By Superstar Billy Graham
It seems Floyd Mayweather Jr’s moniker and persona “Money May” has overtaken Floyd Jr’s quest of his legacy. Boxing is built on legacies, nobody talks about how much money Sugar Ray Robinson made in the ring. Or the amount money Muhammad Ali made in his trilogy with Joe Frazier. Boxing legacies will continue way beyond a boxer’s lifetime. The amount of money made by a fighter is long gone and mostly forgotten. Legacies are never forgotten. To this day, we continue to talk about the great Joe Louis, Henry Armstrong, Jack Dempsey, Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, and even undefeated Rocky Marciano. The reason why they are continually brought up is due to their boxing legacies. It was never the purse of their fight, or who made the most money. It was about their battles, wars, and sacrifices they made inside the ring. The fear of losing never crosses their mind but to be victories.and perform their craft at their highest level. As Floyd Jr has said too often “legacy don’t pay bills” but someone has to remind him legacies is a priceless intangible trophy.
When Floyd Jr. made his first retirement announcement after his fight against Carlos Baldomir, the reason Floyd Jr gave us was due to lost of desire for boxing, and to focus on his legacy.. Floyd Jr has said this before “I am a belt collector”, “these belts are my legacies.”. But these days, those words have changed. “Money May” has become more focused on PPV buys and “I want to come back and steal some more money.”. Now, Floyd Jr has said this about championship belts “all these belts do is collect dust”, ” a championships don’t make me”, and again “remember this legacy don’t pay bills”. On an interview back on October 2009, the interviewer told Floyd Jr. “you’re rich now, focus on your legacy. FIGHT THE BEST”. Floyd Jr’s response was something you will never hear from a true champion – “boxing don’t work that way.” Since when boxing is not about fighting the best? Champions fight the best. Champions take the risk. This is what great legacies are built on. If Floyd Jr continues his path of being so lackadaisical with his own legacy, he will get his wishes. If Floyd Jr lets the fight of his lifetime pass him by against Manny Pacquiao, he will never associated with the great fights of boxing history. This is Floyd Jr’s Jess Willard vs Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling, Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston, Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier (fight #1), Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran vs Sugar Ray Leonard. Thomas Hearns vs Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield, and the list goes on. Manny Pacquiao has fought 3 great boxers in their prime and legitimate Hall of Famers, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Erik Morales. Those 3 fighters Manny Pacquiao has fought, has brightened all ready Manny’s impressive legacy. Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather is the mega-fight of this decade and many lifetimes, and if this fight never happens, it will not be due to Manny Pacquiao’s unwillingness but will fall squarely on Floyd Jr’s shoulder. Floyd Jr has always played his fights safe, but he should be reminded, from risk there is rewards. If Floyd Jr lets this fight pass him by, it will forever haunt him and that will be his legacy. The fighter with the most naturally god given talent that refused to fight the best fighter of his time.
“He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.”
– Muhammad Ali
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