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Now, before I go any further, I just want to say that all fighters should be respected for one reason or another. This list is just the 5 fighters that I respect for 'special' types of reasons. Whether it's how they fight, who they fight or what have you.
In no particular order.....
1. Bernard Hopkins: To me, this is an easy one. You don't have to like his personality. For some, it can be a hard personality to accept. You don't even have to like his safety-first approach to fighting, either. That can be hard to accept for some, as well. But the thing I respect most about Hopkins is the fact that he was fought for so long, at such an advanced age for a boxer and continues to meet success for the most part. True, along the way he lost a couple of close calls to the up and comer in Jermain Taylor. And yes, Calzaghe proved to be the fresher of the two. However, his successes over the likes of Pavlik, Tarver, Wright should help lose VERY little sleep due to the defeats. Regardless of what you think of him personally, you have to respect a 40 plus year old taking on a line up like that.
2. Glen Johnson: There are several reasons to respect a guy like Glen Johnson. Lets just list them in order. He has always been a solid fighter who was overlooked for his flashier, easy-traveled counterparts. He loses to Hopkins and that furthers his dilemma. He then gets robbed more then any other active fighter besides only Emmanuel Augustus. He finally gets another shot against the come-backing Roy Jones, beats him and still has a tough time getting the full credit and big fights he deserves. He splits a couple with Tarver and never gets the rubbermatch and begins to linger again. Then he faces Dawson and loses another close call. He finally gets that rematch. This type of luck and schedule would make the average man AND boxer quit. He's still hanging in there, fighting at an advanced age and doing pretty well for himself.
3. Juan Manuel Marquez: If you want to talk about tough schedules, look no further than the route that Marquez has taken. He started out in the shadows of Barrera and Morales, which are large cast shadows to begin with. Then he has a few hiccups along the way, including a tough loss to Norwood. He finally makes some noise with his spirited first outing with Pacquiao and then almost blows it all when he faces and loses to Chris John when many said he could have won all three of those fights. He finally gets the rematch with Pacquiao and loses a fight that A LOT of the associated press saw as a fight in the win column for him. After trying to tie down a third fight and failing, he takes on a schedule of moving up at an advanced age and beating Casamayor and Juan Diaz. Not to mention beating Barrera and Juarez between the two Manny bouts. To cap this all off, he goes for all the marbles with a fight against Mayweather. Even with this loss, it's hard to pick against the guy for me. He's as tough as they come.
4. Shane Mosley: There's a lot to like about Shane Mosley. But if you're talking about what I respect about him, I have a lot to like as well. He fights smart, but still goes for the kill virtually every round of every fight. He's never ducked the best and he's still fighting them at an advanced aged. Think about this as well, any opponent he's lost to, he's beaten the guy that beat them. Vargas (with Wright), Mayorga (with Forrest), Margarito (with Cotto), proving that he's constantly fighting the best. He's also got a pair of wins over De La Hoya, another win for Vargas, Leija, and a bunch of other tough guys. and he still feels like he has a world a b.s. to fight through. That, to me, makes him a very respectable guy. Any time there should be nothing left to prove, but you fight like there is, I respect that.
5. Vic Darchinyan: I have to admit, I wasn't a big fan of the guy on his rise. But, much like most human beings, I learned what I liked about him during his low point. What i respect about this guy is that he was able to be such a ****y ******* while he was an undefeated fighter. Then, he gets KNOCKED OUT, in a big fashion and he comes back, even more upset, more aggressive and more ****y. That's confidence, and for good reason, as well. He was throwing shorter, straighter shots and had a more advanced defense. After his first career defeat, he comes back and kills the guy EVERYONE said would ruin him for every round and stops him, not losing more then two rounds on my card and then continues to try and put on good shows. True, he did lose recently, but with the move back down in weight I can see more of the same successful moves happening for this ****y little prick.
Just my list.
Hate on it, add to it. Up to you. Go for it.
In no particular order.....
1. Bernard Hopkins: To me, this is an easy one. You don't have to like his personality. For some, it can be a hard personality to accept. You don't even have to like his safety-first approach to fighting, either. That can be hard to accept for some, as well. But the thing I respect most about Hopkins is the fact that he was fought for so long, at such an advanced age for a boxer and continues to meet success for the most part. True, along the way he lost a couple of close calls to the up and comer in Jermain Taylor. And yes, Calzaghe proved to be the fresher of the two. However, his successes over the likes of Pavlik, Tarver, Wright should help lose VERY little sleep due to the defeats. Regardless of what you think of him personally, you have to respect a 40 plus year old taking on a line up like that.
2. Glen Johnson: There are several reasons to respect a guy like Glen Johnson. Lets just list them in order. He has always been a solid fighter who was overlooked for his flashier, easy-traveled counterparts. He loses to Hopkins and that furthers his dilemma. He then gets robbed more then any other active fighter besides only Emmanuel Augustus. He finally gets another shot against the come-backing Roy Jones, beats him and still has a tough time getting the full credit and big fights he deserves. He splits a couple with Tarver and never gets the rubbermatch and begins to linger again. Then he faces Dawson and loses another close call. He finally gets that rematch. This type of luck and schedule would make the average man AND boxer quit. He's still hanging in there, fighting at an advanced age and doing pretty well for himself.
3. Juan Manuel Marquez: If you want to talk about tough schedules, look no further than the route that Marquez has taken. He started out in the shadows of Barrera and Morales, which are large cast shadows to begin with. Then he has a few hiccups along the way, including a tough loss to Norwood. He finally makes some noise with his spirited first outing with Pacquiao and then almost blows it all when he faces and loses to Chris John when many said he could have won all three of those fights. He finally gets the rematch with Pacquiao and loses a fight that A LOT of the associated press saw as a fight in the win column for him. After trying to tie down a third fight and failing, he takes on a schedule of moving up at an advanced age and beating Casamayor and Juan Diaz. Not to mention beating Barrera and Juarez between the two Manny bouts. To cap this all off, he goes for all the marbles with a fight against Mayweather. Even with this loss, it's hard to pick against the guy for me. He's as tough as they come.
4. Shane Mosley: There's a lot to like about Shane Mosley. But if you're talking about what I respect about him, I have a lot to like as well. He fights smart, but still goes for the kill virtually every round of every fight. He's never ducked the best and he's still fighting them at an advanced aged. Think about this as well, any opponent he's lost to, he's beaten the guy that beat them. Vargas (with Wright), Mayorga (with Forrest), Margarito (with Cotto), proving that he's constantly fighting the best. He's also got a pair of wins over De La Hoya, another win for Vargas, Leija, and a bunch of other tough guys. and he still feels like he has a world a b.s. to fight through. That, to me, makes him a very respectable guy. Any time there should be nothing left to prove, but you fight like there is, I respect that.
5. Vic Darchinyan: I have to admit, I wasn't a big fan of the guy on his rise. But, much like most human beings, I learned what I liked about him during his low point. What i respect about this guy is that he was able to be such a ****y ******* while he was an undefeated fighter. Then, he gets KNOCKED OUT, in a big fashion and he comes back, even more upset, more aggressive and more ****y. That's confidence, and for good reason, as well. He was throwing shorter, straighter shots and had a more advanced defense. After his first career defeat, he comes back and kills the guy EVERYONE said would ruin him for every round and stops him, not losing more then two rounds on my card and then continues to try and put on good shows. True, he did lose recently, but with the move back down in weight I can see more of the same successful moves happening for this ****y little prick.
Just my list.
Hate on it, add to it. Up to you. Go for it.
Just like Hopkins and Marquez - Pacquiao is another boxing great who had to earn it all off his own desire and never had anything handed to him. Though unlike Hopkins and Marquez - Pacquiao was able to establish himself as a star with pretty much his first fight on television. He's got balls the size of the Philippines, and a heart to match it. And he's still testing himself by moving up in weight and making a habit of challenging the very best out there, and beating them on their own turf.
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