses to has a solid record and perhaps is undefeated, rather than some guy with a record of like 27-8?

Some examples.........

Berbick beating Ali
Wiley beating Chavez
Bojorquez beating Whitaker
Grant beating Hearns
Ayon beating Robinson
Woodland beating Pep

Some more recent examples..........

Ibragimov beating Holyfield
Taylor beating Hopkins
Tarver beating Jones
McBride beating Tyson
Hatton beating Tszyu
Lujan beating Castillo

[Silencers]

It depends on how much the old legend has left.

[warp1432]

It also depends how impressive the performance is too.

[ßringer]

It depends on how much the old legend has left.

So would you say it's a percentage thing then?

[ßringer]

It also depends how impressive the performance is too.

Is it fair to say that the impressive performance is sometimes solely because of the legend's level of deterioration?

[El Dominicano]

So would you say it's a percentage thing then?

I don't know...lets ask most Calzaghe fans! They've given Calzaghe all the credit in the world for beating the 43 year old and they're waiting to do the same thing IF...IF Calzaghe beats 40 year old RJJ. So The_Bringer your question is well suited for a Calzaghe fan.

[KJB]

It depends on how much the old legend has left.

Exactly. In some cases it doesnt mean much, in others it can mean a whole lot.
If, say, the winner of Katsidis-Diaz was matched up against Erik Morales, I wouldnt be impressed.
That said, if Kelly puts in a hard night of work and decisions old man Hopkins, I would consider that impressive.

[warp1432]

Is it fair to say that the impressive performance is sometimes solely because of the legend's level of deterioration?

Somewhat. I mean Lujan-Castilio is an example of this. Castilio was shot to pieces, but I was still impressed with Lujan's workrate and "skillz" So I think Lujan deserves credit for that win. Hatton too because he actually stopped Castilio.

[Silencers]

So would you say it's a percentage thing then?

Pretty much, sometimes it can mean a lot, sometimes it should just be taken with a grain of salt, it depends on how much the old legend has left in his tank.

[ßringer]

Somewhat. I mean Lujan-Castilio is an example of this. Castilio was shot to pieces, but I was still impressed with Lujan's workrate and "skillz" So I think Lujan deserves credit for that win. Hatton too because he actually stopped Castilio.

So full credit is to be given to Lujan for the Castillo win, despite Jose clearly being a shell of his former self? I'm honestly curious. I'll admit Lujan looked impressive, but I'm not entirely sure that was all based on how amazing he is. I think some of that has to come from the fact that Castillo was so far gone.