Give Floyd a chance to be the greatest : Please

[abadger]

Come on guys! Floyd is good, but greatest of all time is just impossible for him, because the competition isn't there for him to prove it.

Don't get me wrong, Floyd is very skilled, I think he may very well be the best defensive technician that boxing has seen. Problem is that his historical competition had other greats of their own level to fight against, whereas Floyd doesn't and will never be involved in those type of era defining fights.

The guy who he is most often compared to, Ray Leonard had very similar skills to Floyd, but in fights with Hearns, Hagler and Duran that he not only had those skills, but also the fighting heart of a lion, great power and the ability to fight in a completely different style than the slick one that is normally associated with him. Most importantly he showed he could win in even the toughest of circumstances, against Hearns seemingly turning the tide of the fight by sheer force of will.

So Floyd MIGHT be as skilled or even more skilled than SRL, but so far he has never been forced out of his comfort zone and forced to show what ELSE he has, and for that reason is very unlikely to finish his career as the ATG. To do so he will have to do some absolutely amazing things late in his career, like maybe going up to 160 and beating the best guys there, and even then I don't think that would be enough. There are a lot of really good boxers throughout history, and really Floyd is just another one in a long line, he's just the one that we have now.

[Burner]

Come on guys! Floyd is good, but greatest of all time is just impossible for him, because the competition isn't there for him to prove it.

Don't get me wrong, Floyd is very skilled, I think he may very well be the best defensive technician that boxing has seen. Problem is that his historical competition had other greats of their own level to fight against, whereas Floyd doesn't and will never be involved in those type of era defining fights.

The guy who he is most often compared to, Ray Leonard had very similar skills to Floyd, but in fights with Hearns, Hagler and Duran that he not only had those skills, but also the fighting heart of a lion, great power and the ability to fight in a completely different style than the slick one that is normally associated with him. Most importantly he showed he could win in even the toughest of circumstances, against Hearns seemingly turning the tide of the fight by sheer force of will.

So Floyd MIGHT be as skilled or even more skilled than SRL, but so far he has never been forced out of his comfort zone and forced to show what ELSE he has, and for that reason is very unlikely to finish his career as the ATG. To do so he will have to do some absolutely amazing things late in his career, like maybe going up to 160 and beating the best guys there, and even then I don't think that would be enough. There are a lot of really good boxers throughout history, and really Floyd is just another one in a long line, he's just the one that we have now.

Floyd beating Cotto..then maybe grabbing a 160 pound title is not out of the question.

[Silencers]

Mayweather is a very good fighter, maybe even great but he has a long way to go before being the greatest of all time.

[abadger]

Floyd beating Cotto..then maybe grabbing a 160 pound title is not out of the question.

Not at all. I'm certain he would beat Cotto and I'm sure he could get a 160 title later in his career if he really wanted too. He isn't going to be beating anyone of Hagler or Hearns class at MW though, so thats why I don't think he can make the top ATG spot. I'm sure he'll feature somewhere on the list though.

[Burner]

Not at all. I'm certain he would beat Cotto and I'm sure he could get a 160 title later in his career if he really wanted too. He isn't going to be beating anyone of Hagler or Hearns class at MW though, so thats why I don't think he can make the top ATG spot. I'm sure he'll feature somewhere on the list though.

Id favor Floyd against Sturm, Abraham and Pavlik.

[THe TRiNiTY]

Id favor Floyd against Sturm, Abraham and Pavlik.

You'd favor him against Pavlik? Pavlik wouldn't have to worry about getting seriously tagged and is fast enough to eventually catch Floyd against the ropes over 12 LONG rounds, and you favor Floyd over Pavlik?...... C'mon.

[abadger]

Id favor Floyd against Sturm, Abraham and Pavlik.

Don't know Sturm or Abraham well enough, but right now I think it would be very hard for Floyd to beat Pavlik, who is very big compared to Mayweather, and very powerful. If Floyd were able at some point to carry 160 truly convincingly though, then I'm sure he'd beat Pavlik easily.

Carrying that amount of weight is a bit of a stretch for someone who is a small welter at age 31 though, but not absolutely out of the question in a few years time.

[Dick-Sucker]

Mayweather is a very good fighter, maybe even great but he has a long way to go before being the greatest of all time.

True. But i think a lot of us are tired of people assuming he can't reach such a status! Because he can retire the greatest.

If he does Oscar 2, Cotto, Margarito, next major threat, to me he is the greatest!

[Dick-Sucker]

Don't know Sturm or Abraham well enough, but right now I think it would be very hard for Floyd to beat Pavlik, who is very big compared to Mayweather, and very powerful. If Floyd were able at some point to carry 160 truly convincingly though, then I'm sure he'd beat Pavlik easily.

Carrying that amount of weight is a bit of a stretch for someone who is a small welter at age 31 though, but not absolutely out of the question in a few years time.

Floyd is 5 8, Kelly is 6 2. LOL.

[Silencers]

True. But i think a lot of us are tired of people assuming he can't reach such a status! Because he can retire the greatest.

If he does Oscar 2, Cotto, Margarito, next major threat, to me he is the greatest!

That wouldn't make him THE greatest, it'd make him great though.