Who could have beaten Floyd?

[IamInuit]

Whatever people may think about Mayweather as a person (not that they know what the real man is like at all), it seems pretty clear to me that Floyd was the best 'little' man of his generation. Multiple world titles in different weight classes, undefeated and the face of the sport for at least 5 years. He also fought EVERYBODY.

People are now talking about Golovkin, but Floyd isn't even a full fledged welterweight for fucks sake. He can be compared to the old timers in that he would make the weight even if there was same day weigh-ins .... Unlike modern day guys like Margarito or Williams who weigh in 24 hours early and are then really middleweights by fight time. Golovkin would just be too big.

Yeah, you may wonder what may have happened had he fought Manny five years ago when Pacquiaio was tearing through people left right and centre, but we will never know.

I wonder how Floyd would have done against people like Tommy Hearns and Ray Leonard, though they were also considerably naturally bigger than Mayweather, as may be evidenced by their later climb up the weights.

Hands of Stone was nearer Floyd's size and that's a fight I'd have loved to see. Aaron Pryor against Mayweather would have been a good one too.

The fact I'm even mentioning Mayweather in the same sentence as these gods shows how much I rate him as a boxer.

That’s why I asked the question to be clarified. There are literally lots of people that could have beaten him over history in every class he fought in. But that also goes both ways. He beats a lot of ATG's from the past also.

As far as the 17 years he spent, one element that never gets brought up is Floyd's use of timing throughout his career outside the ring and the coddling at times he received in it. They die-hards never want to talk about that because they have no retort other then just seeing what they want to see. They usually just default to answers like "it would not have made any difference" which makes absolutely no sense at all. They call Cortez's total hack job in the Hatton fight an excuse LOL and bring up the turnbuckle like thats some kind of evidence to the contrary. They outright dismiss Chico's pending pillow biting hard time in the pen that was about to commence after their fight. It’s always something. They ignore the fact that he fought the same fighter for ten years and when he didn’t, he got assistance.

Mayweather brings out 2 extremes, neither of which is accurate. The truth rests in the middle for those who bother to objectively consider the question.

[Master]

Whatever people may think about Mayweather as a person (not that they know what the real man is like at all), it seems pretty clear to me that Floyd was the best 'little' man of his generation. Multiple world titles in different weight classes, undefeated and the face of the sport for at least 5 years. He also fought EVERYBODY.

People are now talking about Golovkin, but Floyd isn't even a full fledged welterweight for fucks sake. He can be compared to the old timers in that he would make the weight even if there was same day weigh-ins .... Unlike modern day guys like Margarito or Williams who weigh in 24 hours early and are then really middleweights by fight time. Golovkin would just be too big.

Yeah, you may wonder what may have happened had he fought Manny five years ago when Pacquiaio was tearing through people left right and centre, but we will never know.

I wonder how Floyd would have done against people like Tommy Hearns and Ray Leonard, though they were also considerably naturally bigger than Mayweather, as may be evidenced by their later climb up the weights.

Hands of Stone was nearer Floyd's size and that's a fight I'd have loved to see. Aaron Pryor against Mayweather would have been a good one too.

The fact I'm even mentioning Mayweather in the same sentence as these gods shows how much I rate him as a boxer.

That’s why I asked the question to be clarified. There are literally lots of people that could have beaten him over history in every class he fought in. But that also goes both ways. He beats a lot of ATG's from the past also.

As far as the 17 years he spent, one element that never gets brought up is Floyd's use of timing throughout his career outside the ring and the coddling at times he received in it. They die-hards never want to talk about that because they have no retort other then just seeing what they want to see. They usually just default to answers like "it would not have made any difference" which makes absolutely no sense at all. They call Cortez's total hack job in the Hatton fight an excuse LOL and bring up the turnbuckle like thats some kind of evidence to the contrary. They outright dismiss Chico's pending pillow biting hard time in the pen that was about to commence after their fight. It’s always something. They ignore the fact that he fought the same fighter for ten years and when he didn’t, he got assistance.

Mayweather brings out 2 extremes, neither of which is accurate. The truth rests in the middle for those who bother to objectively consider the question.

Great post from both but I hate him with a passion and if I ever saw him I would smash him up with a baseball bat. That is me being objective.

[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.

[piye]

A tall fighter with a good jab and work rate maybe someone like winky Wright

[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!!

[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.

[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.

[Sleepwalker]

If Floyd falls behind in the early rounds against Hearns, he wouldn't have had the punching power to fight his way back like Leonard did.

I also doubt the judges would have been as generous to Floyd winning rounds later on with his potshotting

[imp]

Duran would quit.

Nothing new for him.

[imp]

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.

Leonard would give floyd real issues.

[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.

Leonard would give floyd real issues.

Leonard would win for me more then not but he is also the bigger guy. The real mismatch in my veiw is Hearns because Mayweather skill set is not great versing him at all. I mean Hearns was never out boxed you had to knock him out which is going to be problem only Hagler, Leonard and Blade got it done but they were huge compared to Mayweather. I think Hearns would of been avoided to be honest an i would not even blame the guy Hearns was a freak of nature how he was 147 at any point in his career is beyond me because he ended fighting at fucking cw.

[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.

Leonard would give floyd real issues.

Leonard would win for me more then not but he is also the bigger guy. The real mismatch in my veiw is Hearns because Mayweather skill set is not great versing him at all. I mean Hearns was never out boxed you had to knock him out which is going to be problem only Hagler, Leonard and Blade got it done but they were huge compared to Mayweather. I think Hearns would of been avoided to be honest an i would not even blame the guy Hearns was a freak of nature how he was 147 at any point in his career is beyond me because he ended fighting at fucking cw.

As much as I am not a fan of Leonard, I have to give the Sugar Man respect for taking on Yearns and beating him. That fight nearly ruined him as I think he picked up his eye injury in that fight.

[C.J.Rock]

I was hoping the op meant "modern era"

In my honest opinion both Castillo & Maidana did beat him. His Vegas homie officials made sure he kept his 0 though

HahahhSaHaaaHAaAaaaaa!!! Still? STIIIIIIILL!!

Who was it cried & complained " Maidana roughed me up & bullied me referee didn't do anything to protect me" ROFLMAO So the cheating PED abuser hired Kenny Bayless to protect him Mayweather should be banned from sport & have his record expunged