Is Floyd Mayweather A Top 5 Talent?

[Sweet Pete]

It's no problem. When I initially hit "quick reply" the question was simply, is he an top 5 ATG. I gave my answer on that. Then it was edited to mean in terms of skill, and I've given my answer on that as well.

Mayweather would be #7 in terms of ATG skill level. Jones Jr is 6.

Personally I don't see how anyone could have Jones out of the top 3. He is the clear cut most talented ever for me.

[ßringer]

It's true that his definition of talented is rather thin, but Marciano is one who made more of a living off heart, stamina, and relentlessness than natural talent or technique.

This I agree with, and posted by a new member is astonishing. You must know your boxing.

[TonyJ]

Tommy Hearns is more skilled than Mayweather or Whitaker, who's absolut overrated on this board.
Top5 talent wise is way to difficult to say. What ist the defination of talent? Is Zab Judah more gifted than FLoyd? Power is talent? Does FLoyd lack the talent to have power...
Yeah but FLoyd is very skilled. But defensively there are a few fighters with more skills tha him like Whitaker, Benitez, Pep,.... His offense doesn't impress me that much but how knows.

[Knicksman20]

His post has been edited I believe, or I must've not read it fully because when I replied it simply asked if he was a top 5 ATG. And I gave my answer.

In terms of talent, I'd still say no, but he's top 10.

My top 5 most talented ever would be....

Ray Robinson
Willie Pep
Ray Leonard
Pernell Whitaker
Muhammad Ali.

Good list Bringer but I'd take Sugar Ray Leonard out & replace him with Roy Jones Jr. It terms of talent I think Jones is one of the most gifted fighters & was more talented than Leonard.

[Ironside]

It's true that his definition of talented is rather thin, but Marciano is one who made more of a living off heart, stamina, and relentlessness than natural talent or technique.

Heart is not talent? Relentlessness is not talent? I don't think everyone can do what Marciano did, but talent is measured in so many different terms I don't think it's accurate.

[ßringer]

Personally I don't see how anyone could have Jones out of the top 3. He is the clear cut most talented ever for me.

Jones was a freak of nature, no doubt. But each fighter I listed above him had certain physical attributes and strengths that put them above him in my list. Ray Robinson could knock you out going backwards (Gene Fullmer I believe it was). Willie Pep could get behind you before you even knew it. Ray Leonard was not only a masterful performer, but a masterful entertainer (Jones is near equal to him IMO). Whitaker, serious I can't say anything about him that isn't well known fact.

And Ali was just so naturally gifted, to come back from a 3 and a half year layoff and pull one of the biggest upsets ever (Foreman) takes natural, god given talent.

[AntonTheMeh]

You gotta be kidding me. How is Joe Louis, Marvin Hagler, Marciano, or Foreman any less talented than Mayweather? And I'm only naming a few from that list to see exactly how you measure talent. Going with an attack mentality takes just as much talent as being defensive. You only bolded defensive fighters that could have the talent PBF has, maybe it's a coincidence but I don't think so.

joe louis was outboxed by billy conn till he ktfo him.
foreman was a slugger.
marciano was crude.
hagler was a stalking southpaw.better doesn't mean more talented.when it comes to boxing accomplishments are taken into account when it comes to greatness,i'm speaking talent,are you that thick?

[Ironside]

joe louis was outboxed by billy conn till he ktfo him.
foreman was a slugger.
marciano was crude.
hagler was a stalking southpaw.better doesn't mean more talented.when it comes to boxing accomplishments are taken into account when it comes to greatness,i'm speaking talent,are you that thick?

If I read correctly, you're saying accomplishments don't count, then right above that you said Luois was outboxed by Billy Conn. I still don't understand. Take Foreman, he was a slugger, and? It takes power and heart to slug it out. Not everyone can do what Foreman did, just like not every1 can do what PBF does, so I don't see how you put PBF in front of him.

[Sweet Pete]

Tommy Hearns is more skilled than Mayweather or Whitaker, who's absolut overrated on this board.

Whitaker is overrated? Nah, you just don't know what you're talking about apparently.

Hearns is in my opinion arguably the hardest fighter to outbox, but a lot of what he had had to do with his height and reach to go along with his pure boxing skills. Whitaker didn't have any advantages like that.

Hearns beats him no doubt at 147, but at 135 I favor Whitaker over anyone, which is not the case with Hearns at any weight. He had an exploitable weakness, his chin, which stopped him from being damn near unbeatable. Also, his stamina was not what it should've been.

[AntonTheMeh]

If I read correctly, you're saying accomplishments don't count, then right above that you said Luois was outboxed by Billy Conn. I still don't understand. Take Foreman, he was a slugger, and? It takes power and heart to slug it out. Not everyone can do what Foreman did, just like not every1 can do what PBF does, so I don't see how you put PBF in front of him.

boxing ability