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If they were, would Floyd be able to generate as much revenue? Or would he be an afterthought? I don't think he could maintain the same star status and box as safe as he does. Thoughts?
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I dont think it wouldve mattered much considering they werent near the same weights.
Jones was never a global icon or beloved because he made it look easy versus his contemporaries.
Floyd's being himself is what got him the big bucks...when he was pretty boy floyd acting like sugar ray lite, he got no shine.
If people didnt love to hate him, he would have never been a big star regardless of his talent. I saw him in the beginning and at 130-140 he was one of the greatest young fighters I ever saw. -
What? Are you saying only one guy can generate big money? What about the period when May and Pac were both generating around a million buys?Comment
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IMO RJJ would be the bigger draw and I don't think it would be close. It has nothing to do with skill, RJJ was the more visually appealing fighter in the ring, and that draws casuals, plus he was much ****ier in the ring and did more showboating, and was arguably more dominant during his peak because he stopped his opponents more frecuently and while showboating.
Floyd benefited from both beating DLH, and DLH's natural decline and transition to promoting, there was no one really around to compete with his rise and dominance of boxing, til Pacquiao became a huge name. If we have Pac, Floyd, RJJ, and DLH all prime at the same time, I think as far as cash cows, the order of draw would be as follows: DLH, RJJ, Floyd, Pac. And again, nothing to do with skill or resumes here. DLH was always the natural super draw, and RJJ and him shared the spotlight well when they did, but Floyd would have to market himself a little harder, or he would have to face DLH prime v prime, and Floyd might lose that fight, as Pac would. If they never face each other and share the spotlight in their primes, I would say RJJ and DLH would be tier 1 cash cows and Floyd and Pac a close tier 2, similar to how Cotto was a close tier 2 to Pac and Floyd in his prime. A huge draw, but not the #1 draw.
In short, to answer the question, yes, Floyd would still make massive revenue, probably a little less on average, say 10-20 mil less per fight, unless boxing as a whole was bigger with them all, then maybe he still makes the same purse, but I think RJJ would be the bigger name if we were forced to rank them in that way.Comment
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It's tough to say because the sport's changed business wise so much from when Roy was in his prime to when Floyd became "Money May".
Roy ironically wasn't a big PPV seller, but general sports fans would have parties JUST to watch Roy fight a #6 ranked guy on HBO. Roy was also a **** talker, braggadocios, but it was more about how he performed in the ring than what he was saying (which he'd back up anyway lol). Floyd in the 90s paradigm of Boxing wouldn't have been "Money May" let alone he likely wouldn't have the overall pull like he had post the Oscar fight. Adding Floyd's overall style in comparison to Roy wasn't AS exciting, it might've been a deal where Floyd was recognized as the better technician but in the shadow of the more polarizing fighter.
I said from the Oscar fight that the Money May persona is a character that's gonna make him a villain and A LOT of money and people thought I was hating. 8-9 years later we're still talking about the guy.Comment
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Probably would of still been successful.
If Roy had stayed at HW and dominated, then there is no way Floyd gets the same attention imo.Comment
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Jones was never a star so it doesn't matter but if Floyd was prime in the mid to late 90s, the Oscar fight would never have happened and/or he would have lost, so Floyd's drawing power would have been greatly diminished. Plus there wouldn't be the Pacquiao stuff to draw from.Comment
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Reverse it then - Roy is prime in Floyd's era. Floyd still gets Oscar and to play off of Manny, but Roy also gets the advantage of using a more advanced media stage (which benefited both Manny and Floyd). In this scenario, I don't think Floyd and Manny could delay fighting each like they did if they wanted to keep their high star status. Also, Roy would assume the role of the #1 flashy, trash talking black fighter. Floyd wouldn't exactly be a Broner to Roy's Floyd so to speak (Floyd would still be undefeated), but Floyd's antics depend on being #1 in order to work to their fullest.Comment
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