Is Mayweather a all time great?

[Rantcatrat]

@Beanflicker - I don't think you should be too surprised that there people who view Mayweather's accomplishments as not quite at the same level as you might view them. There's no doubt he is a first ballot inductee to the Hall of Fame. There's also no doubt that in the last 25 years he is one of the top three boxers to fight. There's an aura, however, about some of historical fighters that eludes Mayweather.

Take Duran. Duran started out as a lightweight, moved on to welterweight, middleweight and then super middleweight. He fought Hagler, Hearns and Barkley at middleweight. I don't rate Martinez/GGG on the level of Hagler at middleweight, but it would be the equivalent of Mayweather moving up to middleweight and facing that type of competition. Keep in mind Duran was only 5'7. Those are risky fights for a guy his size. That kind of risk-taking endeared him to boxing fans and boxing historians. There is the impression that Mayweather hasn't taken those type of risks. He also isn't retired yet so let's withhold judgment.

Take Harry Greb too. I wrote a long post in another thread briefly explaining Greb's greatness that I'm not sure you had a chance to respond to. You'll see that in one year, not even his best year, he fought 4 future Hall of Famers when they were on their game, not post-prime, and 10 other title holder- level opponents. That's outright crazy. Times are different now, but still.

How many guys on Mayweather's CV will make the Hall of Fame and did Mayweather face them at their best? The Hall of Fame measure is subjective, but we can use it as a gauge.

Also, at this point, who would you say is Mayweather's signature victory when he was on top his game and the guy on the other side of the ring was on top of his game? Duran's Leonard. Tunney's Dempsey. etc. How would you compare that victory to the best victory of the greats?

Just so we're clear, throughout 2007-2011, there was this phenomenon that you either were a fan of Mayweather or Pacquiao, but not both. I don't subscribe to that idea. I like both guys. In my opinion, they're both greats.

[powerpuncher]

@Beanflicker - I don't think you should be too surprised that there people who view Mayweather's accomplishments as not quite at the same level as you might view them. There's no doubt he is a first ballot inductee to the Hall of Fame. There's also no doubt that in the last 25 years he is one of the top three boxers to fight. There's an aura, however, about some of historical fighters that eludes Mayweather.

Take Duran. Duran started out as a lightweight, moved on to welterweight, middleweight and then super middleweight. He fought Hagler, Hearns and Barkley at middleweight. I don't rate Martinez/GGG on the level of Hagler at middleweight, but it would be the equivalent of Mayweather moving up to middleweight and facing that type of competition. Keep in mind Duran was only 5'7. Those are risky fights for a guy his size. That kind of risk-taking endeared him to boxing fans and boxing historians. There is the impression that Mayweather hasn't taken those type of risks. He also isn't retired yet so let's withhold judgment.

Take Harry Greb too. I wrote a long post in another thread briefly explaining Greb's greatness that I'm not sure you had a chance to respond to. You'll see that in one year, not even his best year, he fought 4 future Hall of Famers when they were on their game, not post-prime, and 10 other title holder- level opponents. That's outright crazy. Times are different now, but still.

How many guys on Mayweather's CV will make the Hall of Fame and did Mayweather face them at their best? The Hall of Fame measure is subjective, but we can use it as a gauge.

Also, at this point, who would you say is Mayweather's signature victory when he was on top his game and the guy on the other side of the ring was on top of his game? Duran's Leonard. Tunney's Dempsey. etc. How would you compare that victory to the best victory of the greats?

Just so we're clear, throughout 2007-2011, there was this phenomenon that you either were a fan of Mayweather or Pacquiao, but not both. I don't subscribe to that idea. I like both guys. In my opinion, they're both greats.

i agree with your reply but i would say that de la hoya was mayweathers defining victory. that was really when he went from a super talented fighter that people heard about to a superstar. its debatable how impressive the victory was but i would say that it was his most defining victory and i would consider it a very good win at that.

[p4pking]

Considering which posters are arguing against the case, it's pretty hard to do anything but chuckle at their trolling or wonder how anyone is that dumb. It IS a completely absurd question to ask though. If Floyd loses a fight will we be debating whether he's among the 10 best fighters since 2003? Like get fucking real some of you. Where you rank him relative to anyone else is fine to argue over, but whether he is an ATG period? Just

[Xwetie]

[Max Power]

I'm sorry but Floyd Mayweather Jr. not an ATG is beyond reason. He is scum.. But that's one talented and brilliant piece of scum lol.

[Andre]

I think he is one and of all boxers in all eras he is without doubt The all time greatest richest stinking poser too,but that could be a play too, so could his victory speech on Sunday be a play to bolster respect in his final few fights by turning somewhat humble towards his rivals. But since my doubts about him surviving a war have been put to rest a couple of times and I've also seen him dissolve all the skills of my favorite modern day fighter JMM,you know the rest I wont go on.You can say he has ducked a few or maneuvered his road to greatness,They all do it. I dont care because (including Kostya who is my other favorite modern day fighter next to Roy); None of the people who his haters think he has ducked haven't maneuvered their own careers and they also havent achieved the same heights as Floyd.Floyds been given the nod in a close one too that I think he just lost, but he got that back for real no problem anyway.Kostya is the one who Im not sure he would of got past in that small time slot when he jumped 140 more because of Floyds troublesome hands and I didnt know how sturdy his chin actually was until recently.
I think he could of spoiled his way to a win by bending in the wind cause he wasnt going to be Ko-ing KT no way.

[Ron Swanson]

Dude has been fighting at the championship level for 17 years. If you don't see the significance of that you should probably remove your return key.

[Max Power]

Dude has been fighting at the championship level for 17 years. If you don't see the significance of that you should probably remove your return key.

Actually I am forced to agree with you atleast here. C.J. is an imbecile I am afraid.

Even if all allegations are true of Floyd it's clear. He's among the GOAT's.

Show me a fighter with better defensive/countering abilities combined with athleticism such as Mayweather? Non-existent!

[C.J.Rock]

Ar my question... Have you ever seen any other supposed world champion prizefighter who's Daddy still call him Little eg Little Floyd ??/ lol Have you ever seen another one make so many excuses not to have to fight dangerous opponents Have you ever seen another one make his opponents follow so many stipulations that even those he does fight really have been deprived of any chance of winning. He'll never lose a decision in Vegas he knows that. Grow a set & be a man Floyd I DARE YA

[walrus]

Dude has been fighting at the championship level for 17 years. If you don't see the significance of that you should probably remove your return key.

I do at times have problem with the hand injections. Not a major deal, it's legal where he fights so both fighters have the ability but it does make me scratch my head sometimes.

The avoiding is a little different. Floyd has said in a few interviews his ability to pick his fights is one suspected that make him great, he also said he will continue to do it. He said it on one of Showtime all access shows and a different one I don't recall. That actually made me feel a bit better about him. He at
addressed an issue fans have been talking about for years. He didn't go into.any detail, I wish he had. Most of you guys have followed Mayweather four at least a decade longer than I so you have more knowledge than I. Damn, I went into a long ramble and I lost it on here somewhere so let me wrap it up. Sure, Floyd in a way has used legal PED. And I'm not just talking about the hand injections. Still, having said all this I would still put him on the ATG list. He was made for boxing. I think he could have been more exciting if you had a reckless edge like Manny to name one of many. I think Floyd would have lost his 0 if he had fought Larry Merchant that night they went at it. Floyd has to fight fifty. That will make it undeniable. Either way the guy is just to skilled and dedicated. Mind you, this is conning from a postcard. I don't like Floyd but love his boxing.

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[Beanflicker]

Well if you want to look at it in realistic terms... doesn't everyone at the top level (or at least their handlers) pick their fights? You have many fight options so you have to pick one.

Floyd picks guys who he will make the most money fighting, and really, can you blame him? And there seems to be the feeling that "quality" and "picked fights" are mutually exclusive, like if Floyd is picking complete bums.

If Floyd could do the biggest fight in boxing history vs Canelo and make insane money (because Floyd gets a big cut of the gate and PPVs sold), why would he not fight Canelo as opposed to a guy like Lara, who is probably a tougher fight but is largely unknown by the general public and wouldn't do half as many PPV buys? Because (on paper) Lara is probably the tougher opponent, does that mean Canelo is garbage? He was undefeated and ranked higher than Lara when he fought Floyd.

Boxing has always been a cash grab. I think it's disingenuous to infer that past greats didn't care about money and only fought the guys they thought would give them the toughest challenge. Bullshit. Leonard fought Duran because he was the guy he would make the most money against. Same with Hagler and Hearns. If those guys didn't have hype behind them or there was more money to be made fighting someone else, he would have chose someone else.

[Beanflicker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQYeSXpC244

Is Floyd an ATG, lol. That kind of skill is off the charts. You can't measure that or really compare it to very many that came before him.

And these aren't bums and club fighters he's doing that to. These are world champions.

How someone could watch that and see the insane virtuoso skill that Floyd has and accuse him of not being one of the all time greats is just mind boggling. That's reach a dangerous level of stupidity.

[Beanflicker]

Look at Corrales (33-0, 27 KOs) pin Floyd in the corner, throw four punches and hit nothing but air.

[Mr140]

Mayweather is in the top 15 and Pac is in the top 20 if you don't think Mayweather is atg then Pac a fucking bum and so is almost everyone one else.Only guy i might rate over Mayweather over past 25 years i Lewis because he was one of the greatest hw champs which i put a lot stock in. Now i think i might have to stop because i fucking hate Mayweather and have had to actually defend the man. I mean the people are so fucking stupid on this forum anymore that i find myself defending a man in which i fucking never thought would have to do. Saddo used to be worth something now its just a bunch bitter fucks just waiting for someone they hate to lose its pretty sad thing to see really. Also anyone who thinks that Mayweather is not atg should never watch boxing again because its not the sport for you go watch mma or tennis i guess.

[Ron Swanson]

This is where these threads lose track. One guy compliments Floyd then implies he isn't in the league of X, Y, Z. Another guy is offended by that and says maybe Y and Z aren't in Floyds league. Neither side is right even though both guys know what they are talking about. Emotion has entered the fray.

Armstrong is amazing
Pep is amazing
Duran is amazing
Robinson is amazing
Greb is amazing
Leonard is amazing
Floyd is amazing
Etcetera

Everyone has different criteria to determine their rank. Nobody is right and nobody is wrong. We can all think we have the formula to be certain but we don't. The only people that are wrong are those that would suggest any of those fighters and many more aren't all time greats.