Is Floyd Mayweather Jr an All Time Great?

[Obama]

Cotto going to beat Pac anyways. This is problematic because I'd fully expect Mayweather to fight Pac for a 70/30 split just because he'd make a lot more money that way than fighting Cotto for 60/40. He'd prolly then hold off on Cotto and fight Mosley end of 2010 for 70/30 again. Then maybe we see him fight Cotto in 2011. Given the brutal fights Cotto seems to get himself into, he may not even be good by then.

[Oselav]

Is he looking for a legacy or looking to make money?

If it is the later, then his career is one of the greatest.

He, and his fans, put to much emphasis on the no loss factor as equating to ATG. What % of boxing fans really believe that Marciano was a better fighter than Louis, Ali, Dempsey and Johnson?

I would love to see FMJ fight a range of great fighters. SRL and Willie Pep had to contend with the exceedingly tall, long armed mean dude in Hearns and Saddler. They didn't always look good or win but they won applause for taking the challenge and participating in some great fights. Based on that criteria I would love to see FMJ in with equivalent of this generation - Paul Williams. FMJ might lose but if he made a great fight of it I would be more impressed then him showing off his amazing defensive skills against smaller, slower guys punching up at him that have to get hit to get in range.

If FMJ retired today, how many boxing fans would bother to check out his fights in 50 years time?

[Obama]

If FMJ retired today, how many boxing fans would bother to check out his fights in 50 years time?

A lot I'd imagine. Top rated boxing ability makes for good footage. People will have to use it when kids 50 years from now claim the fighters of today simply weren't on the skill level of the fighters in the future.

[dionysius]

40 wins? I don't think so.

[Leakbeak]

this thread is useless without a poll. Are some people ******ed or are computers really that hard to use?

[BOX-A-LOT]

Floyd has not earned his stripes to be considered amongst the greats.

Considering Floyd a great cheapens the ATG thing

[Bushidō]

In his era yes.

[JFB629]

Whether you love him or hate him, you can't deny that Floyd Mayweather is a incredible talent. At his best and focused his would be a problem for any fighter past or present.

Mayweather is a defensive master. He has mastered the art of the shoulder roll defence. His parrying, blocking, and slipping is second to none. He is also one of the fastest fighters to put on a pair of gloves, Mayweathers punchers are that fast and crisp, most of the time who don't even see them coming.

He is also a master at fighting off the ropes, and he can adapt to any situation and style. When in the Prizering, he is as relaxed as can be, he almost look's at times like his is as comfortable in a ring as he is in his home. He has cat like reflexes, and seems to see punchers coming from a mile away.

Kevin Iole said that the late great Eddie Futch said that he's seen Floyd Mayweather make moves that he hasn't seen anyone make in 50 years.

He is also one of the most dedicated fighters of all time, not drinking or smoking, and in the gym all year round. It dosen't get tested often due to his defence and reflexes, but Mayweathers chin and toughness also seem to be superb.

He was one of the best Super Featherweights of all time. He won the WBC Featherweight Title at just 21, and defended it 8 times, in a span of three years.

In that time he beat the likes of Genaro Hernandez, Angel Manfredy, and the then unbeaten 33-0 Diego Corrales.

Alot of people were picking Corrales to beat Mayweather, but in Mayweathers finest hour, he treated Corrales like a second rate amature. His speed, accuarcy and timing in that fight was incredible, he stopped Corrales in 10 one sided rounds.

He would then go onto move to defeat number #1 Rated Lightweight Jose Luis Castillio twice, and defend his Lightweight title 3 times.

Before moving up and winning the WBC 140 Title by outclassing Arturo Gatti, and making it look easy.

He then moved up another weight class to win the IBF 147b Title from slick Zab Judah.. After handing a boxing lesson to number #1 Welterweight Carlops Baldomir.

Mayweather took icon and 6 weight division champion Oscar De La Hoya, in the biggest PPV fight of time. De La Hoya was coming of spectacular KO victory over WBC champion Ricardo Mayorga.

The fight was at 154lb. In a close and tactical affair. Mayweather took a SD. I always thought Mayweather won the fight, without much controversy.

Then in one of Mayweathers best performances, he defeated the 43-0 140lb King and WBA 147 Title holder Ricky Hatton. Hatton was considered one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, but Mayweather slowly took him apart and stopped him in 10.

In his last fight, Mayweather put on another Boxing clinic. Coming back from a 2 year layoff, Mayweather took on P4P #2 Juan Manuel Marquez.

Although Marquez was a fair bit smaller tha Mayweather, Marquez had been very active over the last five years, and in that time had two fights with number #1 P4P Manny Paciquao, alot of people thought Marquez beat Pac both times, he drew and lost the two bouts.

Mayweather virtually whipe washed Marquez on route to a UD. Although Juan was much smaller, alot of fighters from the past such as Sam Langford, Henry Armstrong, Bob Fitzsimmons, and so on, would often give tons of weight away and still beat some of the best around.

So I feel Mayweather deserves some credit...........

But Mayweathers cocky, loudmouth persona often overshadows his greatness in the ring. Thus the reason so many people find it hard to give him credit for his in ring achivements.

He may not be on the level of the likes of Ray Robinson, Henry Armstrong, and Harry Greb for greatness. But few are. But Mayweather should be remembered as one of the most gifted fighters of all time and one of the best fighters of if not the best of this era.

Floyd Mayweathers Accomplishments
-P4P Rated best fighter in the world
-Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1998 and 2007
-World Boxing Hall of Fame Fighter of the Year (2002)
-5 Weight Division Champion

Mayweathers Resume Of Wins
-Genaro Hernandez
-Angel Manfredy
-Diego Corrales (33-0)
-Jesus Chavez (35-1)
-Jose Luis Castillo X2
-Sharmba Mitchell
-Arturo Gatti
-Zab Judah
-Carlos Manuel Baldomir
-Oscar De La Hoya
-Ricky Hatton (43-0)
-Juan Manuel Marquez

Amature Accomplishments
-1993 National Golden Gloves Light Flyweight Champion
-1994 National Golden Gloves Flyweight Champion
-1995 United States Amateur Featherweight Champion
-1996 National Golden Gloves Featherweight Champion
-Bronze Medalist for the United States at the Olympics in Atlanta 1996

[DonTaseMeBrah]

he's great but nowhere near what he or his delusional fan base claim he is. He hasnt fought a threatening opposition since jose luis castillo at 135 & please save me the zab judah, carlos baldomir, ricky hatton & oscar at 154 defense. He never fought the top dogs 140, 147, & 154. Even at 135 he chose a castillo who has somehow become HOF material over somebody like joel casamayor.

His talent is ATG, his resume & actual ATG status (at least what he & his fans claim) need to be verified. Verification in the form of fighting the top guys, again, & again......



& again.

[1SILVA]

To me his selling points for greatness are his skills relative to other greats.

The problem I have with it is that its hypothetical at best.

Most posters here specially there at NSB are stating that he hypothetically beats a genuine ATG like Roberto Duran or Alexis Arguello.

Some maybe right, others maybe wrong. But at the end of the day it is just that. HYPOTHETICAL.

Where in hell can you find greatness with that?

What say you people?

Yes, he is an ATG