I made a stupid move about a year or so ago and cut way back on my cable package. Now, I can live without Entourage, Mad Men, and Cinemax after dark, but after having a week of HBO in my Los Angeles hotel rooms, I miss HBO boxing.
I stopped paying for pay-per-view fights after Mike Tyson cost me $95 for a one round knockout years ago, but I still love watching talented fighters hoping for greatness. Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Miguel Cotto, and others. But I keep thinking about Eddie Murphy's "Coming to America" and the barbershop scene. You remember it. The men are discussing the greatest of all time. Muhammad Ali, Rocky Marciano, or maybe Joe Louis? Ask any true boxing fan of experience and Sugar Ray Robinson may jump them all. I'm going with Manny Pacquiao.
No, I haven't been drinking. Just hear me out.
Sugar Ray Robinson lost 19 fights, Louis was beaten three times by a better fighter, and Muhammad Ali lost 5 times. Losing a fight doesn't seem to matter in the discussion. Paddy Monaghan finished his career with a record of 114-0, Joe Calzaghe retired 46-0, and the great Rocky Marciano retired as the only undefeated heavyweight champion. But they all lacked one of two things. They either lacked good opponents, or lacked Jim Lampley talking about them.
Muhammad Ali hung with Malcom X, was influential in the protest of civil rights and the Vietnam War, and is an American icon. Of course, Manny Pacquiao is currently an elected Congressman in the Philippines.
No, he never fought George Foreman, Joe Frazier, or Ken Norton. No, he didn't have to avoid the mafia or defeat 173 guys like Sugar Ray Robinson. And no, he never bit a man's ear off. But none of them ever won titles in eight different weight classes.
Unfortunately, the great ones rarely retire great. Ali got pummeled by Larry Holmes, Michael Jordan wore a Wizards jersey, and Brett Favre limped away.
Time for one last pay day with Floyd Mayweather, Jr., one last win on your record, then walk away...part of the discussion.
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