Trinidad


Felix Trinidad
Record after 9½ years: 35-0
The Elite: Pernell Whitaker (40-2-1), Oscar De La Hoya (31-0), and Hector Camacho (44-2)
The Strong: Yory Boy Campas (56-0), Oba Carr (32-0), Maurice Blocker (34-3) and Jake Rodriguez (16-1-2)
Analysis: Tito gets points for being the first fighter to win a clear decision over Whitaker even though Sweet Pea had been inactive going into that bout and was getting long in the tooth. Being the first to defeat De La Hoya gives him some added credit but not as much if he had won clearly and not looked so average. The win over Camacho wasn't that big of a deal, but the Macho Man was still a serviceable veteran in early '94. Tito's most impressive performances came versus "the strong", particularly young and then-undefeated guns likes Campas and Carr. He also gets extra points for defending his IBF 147-pound belt 15 times (over the longest uninterrupted welterweight title reign in history) and for partially unifying the welterweight title (WBC and IBF).



Mosley


Shane Mosley
Record after 9½ years: 38-2
The Elite: Oscar De La Hoya (32-1)
The Strong: John-John Molina (45-4), Jesse James Leija (37-3-2), Vernon Forrest (33-0), Philip Holiday (31-0), Wilfredo Rivera (30-3-1) and Antonio Diaz (35-2)
Analysis: Mosley gets points for being the first man to decisively beat the Golden Boy, as well as for jumping from 135 pounds (where he defended his IBF lightweight title eight times -- all by KO) directly to the 147-pound division, but his standing is hurt by the fact that De La Hoya was the only elite fighter he faced in the first 9½ years of his career. Also, his record vs. "strong" fighters is somewhat spotty. Although he took care of business vs. still serviceable veterans such as Molina and Leija, he was dominated by Forrest in their first bout and he struggled with both Holiday and Rivera. His stoppage of Diaz in his first welterweight title defense was impressive but it's also what he should have done with the game-but-limited young slugger, so no extra points for that win.



De La Hoya


Oscar De La Hoya
Record after 9½ years: 33-2
The Elite: Pernell Whitaker (40-1-1), Julio Cesar Chavez (97-1-1), Felix Trinidad (35-0), Hector Camacho (64-3-1), and Shane Mosley (34-0)
The Strong: Ike Quartey (34-0-1), James Leija (30-1-2), Genaro Hernandez (32-0-1), Miguel Angel Gonzalez (41-0), Rafael Ruelas (43-1), John-John Molina (36-3), Javier Castillejo (51-4), Oba Carr (48-2-1), and Jorge Paez (53-6-4)
Analysis: Goldie gets a lot of points for not only winning world titles in four weight classes (five if you count the WBO 130-pound strap he took from Jimmi Bredahl), but for partially unifying the lightweight division (the WBO and IBF) during his pit stop there in the mid-'90s. His welterweight title win over Whitaker was far from dominant (some believe it was controversial) but still impressive considering that Sweet Pea was the reigning champ and had been active (eight defenses) coming into the bout. The bloody beatdown of Chavez for the WBC 140-pound title was less special considering that the Mexican icon had begun to show signs of wearing down in his bouts leading into the big showdown; likewise for Camacho. His performances vs. Mosley and Trinidad are somewhat neutral -- he was bold but one-dimensional vs. Sugar Shane in an entertaining fight, versatile but overcautious vs. Tito in a major disappointment; still he held his own with the undefeated champs (both of whom were in their prime). Versus the second-tier champs and contenders, De La Hoya generally took care of business aside from his close points wins over Quartey and Molina (only his 17th pro bout). His blowouts of Leija and Ruelas at 135 pounds are especially impressive. The records of his many rivals and challengers when he fought them speak volumes.



Whitaker


Pernell Whitaker
Record after 9½ years: 32-1-1
The Elite: Julio Cesar Chavez (88-0), Azumah Nelson (32-1), and Jose Luis Ramirez (100-6)
The Strong: James McGirt (59-2-1), Roger Mayweather (26-4), Greg Haugen (23-1), Rafael Pineda (28-1), Jorge Paez (38-3-4), Juan Nazario (22-2), and Freddie Pendleton (24-16-3)
Analysis: Sweet Pea gets major points for winning three world titles in three divisions (135, 140 and 147 pounds), particularly for winning all three major belts at lightweight and for defending his WBC welterweight title eight times, which includes the pound-for-pound king at the time (Chavez). Whitaker dominated two fighters who will likely go down as all-time greats, Nelson (who's already in the hall of fame) and Chavez (who will be); pay no attention to the draw verdict vs. JC Superstar, Whitaker controlled the entire bout, as he did in both fights with underrated two-time titlists Ramirez and McGirt. He pretty much owned everyone he fought in the first 9½ years of his career, except when he got bored vs. the likes of Mayweather (who dropped him), Pendleton and Paez (both of whom managed to win a few rounds).



Chavez


Julio Cesar Chavez
Record after 9½ years: 64-0
The Elite: Edwin Rosario (31-2) and Jose Luis Ramirez (101-6)
The Strong: Juan LaPorte (27-6), Rocky Lockridge (38-4), Roger Mayweather (21-2/34-5), Mario Martinez (33-1-2) and Ruben Castillo (63-4-2)
Analysis: Mexico's grand champ gets points for winning titles in three divisions, but even more so for the high caliber of his opposition. Although there are no all-time greats on his résumé all the top fighters he faced in this time period were at or just a little bit past their primes. Rosario is the only hall of famer (elected posthumously for this year's induction), but Ramirez eventually will get in, and there's a chance that two among his "strong" opponents -- LaPorte and Lockridge (both of whom gave him tough fights at 130 pounds) -- could one day make it to Canastota. Chavez's stoppages of Rosario, Mayweather (both at 130 and 140) and Martinez are especially impressive. He wins extra points for partially unifying 135-pounds belts (WBA and WBC) and his exceptional activity. Like his future rival Whitaker, there isn't a whole lot that can be detracted from Chavez at this point in his career.


So there you have it. I know it's a lot to digest in one reading but what the hell else do you have to do with your time? Work? Study? Volunteer your time for a worthy cause?

Ha! That can wait. Nothing is more important than boxing, or determining who's best (y'all know that!).

Looking at what Mayweather as done so far, I can say that his accomplishments are superior to those of both Hopkins and Mosley at the same point in their careers. The Pretty Boy beat more elite fighters and dominated all the "strong" title holders and contenders he fought.

I think he's on par with Trinidad. Both brutalized second-tier fighters and both bested three "elite" boxers. Tito's elite were more accomplished than Mayweather's elite but the Pretty Boy was more dominant vs. his top dogs. Mayweather won titles in four divisions but Trinidad made double-digit defenses of the welterweight belt, plus partially unified (something PBF has never done in any division).

I also think Mayweather is close to where Chavez was after JC Superstar was in the game for 9½ years. Both were respected 130-pound champs -- Mayweather was more dominant over his opposition, but Chavez's title defenses came vs. more accomplished fighters. Mayweather won a belt in a fourth division, which Chavez never accomplished (although, let's be real, if Chavez faced Judah at 147 instead of Sweet Pea, he would have been), but the Mexican icon partially unified at 135 vs. hall-of-fame caliber fighters and he won his 140-pound title from a much better fighter than Gatti (Floyd's uncle Roger).

I believe that Ali, Leonard, Whitaker, Jones, and De La Hoya were all more accomplished champs than Mayweather 9½ years into their careers. Ali's two stoppages of Liston give him the decided edge over PBF. Liston literally cleaned out the heavyweight division from 1958 (after he got out of the pen for assaulting a cop) through '60. Then he twice destroyed Patterson in one round to win and defend the title.

None of Mayweather's elite foes even came close to this kind of dominance in their respective divisions (honestly, I thought Castillo had to get a little bit lucky to get past Johnston in both of his bouts with "Little But Bad"). Jones' victory over Toney plus his partial title unification at 175 pounds puts him over Floyd. Mayweather has defeated two guys who are now in most pound-for-pound top 10 lists, but that wasn't so when he fought them (although Corrales was beginning to crack some lists).

Sugar Ray beat three of the all-time baddest; 'Nuff said! Sweet Pea unified the 135-pound division and dominated two all-time greats. The Golden Boy gets the better of Mayweather on the sheer number of both "elite" and "strong" opponents he fought in his first 9½ years.

However, Mayweather is not in bad company and he's not out of reach of the future hall of famers and all-time greats I just mentioned. He's only 29, so time is on his side. So is history.

The biggest fights that everyone I analyzed in this piece came after 9½ years in the game. Hopkins, the ultimate late bloomer, had his super bouts with Trinidad and De La Hoya. Mosley had his rematch with De La Hoya and recent victory over Fernando Vargas. Trinidad partially unified the 154-pound division vs. David Reid and Vargas, and won a middleweight belt vs. William Joppy before attempting to unify the 160-pound titles vs. Hopkins. Chavez had his showdowns with Meldrick Taylor (partially unifying the 140-pound title), Camacho, Whitaker and De La Hoya. Jones took on John Ruiz for a heavyweight belt. De La Hoya won his grudge match with Fernando Vargas (partially unifying the 154-pound title), had his rematch with Mosley and he challenged middleweight king Hopkins. Whitaker won a 154-pound title vs. Julio Cesar Vazquez, fought De La Hoya and challenged Tito.

Ali had his legendary rivalries vs. Joe Frazier and Ken Norton, plus his all-time great title-regaining victory over George Foreman. Leonard had his career-defining victory over Marvin Hagler and return matches with Hearns and Duran.

Mayweather's biggest challenges are ahead of him. De La Hoya, Mosley and -- we hope -- Antonio Margarito are fighters who could get in the ring with him this year. Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto are potential opponents for '07. His future -- as well as his legacy -- are in his hands.

Here's the article for anyone who can't access the link. Cool Click Mrtko,awesome read bro.
http://www.maxboxing.com/Fischer/Fischer041206.asp