From http://www.theboxingstop.com/2009/03...eather-jr.html
Champ,
I sincerely hope you have enjoyed your time away from the sport. I can only imagine the physical and mental toll being a fighter of your level must take. Rest is important, both physically and mentally, and you’ve earned it.
Admittedly, I am one of your biggest fans. I actually went to the Houston press stop for your fight with Oscar De La Hoya hoping to meet you and get your autograph. You were a true pleasure to meet and you displayed a genuine generosity towards your fans I have not seen in many.
I was hoping you would stick around and fight a few more years, but when you retired I didn’t really feel like you had anything left to prove. You beat the best fighters of your weight division and even went up to face some of the very best at welterweight before retiring one of the best fighters ever. Unlike many, I did (and do) not hinge the value of your career based on you cleaning out the welterweight division. Don’t get me wrong, I do not doubt you would box circles around the likes of Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto, I just don’t think it is that necessary for you to do so as you began your career at such a lighter weight.
When you retired, I rightfully placed you as the best of your generation, at least the post Roy Jones era. However, I’m writing you today because I’m not quite sure it is still true. After watching Manny Pacquiao destroy Oscar de la Hoya the way he did, witnessing Juan Manuel Marquez perform the way he did against Juan Diaz, and carefully weighing both o f those fighters willingness to fight (and win) against the very, very best (including each other), it is my firm belief that you still have some work to do if you want to be considered the best of your time.
No doubt, if you stay retired you will still be considered one of the best fighters ever. But, you will always leave question as to if you were even the best fighter of your era. We both know that if there is question about you being the best fighter your era, then you can’t possibly be considered as the best fighter of all time, which is something I frequently have heard you describe yourself as.
Floyd, I truly believe you have to come out of retirement to solidify your legacy. Only wins against Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez would truly solidify you as the best of your era. And, these are fights are not only good for the sport, but they would be great for your pocketbook as well.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and I hope to see you in the ring again soon.
Sincerely,
xxxx
Champ,
I sincerely hope you have enjoyed your time away from the sport. I can only imagine the physical and mental toll being a fighter of your level must take. Rest is important, both physically and mentally, and you’ve earned it.
Admittedly, I am one of your biggest fans. I actually went to the Houston press stop for your fight with Oscar De La Hoya hoping to meet you and get your autograph. You were a true pleasure to meet and you displayed a genuine generosity towards your fans I have not seen in many.
I was hoping you would stick around and fight a few more years, but when you retired I didn’t really feel like you had anything left to prove. You beat the best fighters of your weight division and even went up to face some of the very best at welterweight before retiring one of the best fighters ever. Unlike many, I did (and do) not hinge the value of your career based on you cleaning out the welterweight division. Don’t get me wrong, I do not doubt you would box circles around the likes of Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto, I just don’t think it is that necessary for you to do so as you began your career at such a lighter weight.
When you retired, I rightfully placed you as the best of your generation, at least the post Roy Jones era. However, I’m writing you today because I’m not quite sure it is still true. After watching Manny Pacquiao destroy Oscar de la Hoya the way he did, witnessing Juan Manuel Marquez perform the way he did against Juan Diaz, and carefully weighing both o f those fighters willingness to fight (and win) against the very, very best (including each other), it is my firm belief that you still have some work to do if you want to be considered the best of your time.
No doubt, if you stay retired you will still be considered one of the best fighters ever. But, you will always leave question as to if you were even the best fighter of your era. We both know that if there is question about you being the best fighter your era, then you can’t possibly be considered as the best fighter of all time, which is something I frequently have heard you describe yourself as.
Floyd, I truly believe you have to come out of retirement to solidify your legacy. Only wins against Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez would truly solidify you as the best of your era. And, these are fights are not only good for the sport, but they would be great for your pocketbook as well.
Thank you for your time and consideration, and I hope to see you in the ring again soon.
Sincerely,
xxxx
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