Great champions last a long time, defend frequently and duck no one –Anonymous
He who is not curageous enoughto take risks will accomplish nothing in life. –Mohammad Ali
By Ted Sares: Back in the day, the best always fought the best, or so it seemd. I can recall Ezzard Charles, Joe Louis and Jersey Joe Walcott doing their round robin. Even Marciano got into that mix. Kid Gavilan never backed down from an opponent, nor did tough hombres like Chico Vejar, Joey Giardello, Emile Griffith, Dick Tiger, and, of course, the great Sugar Ray Robinson (who had 24 fights with Hall of Famers alone). George Chuvalo fought anyone who was anyone and Archie Moore had 229 total fights which says it all. The heavyweights in the 70’s never avoided one another. In still another era, Alan Minter, Tommy Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, Wilfred Benitez and Sugar Ray Leonard did it. I could go on and on, but hopefully I have made my point–which brings me to 2008.
Between 2005 and 2007, Edison Miranda fought Sherwin Davis, Howard Eastman, Arthur Abraham Willie Gibbs, Allen Green and Kelly Pavlik in succession He is now scheduled to war with Abraham again. Miranda is old school; he fights superior opposition. So does Joe Calzaghe who risked his great legacy against tough Mikkel Kessler and Bernard Hopkins, and is now poised to risk it once against Kelly Pavlik. Jermain Taylor duked in succession Pavlik twice, Winky Wright, Cory Spinks, Kassim Ouma and Bernard Hopkins twice—all champions at one time or another. That’s some very impressive risk taking.
On July 26, Miguel “Junito” Cotto takes on Antonio “Tony” Margarito in a fight that can only be described as mouth watering. Junito and Tony are warriors who would not have it any other way. Paul Williams waits in the background and if he calls out and fights the winner, he will join this select company. The always willing Sugar Shane Mosley lurks as well. There are many other who are willing to participate.
Certainly, Oscar De La Hoya sought out great opposition, but this seemed to change in the later part of his career in a way that suited his personal time table and desire for mega purses. Oscar is many things, but one of them is not stupid. Floyd Mayweather Jr. has recently announced his “retirement,” but I don’t believe that for one minute. Sure, two consecutive wins over Hatton and an inspired Oscar are impressive, but has he really risked his legacy? Has he really tested himself to the max?
If Floyd indeed stays retired, he will be a slam dunk for the International Boxing Hall of Fame, but unless and until he engages in the macho round robin that involves Cotto, Margarito, Williams and Mosley, he will not be considered an all time great in my book.
After all, the best fight the best.