Should ATG fighters be fighting upcoming young lions 8 - 14 years younger?

[HarvardBlue]

Mayweather fought a young hungry Canelo and schooled and most people said he was too green. Canelo was making a career fighting older seasoned fighters. Or fighters with a lot of wear and tear. If the young fighter is good they should get a shot at an ATG.

[boliodogs]

If the older boxer is not a champion then he can fight whoever he pleases and it's his choice and not a duck. If the older boxer is a world champion and he refuses to fight a good young lion who deserves a title shot for a fair money offer then it is indeed a duck. If he is too old then either retire or give up the title. Champions have an obligation to boxing to fight the top contenders no matter how old they are. I would not say Leonard had a long prime. He was still no that old when Norris finished him as a top fighter.

[MastaBlasta]

Like Golovkin vs Canelo ?

Nah, Golovkin is still young enough and active enough .... and Canelo, though young, started very early. He is veteran enough.

[MastaBlasta]

Mayweather fought a young hungry Canelo and schooled and most people said he was too green. Canelo was making a career fighting older seasoned fighters. Or fighters with a lot of wear and tear. If the young fighter is good they should get a shot at an ATG.

Agreed, as long as the ATG isn't past it. It's a judgement call, and sometimes hard to make. But Ali should have never fought Berbick back in the day ... he was well past it.

Ray Leonard, Roy Jones, Hopkins, Holyfield, many others ... while defying time/age in many fights ... they fought guys well after they should have retired. Those "victories" for their opponents are mostly meaningless ...

[MastaBlasta]

If the older boxer is not a champion then he can fight whoever he pleases and it's his choice and not a duck. If the older boxer is a world champion and he refuses to fight a good young lion who deserves a title shot for a fair money offer then it is indeed a duck. If he is too old then either retire or give up the title. Champions have an obligation to boxing to fight the top contenders no matter how old they are. I would not say Leonard had a long prime. He was still no that old when Norris finished him as a top fighter.

Mostly I agree. I thought Leonard was way past it fighting Norris. It made Norris look like the next big thing, but Ray was just old and past it. Norris was exposed later (though he was a very good fighter).

[mmamachine]

It depends on the circumstances and the level the atg is still at.

No one should want to see Roy Jones ko'd by Enzo Maccrinelli or Mike Tyson ko'd by Danny Williams.

[Jedi Vader]

If the older atg wants to still be considered the best you will have to fight the best.
Or you can ride out test of your career with exhibition fughts.

You just can't help yourself. Your whole life is dedicated to denigrating Floyd.

[CHOWWOKKA]

Blah blah Floyd Maywather ducked p4p king Lomachenko last year... FACTS

[RuleOfTheSpear]

Mayweather fought a young hungry Canelo and schooled and most people said he was too green. Canelo was making a career fighting older seasoned fighters. Or fighters with a lot of wear and tear. If the young fighter is good they should get a shot at an ATG.

No doubt he fought Canelo at his prime...but in a catchweight. I just wanted to put it out there.

Canelo was drained 3lbs in that fight. Reminiscent of how Cotto was drained 3lbs against Pacquiao. It may be small, but it's enough to diminish their power

[Larry the boss]

Floyd did with Canelo.but but it wasnt good enough