Taylor wasn't as tough, Chavez was younger when he fought Taylor and closer to his prime than when he fought Whitaker, and Meldrick Taylor stood there and traded with Chavez too much, he got caught up in his combinations. Sure he had great speed and boxing ability, but he didn't use his footwork as consistently to maintain to large a gap for Chavez to close like Manny would. Also DLH wasn't in his prime yet when he fought WHiatker, he was still a pup.
The Chavez that fought Whitaker was still a prime JCC & he got beat regardless of the corrupt scoring. It wasn't for another few years probably around the Kamau fight that you could say his prime was over. I think Chavez would have been a nightmare for Manny, not because I think he's better, I rate Pac higher, just that I think his swarming style would have got him. He ain't no Ricky Hatton. Also as for the ODLH comment, Oscar was by the time of their fight a 3 weight world champ & had been a pro for nearly 6 years. That isn't a pup, & many think Whitaker won the fight. That is right in Oscar's prime & Whitaker whose prime was over still won in many eyes.
The problem is styles, Chavez is a hooker, and in order to land a left hook on a southpaw fighter, you have to have enough footspeed to get in close, and Chavez did not have great footspeed, especially at 140 and welterweight. It wasn't just that Chavez wasn't quite in his prime(and he wasn't) Chavez was closer to his prime at the turn of the 90's, but the fact is that Pernell had been fighting around welterweight for awhile before they fought, and Chavez isn't a boxer like Marquez, Mayweather, Pacquiao, he is a straight forward I am going to outtough, and outmuscle you, but when guys like Mosley, Whitaker and OScar used their superior strength he didn't look anywhere near as good. But Chavez looked terrible after the WHitaker fight against Frankie Randall, he wasn't in his prime. The reason why Chavez would have so much trouble around welterweight agianst Pacquiao is simply because he moved so slow, like Cotto he did have a good cross, but if I had to guess who would win if Chavez used his cross against Manny's i think the answer would be pretty clear. Also Chavez isn't Hatton, he has a way better beard, but Hatton had a lot of footspeed to close that gap, and he still got caught coming in. Pacquiao didn't really let Hatton land very effectively on the inside.
I am not comparing p4p Chavez to Pacquiao, he was a different beast at lightweight, but that wasn't the guy who fought Whitaker.
When it comes to Mayweather, Whitaker, and Pacquiao I don't see a huge variation in skill level, obviously Mayweather and Whitaker are the better defensive fighters, but Pacquiao's offensive skills are at the same level as their defensive skills, and he has gotten way better defensively. The problem for Whitaker IMO is that 1) He had a lot of solid but not great competition like I've said. 2) He isn't as fast as the other two, and he really relies on being the faster man.
I am not trying to say Pacquiao is a god like some guys on here claim, but people need to wake up and smell the coffey, he along with Marquez have proven themselves to be tacticians of the very highest order. They combine all the attributes that make a great fighter power, speed, evasiveness, footwork, stamina, huge competitive edge, heart, determination, technique, and well roundedness.
3 years ago you could say Pacquiao wasn't well rounded, but now its clear to see he is, he can counter, he can lead, he used both hands very well, he can brawl, punch, etc, etc.
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