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Reading the posts on these forums, it is clear that opinions of Floyd Mayweather. Jr are extremely divided. One camp will have us believe that he's by a long way the greatest boxer in recent times to lace a pair of gloves and will 'school' anyone, anytime, anyplace. The other camp will have us believe that many boxers are easily capable of KO'ing him. Its quite annoying reading these comments that there doesn't seem to be much middle ground regarding him. Any comments which seem to criticise his legacy/skills/fights are automatically responded to with '...Another Floyd hater...', for example.
Surely there is an element of truth in both arguments. Skillswise (Defensively), Floyd Mayweather is an elite fighter. After watching his fight with De La Hoya I really thought he was overrated. I thought it was close, and I thought Mayweather backed away for a lot of it. I knew he was a counter-puncher, I just felt that he is too defensive. However, after watching the Hatton fight, I realised what a superb fighter he really is. I still didn't consider myself a fan due to comments he's made since regarding his ATG status. I can't tell whether he's just trying to build a bit of hype for a potential comeback, or whether he's really so deluded that he actually thinks he's better than Ali (because Ali lost to Spinks years after his prime) or Sugar Ray Leonard (because Camacho beat him on his third comeback 14 years after he first retired). However, I've recently took the time to watch his earlier fights and have started to respect him as a fighter (begrudgingly lol!). Great handspeed, great footwork, superb defense and a very good boxing brain.
One point that does bother me though, is his resume. Since he moved up from lightweight, I don't believe he's really enhanced his legacy. For example, who has he beaten of note at 140? Nobody worth mentioning. When people mention Floyd in 20, 30 or 50 years time, are they really going to drool over the fact that he beat Corely, Bruseles and Gatti? I really don't think so. Why didn't he fight Tzsyu at 140. He was the best fighter at this weight and in the P4P list. Beating him would have done more for Floyd's legacy than those 3 fighters put together.
His record is similar at 147. Nothing worth getting excited about. I mean Mitchell, Judah and Baldomir are hardly greats are they? As much as it pain me to admit it (lol!) he give Ricky Hatton a boxing lesson at welterweight and while I'm not trying to downplay this very impressive win, Hatton is not a welterweight (his fight with Urango showed this). I never understood why Floyd wouldn't face Hatton at 140, his natural weight. Its highly likely that the result would still be the same, so I don't see why Floyd, who it seems it obsessed with his legacy and being considered an ATG, wouldn't drop down a division. Shouldn't be too difficult since he started at a super-featherweight.
The fight with De La Hoya shows he is not as untouchable as many fans would like you to believe as well. Personally I scored the fight as a draw, and I felt that De La Hoya should have won it, had he not run out of steam in the last 3 or 4 rounds.
Now regarding the current crop of welters: Margarito, Cotto and Williams. Floyd fans consistenly maintain that he would coast to a victory in all of these fights and therefore he is the best welterweight champion. Unfortunately, claiming that a particular fighter would win doesn't make this true and Floyd will never be the true welterweight in the eyes of many people unless he defeats these fighters. Personally, I think Floyd would have a field day with Margarito. Margarito, for me, is a much bigger, better version of Hatton: constantly applying pressure, but better conditioned and with a much better chin. Regarding pure boxing skills though, Margarito is nowhere near the skill level of Mayweather, which is why Mayweather should score a comfortable UD. Why won't he fight him though? He's been offered $8 million several times now and refused each offer. Personally I would get in the ring with Margarito for that amount!!
And the Cotto fight should still happen. Don't forget styles mae fights and Mayweather is very different to Antonio Margarito. Mayweather doesn't have Margarito's chin! People seem to be writing Cotto off since his defeat last year, but I think this is ridiculous. People seem to be forgetting that boxing wise, Cotto outclassed Margarito for a lot of that fight. Cotto would mentally beaten. It crushed him to see Margarito take his best punches and keep walking through them. If Cotto'd had the stamina of Margarito, he would have won a decision imho. A potential matchup between Mayweather and Cotto would be difficult to predict.
Paul Williams is where Mayweather would find his biggest challenge though. Freakish height, freakish reach and with quite a bit of pop to his punches as well. Paul Williams would provide a much different sort of prospect to a Margarito or a Cotto. This would be a very awkward fight for Mayweather. Yes, I know Quintana beat him, but he looked out-of-sorts in that fight and has markedly improved since then. This is a fight I would love to see Mayweather take.
His work at lightweight and below though, is what I will remember most about his resume: his destruction of a previously undefeated Corrales and his battles with Castillo, the first fight which many (including myself) believe he lost a very close decision. It would be nice for his many fans to admit that the first fight was extremely close and could easily be scored either way. Although, the rematch was more conclusive.
Similarly, his fights against Hernandez, Manfredy and Chavez are more impressive than his work at 135+.
I'm hoping that if Pacquiao beats Hatton in May, then Floyd with come out of retirement to face him. Although if that does happen, I have a fear that Pacquiao will be forced to fight at a weight too high for him so that Mayweather is given an advantage before they even step in the ring.
I'd like to sum up by saying that I respect his talent immensely, but since 2002, he's largely wasted a promising career. Imagine what wins over Tzsyu, Cotto, Mosley (near prime), Margarito and Williams would do for his legacy. He would be much higher on the ATG P4P list thats for sure.
And I think thats how history will remember him: excellent natural talent, great defensive fighter but never really stretched himself against the greats of his era.
Surely there is an element of truth in both arguments. Skillswise (Defensively), Floyd Mayweather is an elite fighter. After watching his fight with De La Hoya I really thought he was overrated. I thought it was close, and I thought Mayweather backed away for a lot of it. I knew he was a counter-puncher, I just felt that he is too defensive. However, after watching the Hatton fight, I realised what a superb fighter he really is. I still didn't consider myself a fan due to comments he's made since regarding his ATG status. I can't tell whether he's just trying to build a bit of hype for a potential comeback, or whether he's really so deluded that he actually thinks he's better than Ali (because Ali lost to Spinks years after his prime) or Sugar Ray Leonard (because Camacho beat him on his third comeback 14 years after he first retired). However, I've recently took the time to watch his earlier fights and have started to respect him as a fighter (begrudgingly lol!). Great handspeed, great footwork, superb defense and a very good boxing brain.
One point that does bother me though, is his resume. Since he moved up from lightweight, I don't believe he's really enhanced his legacy. For example, who has he beaten of note at 140? Nobody worth mentioning. When people mention Floyd in 20, 30 or 50 years time, are they really going to drool over the fact that he beat Corely, Bruseles and Gatti? I really don't think so. Why didn't he fight Tzsyu at 140. He was the best fighter at this weight and in the P4P list. Beating him would have done more for Floyd's legacy than those 3 fighters put together.
His record is similar at 147. Nothing worth getting excited about. I mean Mitchell, Judah and Baldomir are hardly greats are they? As much as it pain me to admit it (lol!) he give Ricky Hatton a boxing lesson at welterweight and while I'm not trying to downplay this very impressive win, Hatton is not a welterweight (his fight with Urango showed this). I never understood why Floyd wouldn't face Hatton at 140, his natural weight. Its highly likely that the result would still be the same, so I don't see why Floyd, who it seems it obsessed with his legacy and being considered an ATG, wouldn't drop down a division. Shouldn't be too difficult since he started at a super-featherweight.
The fight with De La Hoya shows he is not as untouchable as many fans would like you to believe as well. Personally I scored the fight as a draw, and I felt that De La Hoya should have won it, had he not run out of steam in the last 3 or 4 rounds.
Now regarding the current crop of welters: Margarito, Cotto and Williams. Floyd fans consistenly maintain that he would coast to a victory in all of these fights and therefore he is the best welterweight champion. Unfortunately, claiming that a particular fighter would win doesn't make this true and Floyd will never be the true welterweight in the eyes of many people unless he defeats these fighters. Personally, I think Floyd would have a field day with Margarito. Margarito, for me, is a much bigger, better version of Hatton: constantly applying pressure, but better conditioned and with a much better chin. Regarding pure boxing skills though, Margarito is nowhere near the skill level of Mayweather, which is why Mayweather should score a comfortable UD. Why won't he fight him though? He's been offered $8 million several times now and refused each offer. Personally I would get in the ring with Margarito for that amount!!
And the Cotto fight should still happen. Don't forget styles mae fights and Mayweather is very different to Antonio Margarito. Mayweather doesn't have Margarito's chin! People seem to be writing Cotto off since his defeat last year, but I think this is ridiculous. People seem to be forgetting that boxing wise, Cotto outclassed Margarito for a lot of that fight. Cotto would mentally beaten. It crushed him to see Margarito take his best punches and keep walking through them. If Cotto'd had the stamina of Margarito, he would have won a decision imho. A potential matchup between Mayweather and Cotto would be difficult to predict.
Paul Williams is where Mayweather would find his biggest challenge though. Freakish height, freakish reach and with quite a bit of pop to his punches as well. Paul Williams would provide a much different sort of prospect to a Margarito or a Cotto. This would be a very awkward fight for Mayweather. Yes, I know Quintana beat him, but he looked out-of-sorts in that fight and has markedly improved since then. This is a fight I would love to see Mayweather take.
His work at lightweight and below though, is what I will remember most about his resume: his destruction of a previously undefeated Corrales and his battles with Castillo, the first fight which many (including myself) believe he lost a very close decision. It would be nice for his many fans to admit that the first fight was extremely close and could easily be scored either way. Although, the rematch was more conclusive.
Similarly, his fights against Hernandez, Manfredy and Chavez are more impressive than his work at 135+.
I'm hoping that if Pacquiao beats Hatton in May, then Floyd with come out of retirement to face him. Although if that does happen, I have a fear that Pacquiao will be forced to fight at a weight too high for him so that Mayweather is given an advantage before they even step in the ring.
I'd like to sum up by saying that I respect his talent immensely, but since 2002, he's largely wasted a promising career. Imagine what wins over Tzsyu, Cotto, Mosley (near prime), Margarito and Williams would do for his legacy. He would be much higher on the ATG P4P list thats for sure.
And I think thats how history will remember him: excellent natural talent, great defensive fighter but never really stretched himself against the greats of his era.