Why do people say Canelo and Floyd were taking risks

[GhostofDempsey]

Floyd certainly took the least amount of risk of any fighter of his caliber. Canelo at least accepted the risk of draining down to a catch weight to fight Floyd. GGG, Jacobs and Kovalev were also risky opponents. Canelo at least fought two top level MWs at their best. He got gifts versus GGG, but he did accept the risk. Can't say that for Floyd, he never fought an elite level opponent at their best. Never fought overseas outside of the lopsided exhibition in Japan.

[Boxing_1013]

Was waiting for you to mention GGG!

Garett Davies: “Would you want to fight for Undisputed with BJS in Kazakhstan for all the belts?”

GGG: “Absolutely. 100%”

-Post Fight Conference, Brook Win

Yeah that would have been a cool fight at that time in Kazakstan...I believe they had some big event there at that time.

But yeah that wouldn't really have been GGG taking a huge risk would it? Fighting a guy in his backyard where he knows it will go 12 rounds and he would get the W.

I say a lot of nice things about GGG because he has done a lot of nice things...I don't defend everything he has ever done or would have done lol.

Hard to understand for some Canelo fans I suppose

[The Big Dunn]

They fight all of their fights in their (adopted) hometown of Vegas...they are mega A-sides, who will know which fighters they can at least go 12 rounds with and not get KOed, and can control other terms such as weight/rehydration clauses if needed.

They know that all they have to do is go 12 rounds in Vegas with anyone, and they will get the win, or at worst a draw, if it is at all close.

I know some will take that as me hating on them, but I'm really not...they are both great fighters and 2 of the best of the last couple decades in my opinion.

But neither really took a tremendous amount of risky fights...and as the mega A-side, you don't really need to, and quite frankly, shouldn't...as doing so is kind of ****** money-wise.

But taking risks...would be Floyd fighting Pac in the Phillipines or Canelo fighting UK guys in the UK or GGG in Kazakstan...obviously they don't need to do that, and the money is better in Vegas...no one is arguing that.

But it is just as obvious that what they did/are doing for most of their careers would not be defined as taking risks.

Taking on your opponent in his backyard or neutral, especially if it is 'the' opponent that everyone wants to see at that time, is taking a risk...Fury vs Wlad, Fury vs Wilder...Usyk vs everyone...Ali vs Frazier...Ali vs Foreman.

Sell the Canelo-BJS fight as Canelo fighting yet another good or great fighter in his career...but also let's be real that once again he will have almost every advantage in his favor, all he has to do is go 12 and be a little competitive and he will win, and that even the opponent isn't necessarily in fine form/past due/will be hindered with weight issues etc.

I know this post will get some agitated but that's not the point...it's just tiresome seeing people on a real boxing forum trying to say those types of fights are risk-taking when what they are is risk-limiting and money-gathering.

Floyd's post ODH career is not the same as his pre ODH career. He fought Gatti in Atlantic City where he was a huge star. He fought ODH in Vegas when ODH was the cash cow.

[Thuglife Nelo]

Yeah that would have been a cool fight at that time in Kazakstan...I believe they had some big event there at that time.

But yeah that wouldn't really have been GGG taking a huge risk would it? Fighting a guy in his backyard where he knows it will go 12 rounds and he would get the W.

I say a lot of nice things about GGG because he has done a lot of nice things...I don't defend everything he has ever done or would have done lol.

Hard to understand for some Canelo fans I suppose

Talk is cheap. For a guy who belt his legacy parading to want all the belts, acknowledges it to UK press, but decides not to fight BJS for all the marbles at Middleweight since Hagler. Typical of Loeffler to turn it down. They did that with Ward.

[Boxing_1013]

But 9/10 of their fights, certainly for Canelo and definitely for Floyd in his Money May days...were basically like 90% in their favor, after you factor in opponent selection, venue, weight etc.

Could say the same thing about AJ with his fights if you want to..same applies to him really.

Floyd's post ODH career is not the same as his pre ODH career. He fought Gatti in Atlantic City where he was a huge star. He fought ODH in Vegas when ODH was the cash cow.

I do think Floyd was a bit less protected at the lower weights...and to that end he was in more risky fights...even with all of his fights being 'at home' at the lower weights, his work there imo was very impressive.

To compete (well) as high as he and Pac did weight wise, is still pretty crazy to me.

[Boxing_1013]

Floyd certainly took the least amount of risk of any fighter of his caliber. Canelo at least accepted the risk of draining down to a catch weight to fight Floyd. GGG, Jacobs and Kovalev were also risky opponents. Canelo at least fought two top level MWs at their best. He got gifts versus GGG, but he did accept the risk. Can't say that for Floyd, he never fought an elite level opponent at their best. Never fought overseas outside of the lopsided exhibition in Japan.

Re the GGG fights for Canelo...is it really a risk to take those fights when you know you can/will probably go 12...and once you go 12 you will be given the W if at all possible, and at worst you have a draw.

And you make twice as much for those fights as your other fights...similar with Kovalev...he knew he could go 12 with Kov so the pressure was off...and as we saw the cards at the time of stoppage, that fight was in the bag regardless as well.

Similar story with Jacobs...not saying there is NO risk...but certainly the risk was much reduced.

[Boxing_1013]

Talk is cheap. For a guy who belt his legacy parading to want all the belts, acknowledges it to UK press, but decides not to fight BJS for all the marbles at Middleweight since Hagler. Typical of Loeffler to turn it down. They did that with Ward.

The Canelo fight was always GGG's big money fight, and also his big legacy fight...so waiting around on that one just made too much sense.

Re Ward, I'm not sure how anyone can take what he says seriously...eg the Bute situation, Dirrell, HBO/promoter suing/losing, wanting to fight Sartison etc.

[The Big Dunn]

I do think Floyd was a bit less protected at the lower weights...and to that end he was in more risky fights...even with all of his fights being 'at home' at the lower weights, his work there imo was very impressive.

To compete (well) as high as he and Pac did weight wise, is still pretty crazy to me.

We are in the network exclusive deal era my friend. Floyd, Canelo, ODH, Manny, GGG, Tyson, Cotto, etc don't get paid to fight they get paid to win and perform. The networks aren't concerned with quality of opponent as much as they are ratings/ppv sales/views.

Hell Floyd and Canelo, if you think about it, are more like a Vegas show then pro fighters. They fight 2x a year and they are responsible for making Las Vegas the 2 biggest paydays of the year. Vegas wants those 2 paydays every year.

I understand your point but this isn't 1980 when NBC, ABC and CBS had to bid on fights so they paid more for the best fights. There is also plenty of money to be made outside of the US. SO if you have an AJ, you can monetize him against bums just like you can against the best guys.

I don't think the fighters are to blame. IMO, if Canelo and Floyd were in the 1980's era and got paid more to fight better guys, they'd fight better guys all the time.

[Thuglife Nelo]

The Canelo fight was always GGG's big money fight, and also his big legacy fight...

He ducked Ward. GGG was already building HBO noise since 2011 that they were curious for a Ward matchup given their backgrounds. That all predates Canelo Alvarez.

GGG is nothing without Canelo, and as a boxing fan who cares if Canelo makes significantly more than GGG or GGGs fans using money as an excuse to not pursue ATG themes.

If GGG beat BJS in Kazakhstan for Undisputed it would have boosted Gennadiy’s value with A side. All Middleweights would have to see GGG if they wanted a belt, including Canelo. Unless Canelo would’ve skipped 160 to 168. That didn’t happen because GGG knew who his master was. GGG never took risks.

[bojangles1987]

When did Mayweather obviously lose a fight that Vegas gave him the decision in? The only case is for Castillo, and as much as I will always believe Castillo won that fight, it wasn't overwhelmingly scored for him by everyone except the judges.

Vegas is one of the capitals of the boxing world. Great American-based fighters will always want to fight there. It is what it is, and it doesn't mean fighters didn't take risks just because they want to fight in the most lucrative venue available.