is it possible for Mayweather to retire the greatest ever?

[jahmez]

It will be very hard indeed for any contemporary or future boxers to eclipse the greatness of the old masters partly thanks to the rise and rise of mass media phenomenons such as youtube. The rarity of vintage film can mystify the deeds of past champions. This may happen even more so when records are illustrated by supporter's eye witness accounts. Now one can easily analyse and criticise every punch a fighter has thrown while sitting on their ass and pressing a few buttons.

[Spicoli]

I'd go with no.One of the most naturally gifted...yeah.But not putting in all out against the primed best of his era.I get the impression that he's playing a bit of catchup right now.

[Rantcatrat]

I'd go with no.One of the most naturally gifted...yeah.But not putting in all out against the primed best of his era.I get the impression that he's playing a bit of catchup right now.

And there is nothing wrong with that, right? I mean its never too late.

[Spicoli]

I'd go with no.One of the most naturally gifted...yeah.But not putting in all out against the primed best of his era.I get the impression that he's playing a bit of catchup right now.

And there is nothing wrong with that, right? I mean its never too late.

Not at all, indeed.But I think he cost himself much in the way of legacy when he opted out for two years off huge peaking win vs Hatton and not facing the cream of the crop.I just don't see him jumping right in and cleaning house.Good point about the Manny fight but I think the negotiations alone could take alot of time,and he's not getting any younger.

[killersheep]

It is possible, all he needs to do for me is beat PAC/Cotto winner and Mosley, to get considered, HOW he looks in victory will be as important to me as the "W" itself.

Talk of Williams and Pavlik is ridiculous. He would weight ~155 lbs on fight night with his opponent at ~175-180, add in the ridiculous reach advantages
and you have 3 times the advantages he had against JMM. The would both be absolutely incredible victories on par with David and Goliath. Perhaps we should include one of the Klitschkos in the mix just so there could be no doubt.

[HattonTheHammer]

greatest ever - no

The bandwagon journalists like to proclaim ali the greatest fighter of all time while the hardcore knowlegable boxing fans see this recognition in favour for the likes of leonard, robinson etc

No way floyd ever beats either of those 2 however highly i regard the man and strongly believe he is the greatest champion the sports had in a good 20 years!!

His legacy as an all time great is already cemented and i just cannot for the life of me seeing the man ever being beat!

[El Kabong]

It is possible, all he needs to do for me is beat PAC/Cotto winner and Mosley, to get considered, HOW he looks in victory will be as important to me as the "W" itself.

Talk of Williams and Pavlik is ridiculous. He would weight ~155 lbs on fight night with his opponent at ~175-180, add in the ridiculous reach advantages
and you have 3 times the advantages he had against JMM. The would both be absolutely incredible victories on par with David and Goliath. Perhaps we should include one of the Klitschkos in the mix just so there could be no doubt.

So you're saying it's impossible for anyone of Floyd's skill and stature to beat someone who is GOOD (if that) when he has to give up height, reach, power

Then the answer is obvious if he can't beat someone when he's at a disadvantage then he's not the greatest, he's not even close to the greatest.....especially if he never takes a chance.

Sugar Ray Robinson 5'11 ( a little taller than Floyd) started out at 135 and won titles at 147, 160, and 175 and that was before all of this Junior division bullcrap.

Sugar Ray Leonard 5'10 (just a smidge taller than Floyd) did about the same thing 147, 154, 160, and 175

Roberto Duran 5'7 (SMALLER THAN Floyd!!!) started out fighting at 119 he eventually went on to win the middleweight title!

Sure guys like Tommy Hearns had the frame to add on weight to take him all the way up to cruiserweight and Paul Williams has that frame, but the thing is Ray Leonard didn't duck Tommy Hearns, he knew Tommy was big and bad and would look impressive on his record....Floyd has never done that, sure Marquez's name looks impressive but it's not like come fight night Floyd was in any real danger, he's rarely been in danger

[JazMerkin]

It is possible, all he needs to do for me is beat PAC/Cotto winner and Mosley, to get considered, HOW he looks in victory will be as important to me as the "W" itself.

Talk of Williams and Pavlik is ridiculous. He would weight ~155 lbs on fight night with his opponent at ~175-180, add in the ridiculous reach advantages
and you have 3 times the advantages he had against JMM. The would both be absolutely incredible victories on par with David and Goliath. Perhaps we should include one of the Klitschkos in the mix just so there could be no doubt.

So you're saying it's impossible for anyone of Floyd's skill and stature to beat someone who is GOOD (if that) when he has to give up height, reach, power

Then the answer is obvious if he can't beat someone when he's at a disadvantage then he's not the greatest, he's not even close to the greatest.....especially if he never takes a chance.

Sugar Ray Robinson 5'11 ( a little taller than Floyd) started out at 135 and won titles at 147, 160, and 175 and that was before all of this Junior division bullcrap.

Sugar Ray Leonard 5'10 (just a smidge taller than Floyd) did about the same thing 147, 154, 160, and 175

Roberto Duran 5'7 (SMALLER THAN Floyd!!!) started out fighting at 119 he eventually went on to win the middleweight title!

Sure guys like Tommy Hearns had the frame to add on weight to take him all the way up to cruiserweight and Paul Williams has that frame, but the thing is Ray Leonard didn't duck Tommy Hearns, he knew Tommy was big and bad and would look impressive on his record....Floyd has never done that, sure Marquez's name looks impressive but it's not like come fight night Floyd was in any real danger, he's rarely been in danger

Robinson did not win a world title at 175. Leonard did not win one at 154 either.

As for the Leonard comparisom, it's interesting that in retrospect his legacy has been re-assessed. The only 2 wins he was really given complete respect for at the time were over Benitez & Hearns. The Lalonde win for the SMW & LHW titles were both heavily criticized because he 'drained' Lalonde well below his usual limit. Not to mention the criticisms over his comeback against Hagler or his rematch with Duran. I don't agree with these, but in 25 years I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happens to Mayweather's career, where current criticisms will become overlooked.

As for the emboldened part, I think that is one of the key contemporary criticisms of any boxer who doesn't have to struggle. I remember an article in The Ring saying that boxing fans have an attitude of 'fight the bigger man, the faster man, the stronger man. Let us know your limits where you struggle so we are sated'. I think this is true of fans in every area, & its only with retrospect we can see how excellent fighters are. We've seen this Lennox Lewis & I reckon we will see the same with Mayweather & the Klitschkos.

On the subject if he beat Mosley & the Pac/Cotto winner, I would rank him in the Top 5 & certainly up for discussion, although SRR would still edge it for me. However, if he beat a Williams/Pavlik, then I think he would be #1. There's a long way to go before that can seriously be thought about though.