when it comes to pure defensive ability

What do you mean that is provable? True Whitaker wasn't the same fighter at that age, but even in old age he never took punishment, look back on his final fights and you see... That's provable thanks to a thing called youtube! Whitaker never took punishment over his career, as Mayweather hasn't, but he has taken more punches. Maybe that's a purists distinction but it is a real distinction. Secondly, whatever you may think of the thread, your argument is the moronic one as both Whitaker and Mayweathers styles are defensive, it being their best assets, so it's fair to compare them on the spect of the sport they both exceed in! Of course its fair, and again I say mayweather's defense it better, as well his overall skill dummy. And the part about Sweet Pea not getting credit back in the day seem like you're trying to change the subject, as it's got nothing to do with the thread! Mayweather has enjoyed similar criticism from guys saying he's running (As recently as the Guerrero fight) as has Rigondeaux.. It's a part of any sport, people will hate! You shouldn't care if ignorant guys think that way, the same guys say that Martinez is more skilled than Cotto, or that Kovalev is nothing but a slugger! So what let them hate.. As for the OT, IMO Whitaker is a better defensive boxer, but Mayweather is more complete! I don't but whenever I get to point out stupidity or hypocrisy I will, and I think there's a lot surrounding Pernell because some of the folks praising him now are some of the same idiots that want Mayweather to stand toe-to-toe so they can have the moronic satisfaction of seeing him hurt or stopped. Again my contention is that Mayweather is a more complete fighter, and a better defensive one, and I base that on number of punches landed against him by opponents.

Let's put it this way. Past prime, coked out Pernell was making Oscar miss in the center of the ring, and clowning him. Floyd was relegated to the ropes, and getting hit constantly to the body. 2 different levels of defense, imo. He wasn't past prime like people make him out to be. He was still one of the best Pound for Pound boxers in the planet and in his division. Oscar ALSO had less than 25 fights to his name at the pro level. Clowning him is what cost Whitaker the fight against Oscar. His cocaine problems if I remember correctly, came AFTER the Oscar fight.

I don't know anything about his cocaine use and the effects it potentially had on his career, I'm talking about what's provable. But I think this poll is actually kind of moronic because Whitaker's style was defensive and I can remember how he was derided by the rock-em-sock-em fans back in the day for "running." I find it interesting now that he would top Mayweather in a poll, on a site that prefers fighters brutalize each other. I bet some of the guys that voted in the poll know jack sh1t about Whitaker, they just want another opportunity to vote against Mayweather for something, idiots..... What do you mean that is provable? True Whitaker wasn't the same fighter at that age, but even in old age he never took punishment, look back on his final fights and you see... That's provable thanks to a thing called youtube! Secondly, whatever you may think of the thread, your argument is the moronic one as both Whitaker and Mayweathers styles are defensive, it being their best assets, so it's fair to compare them on the spect of the sport they both exceed in! And the part about Sweet Pea not getting credit back in the day seem like you're trying to change the subject, as it's got nothing to do with the thread! Mayweather has enjoyed similar criticism from guys saying he's running (As recently as the Guerrero fight) as has Rigondeaux.. It's a part of any sport, people will hate! You shouldn't care if ignorant guys think that way, the same guys say that Martinez is more skilled than Cotto, or that Kovalev is nothing but a slugger! So what let them hate.. As for the OT, IMO Whitaker is a better defensive boxer, but Mayweather is more complete!

That wasn't from taking punishment, that's all down to cocaine!! I don't know anything about his cocaine use and the effects it potentially had on his career, I'm talking about what's provable. But I think this poll is actually kind of moronic because Whitaker's style was defensive and I can remember how he was derided by the rock-em-sock-em fans back in the day for "running." I find it interesting now that he would top Mayweather in a poll, on a site that prefers fighters brutalize each other. I bet some of the guys that voted in the poll know jack sh1t about Whitaker, they just want another opportunity to vote against Mayweather for something, idiots.....

Floyd, he's taken less punishment than just about any fighter. Pernell was shot by the time he was 36. That wasn't from taking punishment, that's all down to cocaine!!

Voted for Mayweather but meant to vote for Whitaker. My bad. Whitaker can stand right in front of you and not get hit.

The funny thing was that when Whitaker was active, fans (and other fighters) called him "boring" and a "runner" smh. Which is stupid because Whitaker stood in the pocket and fought despite being much smaller and carrying less power than every single guy he's been in the ring with.

I assume Floyd fought that way against Guerrero because of Pops in the corner and practice for Alvarez. Maybe rust too. Man I watched the Alvarez fight again and Floyd is old :lol1:. Those next four fights are going to be tough.

Yeah Whitaker moved a lot in his prime. I don't see it as a negative thing at all. And Floyd boxed away so much against Guerrero because..because? Who knows? Not sure what that's indicative of. I assume Floyd fought that way against Guerrero because of Pops in the corner and practice for Alvarez.

Haha, i remember reading about that Ramirez fight and finally got to watch it. I put that video in my Roy Jones Jr. vs. Hopkins box. Floyd didn't box as much in those fights but than why than did he box away so much against Guererro? Tells me what type of **** hole he was in especially when he needed the help from Byrd. I am recalling now just how much he really boxed too, seems like you may be right. But i didn't see him in his prime. I do remember how he moved a lot but not like Floyd when he won the 154 pound title, against a heavy puncher, i was surprised he won so easy (whitiker that is). You seen Paez vs. Whitiker? Only fighter i seen that can stand in front of Whitiker and make Whitiker miss 3 shots. That was a fun fight to watch. Yeah Whitaker moved a lot in his prime. I don't see it as a negative thing at all. And Floyd boxed away so much against Guerrero because..because? Who knows? Not sure what that's indicative of.

Mayweather stands a lot more lately - see the Mosley fight, Ortiz, even Canelo for good portions. So did Whitaker - see the Rivera fights, Hurtado, etc. And Whitaker used to be known as a "runner." That's probably why he got robbed against Ramirez. Kinda crazy how these things work. Haha, i remember reading about that Ramirez fight and finally got to watch it. I put that video in my Roy Jones Jr. vs. Hopkins box. Floyd didn't box as much in those fights but than why than did he box away so much against Guererro? Tells me what type of **** hole he was in especially when he needed the help from Byrd. I am recalling now just how much he really boxed too, seems like you may be right. But i didn't see him in his prime. I do remember how he moved a lot but not like Floyd when he won the 154 pound title, against a heavy puncher, i was surprised he won so easy (whitiker that is). You seen Paez vs. Whitiker? Only fighter i seen that can stand in front of Whitiker and make Whitiker miss 3 shots. That was a fun fight to watch.

Ok, i started watching Whitiker after the Chavez fight. Got into boxing that year. Mayweather older still moves a lot, the guy must shadow box for 12 rounds moving around the ring or more, he got them leg muscles. I wasn't a big fan of Whitiker but by the time i watched him box it looked like he didn't didn't waste much movement and made it seem effortless. Mayweather stands a lot more lately - see the Mosley fight, Ortiz, even Canelo for good portions. So did Whitaker - see the Rivera fights, Hurtado, etc. And Whitaker used to be known as a "runner." That's probably why he got robbed against Ramirez. Kinda crazy how these things work.

He definitely boxed away. A lot. Particularly in his prime at 130-135. Go watch his fight against Azumah Nelson. As he got older and he moved up as his legs gave way, he stood more. Ok, i started watching Whitiker after the Chavez fight. Got into boxing that year. Mayweather older still moves a lot, the guy must shadow box for 12 rounds moving around the ring or more, he got them leg muscles. I wasn't a big fan of Whitiker but by the time i watched him box it looked like he didn't didn't waste much movement and made it seem effortless.

Thats true. But he didn't box away in the manner that Floyd does. He just sly, slickly would walk back or bob and weave. To see this from Floyd you have to see him against lesser fighters. But once Whitiker was really gaining age he stood more in front of his opponets. The one that surprised me very much was when he stood his ground against Trinidad, that was very surprising. He definitely boxed away. A lot. Particularly in his prime at 130-135. Go watch his fight against Azumah Nelson. As he got older and he moved up as his legs gave way, he stood more.

The funny thing was that when Whitaker was active, fans (and other fighters) called him "boring" and a "runner" smh. Thats true. But he didn't box away in the manner that Floyd does. He just sly, slickly would walk back or bob and weave. To see this from Floyd you have to see him against lesser fighters. But once Whitiker was really gaining age he stood more in front of his opponets. The one that surprised me very much was when he stood his ground against Trinidad, that was very surprising.

Whitiker didn't need the help from the referre in his fights, but Floyd needs the help from the referre. Floyd uses much of his body and feet to get out of the wayand his hands/arm as a shield, with Pernal he had what looked like an effortless defense he did use his feet too when he had to but i think Floyd uses it way more therefore wasting more energy.

The funny thing was that when Whitaker was active, fans (and other fighters) called him "boring" and a "runner" smh. Everyone who has a fight where they didn't stand in front of their opponent and brawl has probably been called a runner at some point. Ali, Leonard, Whitaker, Duran against Hagler, Holyfield against Qawi, on and on and on.

Can you imagine if Pea was fighting now in this social media era? "Runner" "Crackhead" "Ghetto" He doesn't have any KO's so he's not an ATG!!

imo its hard to compare the two. they come from completely different schools of defense. if i had to go with my gut, id as pernell. simply because what he did was amazing that no1 could hope to emulate. floyd's skills and reflexes are certainly on par but his techniques can be emulated to some degree. no1 in their right mind would try to do the things pernell did. It would be interesting to review "stats" like opponents connect percentage, opponents punches thrown per round and how it drops when fighting floyd or pernell, or some other sbaremetrical things to get a better idea. I will say this-I don't recall Pea taking a pair of shots like the ones shane landed on Floyd.

lol, exactly. now, hes used as a positive counter measure for another fighter called boring and a runner. Can you imagine if Pea was fighting now in this social media era? "Runner" "Crackhead" "Ghetto"