Knockout_LR_Freshmart
All Star
I don't agree with all of the statements but making agreeable statements is the primary killer of talking points.
I consider Tyson a top 10 all-time HW, but a lot of iconography and marketing plays into his legacy. His 4 year absence, his minimal amount of actual competition, and his mental state impacting his fight game makes you wonder... "just how good was Mike Tyson" - Chael.
Let's say that everything stays the same after the fight, they both win/lose the same battles. Would a 42 year old Foreman defeating a prime Holyfield change how the 90s HW division is viewed? or would it just be another feather on George's cap?
similar scenario so you answer without nostalgia in mind: Wlad returns next year and steadily defeats Wilder...
Floyd mastered the game of boxing from an on-paper standpoint. If you don't watch Floyd's fights and ignore context (opponents being pre/post-prime, injuries, pre-fight A-side tactical games, debatable dirty fighting) and just look at his record, the names he beat, and his punch/defensive stats he is the undisputed greatest boxer who ever lived.
I know this sounds like I'm hating, but I believe Floyd is undeniably the greatest counter puncher boxing has seen and I wouldn't be mad at someone calling him the P4P GOAT. A lot of things played in his favor, but it was still on his opponents to overcome those challenges though.
Ward (who was considered a journeyman/gatekeeper up to that point) earned his biggest paydays against Gatti in their trilogy and is most remembered for those fights. The man even had a blockbuster movie made about his life and covered EA Fight Night w/ Gatti largely due to how exciting the fights were. It doesn't even matter that he lost the trilogy 2-1 and had a record of 38-13, he is now revered in boxing folklore. Though, his style was obviously detrimental to one's health (which I expect to be the biggest argument to this proposition)
I consider Tyson a top 10 all-time HW, but a lot of iconography and marketing plays into his legacy. His 4 year absence, his minimal amount of actual competition, and his mental state impacting his fight game makes you wonder... "just how good was Mike Tyson" - Chael.
Let's say that everything stays the same after the fight, they both win/lose the same battles. Would a 42 year old Foreman defeating a prime Holyfield change how the 90s HW division is viewed? or would it just be another feather on George's cap?
similar scenario so you answer without nostalgia in mind: Wlad returns next year and steadily defeats Wilder...
Floyd mastered the game of boxing from an on-paper standpoint. If you don't watch Floyd's fights and ignore context (opponents being pre/post-prime, injuries, pre-fight A-side tactical games, debatable dirty fighting) and just look at his record, the names he beat, and his punch/defensive stats he is the undisputed greatest boxer who ever lived.
I know this sounds like I'm hating, but I believe Floyd is undeniably the greatest counter puncher boxing has seen and I wouldn't be mad at someone calling him the P4P GOAT. A lot of things played in his favor, but it was still on his opponents to overcome those challenges though.
Ward (who was considered a journeyman/gatekeeper up to that point) earned his biggest paydays against Gatti in their trilogy and is most remembered for those fights. The man even had a blockbuster movie made about his life and covered EA Fight Night w/ Gatti largely due to how exciting the fights were. It doesn't even matter that he lost the trilogy 2-1 and had a record of 38-13, he is now revered in boxing folklore. Though, his style was obviously detrimental to one's health (which I expect to be the biggest argument to this proposition)
who do you consider the GOAT?