Is Floyd The Best Fighter In The Last 30 Years?

[Ravishing]

Skilled to me is the science. Hit and not get hit. Speed, timing, reflexes, footwork, defense, accuracy, punch placement, smarts, ring genralship...alot goes in to calling a guy highly skilled. In short I would say a guy who has mastered the art of boxing.

Its more then just throwing punches at high speeds with power. Which is why I dont call Williams real skilled. Hes not IMO.

In the early 90s, people also made claims about Whittaker being the best fighter in the last 20 yrs, but that just goes along with the territory of being THAT guy at the present time. Twenty years from now, there'll be another fighter who will be compared to Floyd and there's a good possibility they may look at him as more skilled, faster, stronger, etc.

In Boxing, all you can do is match the best of their current time. We can say Floyd is the best fighter in the last 30 years, but where does the frame of reference come from? Is it based on who he COULD'VE beat or who he HAS beaten?

[-MAKAVELLI-]

Do you think if Floyd fought the style of Pac that he would be as successful as Pacquiao?

you're better off asking that question to GreatA or Silencers....people that actually have brains

[ProudAmerican]

Lopez skill level is higher of JMM.

Lopez was damn near perfect JMM wasn't. Not even close.

Thanks for bringing up his name around here Jro .

Most of these motha****ers seem to not even know about him.

I bet Burners dumbass hasn't even seen one of his fights .

[jrosales13]

He actually used to fight like that in a way. The Hernandez fight comes to mind. Floyd was guy who let his hands go back in the day as he got heavier and older his style went more towards just boxing.

So you think fighting Pac style he would of been as successful as Pac? OK...

[PH|L]

no. hell no.

Better than Floyd in the last 30 years off the top of my head:

Pacquiao
RJJ
Hearns
Hagler
SRL
Duran
Whitaker
JCC
Arguello

[rommel357]

Hell ****ing NOO!!! He's not even the best boxer in the last 10 yrs, let alone 30. Is he in the top 5, hell ****ing YES! At least IMO, and i would hope so just base on his accomplishments.

[DLT]

Lopez skill level is higher of JMM.

Lopez was damn near perfect JMM wasn't. Not even close.

no doubt its higher but I mean its in that same kinda mold. I think Floyd can fight that way and do other things. He can do that and throw the leaping left hook, the pull counters, and so on. Lopez is the same guy every fight while Floyd can switch his style totally. Lopez has the same stance every fight while Floyd can switch it

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

In the early 90s, people also made claims about Whittaker being the best fighter in the last 20 yrs, but that just goes along with the territory of being THAT guy at the present time. Twenty years from now, there'll be another fighter who will be compared to Floyd and there's a good possibility they may look at him as more skilled, faster, stronger, etc.

In Boxing, all you can do is match the best of their current time. We can say Floyd is the best fighter in the last 30 years, but where does the frame of reference come from? Is it based on who he COULD'VE beat or who he HAS beaten?

I see what you mean I dont think it will be even 3 years before we start looking a guy and comparing him to Floyd. Guillermo Rigondeaux comes to mind. His skill set is just sickening.

I think the frame of reference comes from the eye ball test. Styles makes fights. I look t Mayo and Forresst and its clear who the better boxer is. So I dont think its based on who would beat who I think its based off just looking at guys and there skill sets and making a judgement on them.

[2501]

Because a bunch of writers picked him in a popularity contest.

Some will say Floyd, some will say Pac.

not a bunch a writers, a majority of respected writers. the opinion of a majority constitutes a certain label. thats just the way it works.

[Da Hammer]

what exactly is the question here? Whether he would beat every other ATG in the last 30years? if thats the question then i say *** no. Hell i would pick prime DLH to beat him although i do think he would match up well with other great fighters. Or is the question, is floyd the most skilled fighter in the last 30 years? he's somewhere in the discussion middle of the pack although i don't know if i would have him near on top, not sure what order i have the top fighters at though. i would have to think about it for a little while...

edit: i am rephrasing here. he is near the top in most skilled but i wouldnt have near the very top of best fighter. this is what i meant.