History will judge Mayweather’s boxing ability

By Boxing News - 04/26/2014 - Comments

floyd1By Chester Rivers: In my opinion, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is an arrogant fighter. He has a knack for rubbing people, especially boxing fans, the wrong way. His over-the top bravado and frivolous spending oozes the immaturity of the entitled athlete. This shouldn’t have anything to do with his legacy in boxing, but many fans allow their personal disdain for the man to cloud their rational view of his brilliance in the ring as an all time great.

Floyd isn’t the first great to be viewed as arrogant by some boxing fans. Besides being considered the best ever, Sugar Ray Robinson is also viewed by many as the most conceited as well. Robinson is said to be the originator of the huge entourage. In a documentary of his life produced by HBO 20th Century Sports, Robinson was a genius inside the ring and a jerk outside the ring. Family and friends were interviewed as they reminisced how he [Robinson] would spend huge sums of money on frivolous items, disrespect his wife and strong arm promoters. Robinson once sat in his dressing room before a fight and refuse to come out until the promoter raised his purse for the fight.

Many fans try an discredit Floyd’s choice of opponents by saying he ducks the tough challenges and wait for others to age past their primes before he chooses to fight with them. Once again, Floyd isn’t the first great to be accused of this. Sugar Ray Leonard is historically an all time great but some have accused Leonard of ducking Aaron Pryor. Many who knew the situation credits Pryor for Leonard’s jump to another weight division.

HBO Legendary Nights captures Leonard stating while retired he and his brother went to a Marvin Hagler fight when he saw that the champ [Hagler] was starting to slow down. He [Leonard] stated he leaned over to his brother and said, “I can beat him [Hagler].” Isn’t this a confession he ducked Hagler when they were both in their primes, yet many fans still hold Leonard historically in high regards and rightfully so.

Muhammad Ali revolutionized the heavyweight division. He was a heavyweight who moved like a welterweight. Many regard him as the “Greatest” and he reminded us every chance he got. Once Ali could no longer “float like a butterfly” he adapted his style that was still effective. The “rope-a-dope” was born and Ali legacy as a genius was solidified. Many fans criticize Mayweather’s style saying it’s boring. When Floyd turned pro he was a hot shot prospect with speed and power. His knock out ratio was phenomenal. When Mayweather started experiencing hand problems,he adapted his style to a tactical boxer’s style which is still very effective.

There are a lot of names you can call Mayweather outside the ring but the one name that best describe Mayweather inside the squared circle is One of the Best Ever.



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