Who could have beaten Floyd?

[X]

Every time i see this asked the same fighters pop up in my mind Hearns and Leonard. Hearns i think is by far the worst match up for mayweather his tools are not very effective in that fight. Leonard i feel would just be able to out point him with output and was fast enough to get out of the way.

Yeah, I agree completely about Hearns. He is just all wrong for Mayweather with that freakish reach. Massively underrated boxing skills would probably be enough to win the fight for him, and that thunderbolt right hand would keep Floys respectful and might even push him into his shell.

Leonard is an interesting one. Both guys are sublime boxers but I always felt that Ray's game plan was to win the fight, whereas Floyd seems to focus on nullifying his opponent. A subtle difference, but one that I feel would dictate the way this fight would go.

[Master]

Every time i see this asked the same fighters pop up in my mind Hearns and Leonard. Hearns i think is by far the worst match up for mayweather his tools are not very effective in that fight. Leonard i feel would just be able to out point him with output and was fast enough to get out of the way.

Yeah, I agree completely about Hearns. He is just all wrong for Mayweather with that freakish reach. Massively underrated boxing skills would probably be enough to win the fight for him, and that thunderbolt right hand would keep Floys respectful and might even push him into his shell.

Leonard is an interesting one. Both guys are sublime boxers but I always felt that Ray's game plan was to win the fight, whereas Floyd seems to focus on nullifying his opponent. A subtle difference, but one that I feel would dictate the way this fight would go.

Both would beat Floyd but what about Duran that beat Leonard or Benitez?

[X]

I love Roberto Duran, he is one of my all time favourite fighters and - in my view anyway - one of the top two finest lightweights who ever lived.

However, just as I think Hearns is all wrong for Mayweather, I think Floyd might be all wrong for Duran.

Hands of Stone was a fighter down to his bootlaces, and he always treated pure boxers with contempt. Later in his career, and fighting outside his natural weight, he got hugely frustrated by Leonard and Camacho.

There is no way Mayweather would be drawn into a war like Ray was in their first fight.

I suspect Floyd's rather negative nullifying tactics would annoy him so much he would either get very passive and be widely outpointed, or he would go ballistic a la Iron Mike and get disqualified!!

[Master]

I love Roberto Duran, he is one of my all time favourite fighters and - in my view anyway - one of the top two finest lightweights who ever lived.

However, just as I think Hearns is all wrong for Mayweather, I think Floyd might be all wrong for Duran.

Hands of Stone was a fighter down to his bootlaces, and he always treated pure boxers with contempt. Later in his career, and fighting outside his natural weight, he got hugely frustrated by Leonard and Camacho.

There is no way Mayweather would be drawn into a war like Ray was in their first fight.

I suspect Floyd's rather negative nullifying tactics would annoy him so much he would either get very passive and be widely outpointed, or he would go ballistic a la Iron Mike and get disqualified!!

Duran could punch him in the balls and do a Maidana/Castillio times 10. That would be fun to watch.

[Mr140]

Every time i see this asked the same fighters pop up in my mind Hearns and Leonard. Hearns i think is by far the worst match up for mayweather his tools are not very effective in that fight. Leonard i feel would just be able to out point him with output and was fast enough to get out of the way.

Yeah, I agree completely about Hearns. He is just all wrong for Mayweather with that freakish reach. Massively underrated boxing skills would probably be enough to win the fight for him, and that thunderbolt right hand would keep Floys respectful and might even push him into his shell.

Leonard is an interesting one. Both guys are sublime boxers but I always felt that Ray's game plan was to win the fight, whereas Floyd seems to focus on nullifying his opponent. A subtle difference, but one that I feel would dictate the way this fight would go.

I think the way Leonard fights would also get him the nod on the score cards more so then other way around when they score rounds. Also i know Leonard can beat some one close to Mayweather in defense skills i have yet to see Mayweather fight anything close to Leonard.