The legacy of a boxer is not truly determined until they retire. Fans and media can debate achievements and compare a fighter to the fighters that came before and after. When it comes to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, both fighters? legacies have been debated up to the moment they fought each other, and now with Mayweather?s recent retirement, the debate continues with fans on who was the greater fighter.
In part 2 of my ?On The Ropes? special with Ronnie Shields, I get his thoughts on the current boxing landscape and his views on the future of Floyd Mayweather. Shields also talks about the legacy of both Floyd Mayweather & Manny Pacquiao and where he thinks they should rank. Additionally, Ronnie gives and update on his stable of fighters and a message to the boxing fans. Here is what Ronnie Shields had to say.
Jenna J: I want to get your thoughts on the boxing scene a little bit. Miguel Cotto is fighting Saul Alvarez in November. What do you see in that fight?
Ronnie Shields: I think it?s a great fight. It?s a really good fight. I think we know what Canelo brings, he?s gonna try to bring it. He?s a young, strong guy. Miguel Cotto on the other end, he?s an older guy but he?s such a smart fighter and I think it?s gonna be a great fight. I?m glad to see that they were able to put it together and I think the fans are gonna be the real winners in this one.
Jenna J: Floyd Mayweather just had a fight against Andre Berto, do you think that will be the last we see of Floyd? What did you think of his performance?
Ronnie Shields: Actually I haven?t seen the performance yet because it was the same date that Jermall won his world title and I haven?t gotten a chance to view it yet. I think it will be his last fight.
The thing about Floyd Mayweather is, he?s fought everybody, all you have to do is look at his record. People look at him and they talk about this and about that, and a lot of it I think is just that people are jealous because of the way Floyd made so much money in his career and it didn?t happen to them.
I think you take the good with the bad when you get in a position like Floyd Mayweather. Floyd fought some of the best fighters out there and he beat them, he beat them all. Look at Canelo and Cotto, he fought both of them and beat both of them handedly. How can you not say he?s a good fighter? He?s the best fighter in this era but people won?t give him his accolades and he deserves his accolades because he?s one of the best fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves.
I just don?t see him coming back at all because I don?t see who he can fight in a comeback. I just don?t see it and I don?t see them even offering him enough money to make a return. As far as I?m concerned, I think he?s retired for good.
Jenna J: When it?s all said and done, which legacy do you think fans will look higher upon, the undefeated record of Floyd Mayweather or the amount of championships Manny Pacquiao won?
Ronnie Shields: Pacquiao did win a lot of championships but he won a lot of championships in the smaller weight divisions. I don?t think he has the names that Floyd Mayweather has. As far as that is concerned, both guys had a great career and a great career is a great career. They both have fought the best fighters that they could have possibly fought.
I don?t know whose name is bigger, I think both guys deserve to have their names up there but I would have to say they?re equal, as far as I?m concerned. As many championships that Pacquiao won, remember he was a very small guy from the beginning and if Floyd was that small like Manny and grew into welterweight, then I think Floyd could have done the same thing. I will say that their careers will probably be on an even field.
Jenna J: Can you give the fans an update on some of the other fighters you?re working with?
Ronnie Shields: On October 6th we have a few guys fighting in San Antonio on Fox Sports 1. You will get to see ?Cowboy? Ryan Karl, 140lbs in an eight round fight. Then we have Steve Lovett fighting an eight round fight on that card. And then Rickey Edwards, he?s also fighting a six round fight on that show. Edwin Rodriguez is gonna be the headliner on a card on November 13th in Mississippi. That?s what we have coming up right now.
Jenna J: Is there any message you want to pass along to the boxing fans?
Ronnie Shields: Just keep watching boxing. Boxing is really doing great right now with all of the fights that are happening right now and I think the fans are really enjoying the fights on the PBC because they don?t have to pay for them and there?s been some really good match ups. Just in general I think boxing is on a high right now.
