Prime Pernell Whitaker in today's era.

[amat]

I hate fantasy matchups, I really do but the one fight I often dream about is Floyd vs Whitaker. Whitaker is my all time favorite so take this with a grain of salt. Whitaker and Floyd are very similar defensively except that Mayweather has a better counterpunching ability simply because he is better with with his feet and never gets out of position for his super stiff one punch counters (and attacks for that matter.) I think Whitaker would beat Floyd. To super simplify this, neither would give each other anything but Mayweather is not a great combination puncher. I think Whitaker wins rounds better than Mayweather. Mayweather is great, don't get me wrong. He's GREAT. I just think the combination punching of Whitaker would win the judges' favor more than the single shot deadliness of Mayweather. Whitaker would get you out of position and capitalize with combinations, whereas Mayweather does it with one shot and then occasionally follows up on that with more punches. I just don't think those "one shot" punches would land enough versus Whitaker. I don't think either guy would really be hurt by each other but the sheer economic volume of Whitaker would win out. I hate to simplify things this much, but Mayweather's one punch counters which his game is predicated upon simply wouldn't work on Whitaker. I love both guys. I really do but I think Mayweather would be out ugly'd but Whitaker. That is, with confidence, the only guy in boxing history I think would do in Mayweather. Anyone else, that's a joke. Also you're right about about Floyd being more fundamental, but Whitaker's instincts from being bend far too much at the hip are other worldly. Like I said, grain of salt and all but I think Whitaker is the greatest ifghter I have ever had the pleasure to watch. That's not an exaggeration either, I once had a friend tell me I "jacked off" to watching old Whitaker fights. I just think he was dynamic no matter his body position. He would be so out of position, seemingly off balance but he ALWAYS kept his balance. When most fighters find their eyes forward of their toes they bring their hands to their chin. If they don't, they get hit. Whitaker didn't. He returned (or didn't) and fucked you up instantly, I don't know how you beat that.

I love defensive fighters. My top 3 consist of Whitaker, Wright and Mayweather. Wright would have to stay center to be effective. Mayweather does his damage with one punch. Whitaker doesn't fit those molds, he could do anything from anywhere and that's why I think he's the most talented boxer of all times.

[Max Power]

Pea IS, in a way probably the best "technically" but that isn't everything either.

With Floyd the speed and timing and accuracy all blend together so effectively.

And he has enough whap to do real damage.

Unfortunately Boxing is not Fencing.

[Beanflicker]

Pea is the fucking man and would wipe the floor with any LW today, and at 147 he would have whipped anyone not named Floyd Mayweather.

He would have made Pacquiao look like a chump with his style. He would have made Pac miss so many of those punches that Pac would lose his faith in god.

[Beanflicker]

BTW I see people always lumping Pea in with guys like Malignaggi who can't bust a grape. PEA COULD PUNCH! He wasn't Julian Jackson but he was a lot like Floyd: not a knockout puncher but a guy with enough power to keep his opponents from trying to bull rush willy nilly.

[mikeeod]

Pea dominates in any era he fights in at lightweight. Many pick Duran over him, and I think a valid argument can be made for Duran, but Pea NEVER lost at lightweight (forget the rip off vs Ramirez) and Duran did (only once and he avenged it). I think due to styles that in a head to head match up, pea outboxes and out quicks Duran.

As for Floyd vs Pea, each would be VERY hard for the other as both guys preferred big punchers and offensive fighters. Head to head it is VERY close and I can see a case for either guy to win, although I tend to lean towards Pea due to his southpaw style.

When talking about historical ranking, I feel that pea should rank higher than Floyd based off his (in my opinion) better quality of opponents and wins. Floyd has beaten some good opposition like Chico, Hatton, Castillo...etc., but I feel that prime Azumah, McGirt, Chavez...etc. was more impressive.

The funny thing about these threads is that people on here try and act like either guy is a definite win over the other, without question. These guys r both ATGs and it would be a phenomenal match up for people who appreciate the technical aspect of the sport.

[Beanflicker]

Duran never fought anybody even close to Sweetpea's class at LW. Dejesus? Solid fighter, not even in Pea's league.

I don't mind people picking Duran, but anyone who thinks Duran would have stopped Pea is out of their fucking mind

[Beanflicker]

There was a thread awhile ago about Duran vs Whitaker prime for prime and a lot of people said Duran would KO Whitaker. LOL! I wanted to spit in their faces. You should be perm banned from a boxing forum for saying that!

[Max Power]

Pea is the fucking man and would wipe the floor with any LW today, and at 147 he would have whipped anyone not named Floyd Mayweather.

He would have made Pacquiao look like a chump with his style. He would have made Pac miss so many of those punches that Pac would lose his faith in god.

Pac would have definitely beaten Pea. Pea never had to face up to that sorta shit.

And no, Pea was not a hard hitter. Floyd is much more commanding than Pea ever was and durable.

Pea vs Rigo would be more competitive!!

[Ron Swanson]

Pea is the fucking man and would wipe the floor with any LW today, and at 147 he would have whipped anyone not named Floyd Mayweather.

He would have made Pacquiao look like a chump with his style. He would have made Pac miss so many of those punches that Pac would lose his faith in god.

Pac would have definitely beaten Pea. Pea never had to face up to that sorta shit.

And no, Pea was not a hard hitter. Floyd is much more commanding than Pea ever was and durable.

Pea vs Rigo would be more competitive!!

Remember Pea was also a southpaw meaning much of Mannys attack would be nullified. Just by stance Pea would get the type of fight he wants, a boxing match.

[Beanflicker]

And his movement and reflexes!

Look how much trouble Tim Bradley gave Manny with his head movement (people think he lost the fight, which is fair, but he also made Manny miss a TON of punches), and look at how much trouble JMM gave Pac with his movement, range and counter punching.

Pac benefits from fighting bigger but SLOWER guys who are going to chase after him, guys he can pot shot and slip away from. Pea ain't that guy, and neither is Mayweather, which is why Mayweather would have beat his ass and why I think Pea would have gotten the upper hand on him.

[Master]

Pernell would beat Floyd at lightweight he was untouchable. Pernell had great body work and he made a better welterweight than Manny did. Sweat pea also beat a more dangerous Vasquez than Floyd did Canelo.