What do you think your favorite boxer had to do to be considered the "BEST" ever?

If Holmes beats Tyson, I don't think people look at Tyson nearly the same.

 

In regards to the original question:
Nothing.
My favorite boxer is considered to be the best ever.

 

Roberto Duran- not quit in the Leonard rematch, beaten Benitez and Hearns, and basically just had the same dedication in the 80s he had in the 70s.

Sam Langford-somehow gotten the fight with Johnson as champ and beat him like I know he could.

Mike Tyson- not went to prison and never fired Kevin Rooney.

Jack Dempsey- forced the fight to happen with Harry Wills and beat him, and been more active as champ.

Rocky Marciano- fought a couple years longer.

 

Carl Froch:

2009 - Beat Joe Calzaghe at Wembley Stadium with more than 80,000 in attendance.
2014 - Rematch Andre Ward and win by KO.
2015 - Fight GGG at 164 catch weight and win, then move up to 175 and defeat Kovalev.
2016 - Move up to cruiserweight and defeat Usyk

 

All of them start boxing like SRR

 

James Toney: beat RJJ and refrain from ascending higher than 175

 

Foreman - had to win in Zaire. That would have made him the GOAT.

Tszyu - beat Hatton and then beat Floyd. Gets a mulligan for the loss to Cool Vince.

 

Still it would be a past prime Holmes defeating a young wrecking ball who just almost cleaned out the division.

 

“Diet conscious” James Toney repeats everything he did at 160lbs-168lbs but jumps to 175lbs straight away without fighting Roy at 68lbs they meet at 175lbs instead for a great fight however it goes… this time get the nod for Griffin x2 stay busy with McCallum 3 again and this time not take a dive against Drake Thadzi and go straight to 190lbs… nor retiring for nearly 2 years and blowing up to 290lbs and get sleep apnea so bad it forces you back into the gym lol… anyways in 97 beat an aging Carl Thompson for his first 190lbs fight seems like a no brainer win IMO then get Fabrice Tiozzo (never seen that fight discussed?) that’d be a good year to debut at 190lbs they’d be fights he’d be able to get and should win… showdown with Juan Carlos Gomez would be interesting and another one I think he possibly wins…it’s close but this is a “perfect scenario” if you will so give ol boy the nod at this point? he’d have all the trinkets? I can’t remember who had what but up to HW in 98 for Briggs (Briggs would see a former 160lber with no record against HWs and I think he’d be keen for $ to delay Lennox) he’d lose, lose woefully but the press conference would be epic and James is now lineal… Holyfield up necks, we’ve roughly seen how this would go as older men but back then I still got James to outclass Holyfield he was just so much better a pure boxer… next is Tyson for $$$ and almost absolutely a loss but no biggie he doesn’t shame himself he survives but can’t stick around too long at HW otherwise he might have to run into Lennox or all the other elephant sized guys… but if the $$$ was good Tua would be easy work after Rahman… anyways after that back down to 190lbs in 2000. By now he’s probably seen as pretty much defacto “the man” of the division like if Usyk were to return to 200lbs he just does whatever, recollects trinkets and has his fight with Jirov again but this time in 2003 he fights and KO’s RJJ at HW in a rematch ending Roy’s reign of terror lol “Big” James now with a new HW strap in 2004 probably fights Ruiz and Byrd… he beats Ruiz but Byrd is 50-50 for me but from here it doesn’t really matter “Calorie Control” Toney is pretty much one of the GOAT’s… I think all of the above was “possible” and not some insane or bizarre list of outcomes, smidgen of luck, spartan discipline and management could’ve made it all happen… IDK if he ain’t a P4P deity in this fan fiction throw Bernard Hopkins in there somewhere lol.

 

Mike McCallum: TAKE THE FIGHTS WITH HEARNS AND HAGLER, DAMNIT!!!!!

 

There is only one fighter that comes to mind in Boxing History, Davey Day, the Human String Bean. He was called the Dean of Defense, having never suffered a cut eye in over 250 fights amateur and pro. There is no other fighter in the World who could claim that title. He was rank #1 Lightweight and Welterweight challenger 1939. He was Barney Ross' policemen, you had to beat Davey to get a crack at Barney's title. Tony Canzoneri could have fought Ross a third (trilogy) time if accepted to fight and beat Mr. Day, he pass the offer. Armstrong, Ambers,Montanez and others wanted to fight Ross in 1937, but, refused to fight, the skinny Jew kid to get at Barneys Title. Having Davey in the same stable with Ross protected his title and prevented Mr. Day from becoming a Champion. Joe Jacobs manager of Max Schmeling offered Pian and Winch $7,500.00 for Days contract in 1934, telling them you can't do Davey any good as you have Barney Ross the Champion. Willie Pep admired Mr. Day, he was a great boxer of Golden Age of Boxing. Jimmy McLarnin said Davey would have been Champion if he worn't in the same stable with Ross. Ray Arcel said, Davey was full of class and ability and if he was around today 1990! He would be Champion in all the divisions. Mr. Day was called by Uncle Mike Jacobs around Feb. 22nd to fill a scheduled date in MSG March 31st 1939 as a substitute for Pedro Montanez who back out of the fight for Armstrong's Welterweight Title. Day had no warm -up fights prior to 3 months, Armstrong had three or four warm up fights within one month. Davey fought half the fight half blind, got that way not by Armstrong's punches but getting hit by Hanks looping elbows. Davey opened a deep gash on Henry's eye lid in the 8th round, the referee stop the fight and motioned for the commission doctor to make a decision, could have stop the fight, but let it continue for Armstrong's corner. Day pick at the wound the next three rounds and took the lead over Armstrong. As they came out for the 11th rd Armstrong hit Davey 5 time way south of the boarder, losing or is it called winning that round on a foul. In the 12th rd. Armstrong got a punch to Davey's blind side kidneys and Day went down on all fours, shaking his head, and rising to beat the count, except the referee look at Armstrong's bloody bruised face saying you could rest now , as he put his arm around Davey's shoulder and walk him to his corner. Armstrong's souvenirs from Davey was four stitches to his right eye lid ,broken hand/ fingerbone, put in a cast, bruises all over face and badly bruised left hand. Armstrong turn down $35,000 including a portion of the gate for a rematch in Chicago, that would amount to a gate of over $100,000 in a ball park. Armstrong couldn't praise Davey enough after the fight. He quoted that Day hits harder than Ross and Ambers, I couldn't a get good punch in through his defense, and Day is always dangerous, has a heart as big as his head. There is more to tell about Lou Ambers not meeting Day for the the Lightweight Title on May 22nd 1940, with the NBA stripping Lou of his title. The NBA got the 2nd high ranking Sammy Angott to meet Day for the lightweight title. The NYSBC split with the NBA and kept Ambers as their Champion. There is more to be said, at a later time. You guys might learn the real story about the Boxing racket in the 1930's. Oh, another tidbit, Jenkins, Zivic and a guy named Sugar Ray Robinson who was scheduled to fight that skinny Jewish Kid 'duck' him, if you forgot, his name is Davey Day Never Suffered a Cut. Everyword said is 100% verifiable. Check it out for yourself. The next time you see a stringbean fight, welcome back Davey. That's all for now. Thank you and good night.

 

I have Foreman as GOAT anyway but beating Lennox in 1998 would have done the trick too.

 

Maske: beat Virgil Hill in a return bout.

Oh wait!...

 

Ray Leonard, without the eye injury, and the depression that lead to drugs and partying. He Adds victories over Donald Curry , Aaron Pryor, a rematch against Hearns earlier at Jr. A third match- up against Duran , A Middleweight, fight against Hagler at the end of 1982, early 83.
A couple of wins against exciting sluggers like J . Jackson, Mugabi, etc
All winnable fights, with Hearns at Jr. Middleweight being the most dangerous.