I think Paul Williams and Antonio Margarito would have beaten him.
It's why he did that nonsensical retirement that time.

Stevie Johnston at 130 was avoided.

They are high-stamina guys that really force the pace, and they don't get tired nor frustrated by losing some early rds, and they're very durable. They walk through shots these guys.

Floyd knew better than anybody what his liabilities were, and took extreme measures to make sure he wouldn't be put in that position.
Hey, like he said himself, if the fans were willing to pay to see him fight hand-picked opponents, then why take the toughest, tip-top challenges instead?

Joel Casamayor may've been able to do it.

I put up a list years ago with 19 top names on it that were avoided.
In truth, I think Mayweather would have outboxed most of them, but he wouldn't sign to fight them, picking 2nd tier fighters instead or fighters that were smaller or used-up.

For instance, when Floyd was at 130, the top guys at 126 were Barrera and Morales and Hamed. I don't think those guys could have beat him, but they would have put on greater fights with Floyd than jesus chavez, carlos hernandez, emanuel augustus, gregorio vargas, angel manfreddy, genaro hernandez.

At 130 or 135, I don't think Juan Lazcano, Acelino Freitas, Paul Spadafora would've beat him, but they were better opponents than victoriano sosa, philip n'dou.
Castillo was good and beat Floyd but was robbed, but you gotta give credit to Floyd for doing the immediate rematch and clearly winning it.
I think Stevie Johnston at 135 is one of the few that could've done the job.

At 140, I don't think Tszyu, Urkal, nor Miguel Cotto could defeat him, but they were better opponents than demarcus corley, henry bruseles,
arturo gatti, and sharmba mitchell.
Floyd deserves credit for Hatton. Hatton was a top prime guy, and going up a few lbs wasn't a factor in that fight. Hatton just didn't have the right style. Even with cortez' helping Floyd, I don't think Ricky was going to beat Floyd.

At 147, Paul Williams, Antonio Margarito, Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosely, Joshua Clottey, Kermit Cintron, Andre Berto.
Unequivocally, I believe Paul Williams and Antonio Margarito would've stopped Floyd. He can't hit hard enough to stop these guys from advancing, and his workrate isn't as high as them. He likes to potshot and be on cruise-control that Floyd. These guys would push the pace, beat him up, and burn him out.
The Pacquiao fight has many more questions; it's what made it an intriguing fight.

I don't think Shane nor Berto would've beat him under the best circumstances. They're not thinkers in there. Cintron would not have done it; back then, Cintron was knocking out guys, but it wasn't long till his liability of quitting under pressure was exposed. He wouldn't belong in the same ring with Floyd. Clottey has physical gifts, but no desire, and he's not smart enough in there. He'd be picked apart.
They were still better prime opponents at 147 than carlos baldomir, frontrunner zab judah, featherweight juan manuel marquez, lightweight Robert Guerrero, and an old De La Hoya, a faded Cotto, and the shell of Shame Mosley.


Very satisfied that he stepped in with Saul Alvarez and even Victor Ortiz.
I'll never forget Ortiz quitting though.

154 and 160? Nah, Floyd's not a light-middleweight, certainly not a Middleweight.




ps. I've NEVER paid not one time for a Floyd Mayweather match...