You Can't Be A P4P Great if None of Your Fights Are on a Level Playing Field

[TernceBudCharlo]

Being the fan favourite can't be a criticism surely?

Pacquaio was always the fan favourite almost every fight he had for example.

It's the total package of making the playing field uneven, not just 1 thing.

Pac's fights w Marquez or any Mexican fighter were always neutral. Even though he usually had the crowed in his favor, but canelo always has the crowd in his favor.

Pac never got sketchy judging to the level of canelo. Neither did Floyd.

He used a few catchweight but no rehydration clauses or anything nearly as bad as canelo.

[The Big Dunn]

I get the point TBC is making. There are fights where the a side gets the benefit of the judges scoring or they get a blatant robbery win or draw , like Sweet Pea v Chavez.

But The ATG fighters find a way to overcome a side advantages. Duran beating SRL. Floyd beating ODH. Bivol beating Canelo. Jmm over Manny. There are other examples when the A side got defeated despite having the advantages.

Everything isn’t equal. Yes, a sides do get advantages. But you still have to fight the fight.

Sometimes, as much as people hate to admit it, the a side proved to be the much better fighter. Floyd v Manny and Canelo. Roy v Toney. SRL v Hearns. Many others. The a side advantages didn’t determine the outcome, just one guy had better skills.

The sore loser fans of the b side create fake narratives to justify the losses.

[MikeyMike100]

As far as the fans go I disagree. A fighter shouldnt be blamed for having a big following and for being popular. As far as rehydration clauses, and PED usage that is something to consider although I think rehydration clauses are fair and fights should be fought at weight that are near the weigh class.

[TernceBudCharlo]

I get the point TBC is making. There are fights where the a side gets the benefit of the judges scoring or they get a blatant robbery win or draw , like Sweet Pea v Chavez.

But The ATG fighters find a way to overcome a side advantages. Duran beating SRL. Floyd beating ODH. Bivol beating Canelo. Jmm over Manny. There are other examples when the A side got defeated despite having the advantages.

Everything isn’t equal. Yes, a sides do get advantages. But you still have to fight the fight.

Sometimes, as much as people hate to admit it, the a side proved to be the much better fighter. Floyd v Manny and Canelo. Roy v Toney. SRL v Hearns. Many others. The a side advantages didn’t determine the outcome, just one guy had better skills.

The sore loser fans of the b side create fake narratives to justify the losses.

That's exactly the point. Floyd had to overcome it big time when he fought Oscar.

Let's look at Canelo's first high profile fight too. Against Austin Trout:

50,000 screaming fans all booing Trout.

An absolutely ridiculous open scoring system that led to Trout having to change his style and take a knockdown.

One absolutely ridiculous judge who had Canelo winning the first 8 rounds even though most ringside scorers had Trout up.

Now let's compare that to Floyd's first big time $$ fight with Oscar - all the fans booing him, judges who scored it unfairly close for Oscar. Completely different.

[TernceBudCharlo]

The sore loser fans of the b side create fake narratives to justify the losses.

Many times B side fighters to take losses largely because of A side advantages but I blame it on the B side fighter for selling out in the first place.

Kovalev against Canelo is the best example I can think of.

Taking a fight any less than 6 months after your last fight is considered crazy by most. You only see quick turnarounds when a fight is a complete mismatch. Kovalev won against Yarde but got battered and bruised that fight. To come back just 2 months later is setting yourself up for failure. Add adding the rehydration clause is even crazier.

I don't give Canelo credit for that win, but I also put 100% of the blame on Kovalev and his team for being so ******.

[IronDanHamza]

I get the point TBC is making. There are fights where the a side gets the benefit of the judges scoring or they get a blatant robbery win or draw , like Sweet Pea v Chavez.

But The ATG fighters find a way to overcome a side advantages. Duran beating SRL. Floyd beating ODH. Bivol beating Canelo. Jmm over Manny. There are other examples when the A side got defeated despite having the advantages.

Everything isn’t equal. Yes, a sides do get advantages. But you still have to fight the fight.

Sometimes, as much as people hate to admit it, the a side proved to be the much better fighter. Floyd v Manny and Canelo. Roy v Toney. SRL v Hearns. Many others. The a side advantages didn’t determine the outcome, just one guy had better skills.

The sore loser fans of the b side create fake narratives to justify the losses.

Wouldn't say Leonard proved to be the "much" better fighter than Hearns over their two fights but I see your point.

[hugh grant]

There was no controversy in the wins over pac or Nelo. Pac won't maybe 3 rounds Canelo won zero.

your not understanding me. FloyD had home advantage and wants them to be great wins so least he can do is give rematch considering he had home advantage

[The Big Dunn]

Wouldn't say Leonard proved to be the "much" better fighter than Hearns over their two fights but I see your point.

Ok that’s reasonable. Hearns may have been the victim of the a side advantages and presence in the rematch.

[PRINCEKOOL]

The thread is a bit of a over exaggeration. I say a bit, because the one thing I had a issue with Alvarez is? Giving some of his opponents very short notice to prepare.

Floyd Mayweather when he was a champion, always provided optimal time for his opponent to prepare 'We are talking months preparation'. Callum Smith vs Alvarez only had 5-6 weeks preparation, and it was the same with Kovalev.

Being the underdog is easier than being the favorite. People forget this. Less pressure, the only pressure you have? Is the pressure, yourself and team put on you. So I would not consider Alvarez fighting in front of home fans, technically a big advantage.

There is a reason why some fighters or athletes fall apart or don't perform to their best sometimes on the big stage 'Pressure'.

Alvarez fighting in front of 1000's upon 1000's of his fans, that expect him to win is not easy.

[IronDanHamza]

Ok that’s reasonable. Hearns may have been the victim of the a side advantages and presence in the rematch.

Don't get me wrong Leonard is by far the greater fighter.

But H2H Hearns was well ahead in the first one, before being stopped.

Second one I thought Hearns won.

Styles make fights though in that case, although Leonard showed his greatness by stopping him whilst behind on points.