Have any fighters ever ducked Floyd?

[Public_Enemy]

Traditionally the guys that are avoided are big knockout punchers that can due serious damage to one's career. That has never been a concern so I don't think Floyd has ever been avoided. There really is no risk when fighting Floyd.
You get your biggest payday and a chance to make history and if you lose you still get that extra exposure and come out pretty much unscathed.

Well things were quite different before Floyd fought DLH. Floyd was always considered high risk low reward prior to the big fight. A lot of fighters chose easier fights and/or bigger pay days rather than fighting Floyd. I don't like calling professional fighters duckers though. I have too much respect for them

Now things are very different. Everyone wants Floyd from 140-168.

[IIG]

Mosley, Hatton, & Gatti turned Floyd down when Floyd wanted the fights but ended up fighting him later.


At the lower weights, Naz, Freitas, and Lazcano all turned down Mayweather fights.

I like Popo, but what an assbeating that would've been.

[BigZigga]

I don't know about in the past, but now nobody's going to duck him because of the massive payday and knowing that he's unlikely to do lasting damage.

Not physical damage, but once you fight Floyd, you generally become a "bum" overnight in the eyes of boxing "fans"

[Heru]

at people still thinking Bob "Let The Fight Simmer" Arum A.K.A. In-house Bob wanted to risk his then-rising stars (Cotto and Pacquiao) against Mayweather, a fighter that wasn't in his stable anymore.

The only reason there's even a debate today is that Mayweather was about as prepared for answering questions as Arreola was prepared for Vitali. Arum was smart enough to prepare his fighters to give a preprogrammed response like "tok to my promoter" or some other bull**** while Mayweather looked like he was the one that didn't want it. Arum wasn't going to negotiate neither of those fights in good faith.

Bob Arum, the promoter that failed to make JuanMa Lopez vs Caballero and Gamboa when HBO would've paid millions for it or could've been PPV worthy and Gamboa was co-promoted by Top Rank . Of course, it simmered until it burned when Lopez suffered an upset KO loss to Salido.

The promoter that failed to make Pavlik vs. Abraham when that was one of the most anticipated fights in boxing after Gary Lockett, where HBO was pushing hard for it. Instead, they took on what they thought what was a shot Hopkins.

The same promoter that turned down $4M guaranteed for Margarito to rematch Paul Williams and instead had his fighter take half to fight what he thought was a shot Mosley.

This is the same promoter that turned down $3M payday for Donaire to get his ass whooped by Rigondeaux.

Don't get me wrong... I think fighters (including those mentioned) will fight pretty much anyone, but Arum is not going to let that happen unless he feels he has a huge advantage.

[boxingfeind]

Pacquiao,Acelino Freitas,Joel Cassamayor,Leonard Dorin,Paul Spadafora, all ducked Floyd.

Floyd also called out Trinidad and Oscar when they were in their late 20`s, but Oscar said he didn`t want to fight Floyd back then cause Floyd`s father trained Oscar.But after Oscar lost to Hopkins,Oscar changed his mind because he wanted to go out with a big win.Trinidad was not interested in fighting Floyd for a reason,i don`t know if he felt Floyd was too small for him,or if he was scared.Most likely the former.

[$0uthpaw]

I've always been saying that not many people were quick to fight Floyd until he beat DLH and became the money man/Cashcow. He was a high risk/low reward opponent for years.

[American Dream]

Mosley, Hatton, & Gatti turned Floyd down when Floyd wanted the fights but ended up fighting him later.


At the lower weights, Naz, Freitas, and Lazcano all turned down Mayweather fights.

Very good post.
Not many wanted Floyd when he wasn't a megastar, he was too skilled!

[daggum]

everyone in boxing history(even the guys who fought him ducked him until they were forced to fight him)

[Derranged]

everyone in boxing history(even the guys who fought him ducked him until they were forced to fight him)

Mayweather Sr. ducked him, he opted to spare Charlie Zelenoff instead.

[-Huey-]

Mosley ducked Floyd back then because his tooth hurt. Once Mayweather became the face of boxing he called him out and ended up fighting him. I give Mosley props for that.

Manny Pacquiao ducked Floyd because he is "squeamish of needles" so he opted to fight him in court, but didn't get a dime. He just got his lawyer and court fees laid by Floyd. Everyone thought Team Pacquiao was a joke.