
Originally Posted by
Taeth
Being ranked higher on the ATG list isn't about being the better fighter, its about having the better legacy. Those aren't always the same thing. Joe Louis wouldn't beat Lennox Lewis if his life depended on it, but he's ranked way higher p4p.
Whitaker could beat most of the guys ranked higher than him p4p, but he's still ranked lower because of the lack of drama in his fights.
We constantly see great defensive fighters being ranked lower than great offensive fighters because they look less spectacular. That's why in the top 10 only two of them were considered truly defensive masters (Willie Pep and Benny Leonard), but Leonard had a punch as well. Some people could arguably put Jack Johnson in their top 10 p4p and he was defensive, but he was in a different league than the fighters of his time in every aspect.
All in all people are criticizing me of comparing Pacquiao-marquez to Mayweather-Marquez when I am not. I am comparing Marquez to Mayweather, and what Marquez did to Pacquiao, then seeing what a much better fighter would do in that same situation.
People are overreacting to what I am saying because all they are thinking with their hearts and not their heads, but remember I was the one who said size won't be enough for Hatton or Cotto to beat Pacquiao, I was the one saying Pacquiao could hurt Hatton or Cotto, and that it might be one sided. Now I didn't expect Pacquiao to take Cotto's punches quite as well as he did and I give him kudos for that, but all MAyweather needs to do is keep on landing, I don't think he will ever hurt Pacquiao badly, but Floyd wears a fighter's mind down.
You look at every fighter Mayweather faces, and you see the same thing, they get frustrated because they can't land they get picked apart, even if the punches aren't really hurting them.
Also I don't see why its so hard for people to think Mayweather would back of Manny or fight in the middle. Manny doesn't control the distance between the fighters like a Miguel Cotto or Oscar De La Hoya, all he cares about is having enough distance to get his punches off effectively, or out flurrying his opponent, but what happens when the guy he is facing lands first not only because he is just as fast, but also because he has better reach and straighter punches. Mayweather might not wobble Pacquiao, but if he tees off with his cross, Manny won't be in position to counter, just like against Marquez. Also if you are right in front of Manny with your hands up, he doesn't get the space to put a lot of power in his punches because he doesn't get that legendary body rotation into his left hand or right hook. That's why Cotto only got hurt and hit flush when he got reckless offensively. Either than that Manny was largely landing glancing blows or hitting Cotto on the gloves.
The fact of the matter is I've seen Pacquiao be most effective when he's coming forward or being somebody is recklessly trying to bombard him with pressure. He's been least effective(two fights with Marquez and 1st fight with Morales) when he is forced to box in the middle of the ring and that is because he can't load up that left cross, and he doesn't have a dominant jab, and most of all he doesn't have great defense which means quick accurate punchers hit him quite easily. I've seen Cotto, Marquez, and Morales outbox Pacquiao I think 2 of those fights (Morales and MArquez 1) weren't the modern version of Manny, but you can see the holes that still exist in the Cotto and MArquez 2 fight. It will just take a very special fighter to take advantage of those oppertunities, and be able to match Pacquiao unbelievable athletic gifts, and Mayweather fills all the quotas needed.
1. He's as fast as Manny.
2. Best counter puncher in the world
3. Hardest guy to hit in the world
4. Most accurate puncher in the world
5. Great chin
6. Stamina to match Manny's.
7. Arguably the greatest technical fighter ever.
Manny does have his own traits
1. Fast as anyone in the sport(except Berto)
2. Special knockout power.
3. great accuracy and ability to land multiple punches in a row.
4. A+ chin
5. underrated defensive skills.
6. amazing angles and foot movement.
I think this fight most reminds of in Football in the early 2000's when Patriot's were a much defensively oriented team, and Colts just couldn't get anything done offensively as good as they were, but Patriots were always able to do just enough to win those games.
I don't think Mayweather is a way better fighter than Pacquiao even if he beats Manny in an overwhelmingly decisive manner, but I think he is a little bit better and their styles match up really well for him.
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