Teddy Atlas: It's insulting to compare Mayweather to great fighters

[Freddy Krueger]

The hate for Floyd is becoming out of this world. Say what you want about the man but dont tell me he is just a speed guy.

That is what Dirrell said about Calz, he said Calz was only good because of his speed... He said Calz was a talented-hack basically. I say **** them. Both Calz and Floyd are talented boxers, both have won several belts over the yrs so who is to **** on em like that. I swear some fighters and some fans don't realize how hard of a sport boxing truly is.

[Ravishing]

Its biased and blind. If you cant see that then you have problems

I agree there's some subjectivity, but taking a step back and looking at it as a whole, the article isn't far at all from the truth. There's a reason why many Boxing historians and fans alike don't hold Floyd as high as fighters like Ray Robinson and Joe Louis. Both of those guys in their time were big figures in both the sports world and entertainment, but their celebrity never hindered their choice of opposition because at the end of the day, they were fighters. Obviously, Floyd's career is still going on and it's not fair to debate what he may or may not do (or fight), but the simple fact that it's a hassle for him to get in the ring with a guy like Shane Mosley who's also a well known figure and future HOF in the sport let alone they've never fought, it shows where the mindset of a lot of these Boxers are at as opposed to the 60s-80s where the best always fought the best and money was always a closed door affair. Today, people talk more about how much money Floyd makes more than who he'll be fighting or who he should be fighting next. Even with how popular Sugar Ray Leonard was, there was never a fuss over who he was fighting next because you knew it was going to be against someone people wanted him to be in the ring with.

I'm a fan of Floyd's talent, but I can't put him in the same league as those legends off GP. Hopefully by the time he retires I can say the opposite.

[Bushbaby]

Out side of Oscar,whom most floyd fans criticise,who has he fought??A win over Mosley or Cotto makes floyd a real great,why,because they stand attop the best division in boxing!!Carlos & Judah will never give him any credibility at 147,never!!Most fight fans believe he can beat both Mosley & Cotto,if it were that easy,why doesn't he do it!!Is it because of money??I would give up my subscription to boxing scene,if a fight with either didn't outsell him & Marquez!!Who has floyd beaten to compare to a Frazier or Foreman,that the great Ali has defeated??

[Kevin Jesus]

WARRRRRRR TEDDY!!!!!!!!!

[Vasyl’s dad]

I agree there's some subjectivity, but taking a step back and looking at it as a whole, the article isn't far at all from the truth. There's a reason why many Boxing historians and fans alike don't hold Floyd as high as fighters like Ray Robinson and Joe Louis. Both of those guys in their time were big figures in both the sports world and entertainment, but their celebrity never hindered their choice of opposition because at the end of the day, they were fighters. Obviously, Floyd's career is still going on and it's not fair to debate what he may or may not do (or fight), but the simple fact that it's a hassle for him to get in the ring with a guy like Shane Mosley who's also a well known figure and future HOF in the sport let alone they've never fought, it shows where the mindset of a lot of these Boxers are at as opposed to the 60s-80s where the best always fought the best and money was always a closed door affair. Today, people talk more about how much money Floyd makes more than who he'll be fighting or who he should be fighting next. Even with how popular Sugar Ray was, there was never a fuss over who he was fighting next because you knew it was going to be against someone people wanted him to be in the ring with.

I'm a fan of Floyd's talent, but I can't put him in the same league as those legends off GP. Hopefully by the time he retires I can say the opposite.

I agree with most except the bolded.


I think most fighters want to fight the best, and do so. Floyd is just one of the bigger names, so he garners alot of attention. With him being in the position he is, he gives a false representation of all boxers. A common theme from boxing outsiders, "boxers don't want to fight the best anymore".

I have to say with some of the great matchups we've seen the last few years, thats entirely false. Which leads to the problem of having someone like Floyd being the face of the sport. Even though some people don't believe his actions hurt the sport, seeing as how people believe what they do because of him, it shows how he does indeed not help the sports image at all by refusing to take on the best competition.

Hes a great talent, but it means **** if you're not going to use it against the best.

[VibesMan]

Out side of Oscar,whom most floyd fans criticise,who has he fought??A win over Mosley or Cotto makes floyd a real great,why,because they stand attop the best division in boxing!!Carlos & Judah will never give him any credibility at 147,never!!Most fight fans believe he can beat both Mosley & Cotto,if it were that easy,why doesn't he do it!!Is it because of money??I would give up my subscription to boxing scene,if a fight with either didn't outsell him & Marquez!!Who has floyd beaten to compare to a Frazier or Foreman,that the great Ali has defeated??

Ridiculous arguement.

Very few fighters get to pit their wits against the calibre of fighter Ali, Leonard, Robinson et al fought.

If u can't pick out a list of good to very good fighters Floyd made look ordinary I wonder what sport u follow.

Before the nuthugger shout comes forth, think again. I'm a fan of Cotto, Mosely, Williams, Pac as well. I'm just not blind.

[Bushbaby]

Ridiculous arguement.

Very few fighters get to pit their wits against the calibre of fighter Ali, Leonard, Robinson et al fought.

If u can't pick out a list of good to very good fighters Floyd made look ordinary I wonder what sport u follow.

Before the nuthugger shout comes forth, think again. I'm a fan of Cotto, Mosely, Williams, Pac as well. I'm just not blind.

Ok,so floyds resume wouldn't look better with a Mosley or Cotto on it compaired to a Marquez??floyd is a welterweight buddy,lightweights don't bring him props,sorry!!What very good fighter did floyd make look ordinary at 147??Don't worry,I'll wait!!

[Kalion]

I agree there's some subjectivity, but taking a step back and looking at it as a whole, the article isn't far at all from the truth. There's a reason why many Boxing historians and fans alike don't hold Floyd as high as fighters like Ray Robinson and Joe Louis. Both of those guys in their time were big figures in both the sports world and entertainment, but their celebrity never hindered their choice of opposition because at the end of the day, they were fighters. Obviously, Floyd's career is still going on and it's not fair to debate what he may or may not do (or fight), but the simple fact that it's a hassle for him to get in the ring with a guy like Shane Mosley who's also a well known figure and future HOF in the sport let alone they've never fought, it shows where the mindset of a lot of these Boxers are at as opposed to the 60s-80s where the best always fought the best and money was always a closed door affair. Today, people talk more about how much money Floyd makes more than who he'll be fighting or who he should be fighting next. Even with how popular Sugar Ray Leonard was, there was never a fuss over who he was fighting next because you knew it was going to be against someone people wanted him to be in the ring with.

I'm a fan of Floyd's talent, but I can't put him in the same league as those legends off GP. Hopefully by the time he retires I can say the opposite.

They dont hold many fighters period as high as they do the fathers of the sport. Jack Johnson, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Robinson, Ali. The golden age of boxing stopped when Ali retired.

[shogunn]

I think Teddy is ****phobic, thus the floyd hate. Nothing wrong with that

[VibesMan]

Ok,so floyds resume wouldn't look better with a Mosley or Cotto on it compaired to a Marquez??floyd is a welterweight buddy,lightweights don't bring him props,sorry!!What very good fighter did floyd make look ordinary at 147??Don't worry,I'll wait!!

Fair enough at 147 - Baldomir was average at best.

Aside from that I accept Hatton and Marquez were made to get beat. He still did it real easy.

His careers littered with some good early career wins as well though - Manfredy, Hernandez, Castillo, Corrales, Juuko.

I'd love to see him fight Shane, Cotto and Williams and maybe he will.

The hate and dismissal he gets (for his boxing and it's resume) still seems ridiculous to me.