Are Mayweather and Pacquiao paper champions at 154 lbs?

**BoxingFollower** · 08-02-2011, 06:37 PM

I think they both won a title just to say that they fought at that weightclass.

So yea, if that makes them paper champions, then I guess. But still they have every right to take WW fights at 147 in priority over 154 fights, which is what they are doing.

**DLT** · 08-02-2011, 06:39 PM

Oscar was the best fighter at 154 when Floyd beat him

**DLT** · 08-02-2011, 06:40 PM

Originally posted by BoxingFollower

I think they both won a title just to say that they fought at that weightclass.

So yea, if that makes them paper champions, then I guess. But still they have every right to take WW fights at 147 in priority over 154 fights, which is what they are doing.

How can you say that about Floyd when Oscar had to fight there? Oscar had even fought at 160. There was no way he was going lower then 54 and he was the best fighter at that weight at the time. He also called all the shots so Floyd couldnt make him come to WW.

**RL_GMA** · 08-02-2011, 06:41 PM

Was Oscar the legit WBC 154 champ when he fought Floyd? Based on a technicality, I'd consider that a legit 154 title win, but I think it was for title sake more than Floyd trying to compete at 154 from then on. Pac's win over Margarito for the WBC 154 title to me is like Leonard beating Lalonde for the 168 belt. Just another notch on his belt, but not one of Leonard's more notable wins / fights (especially since he made Lalonde drain to 168 and still making him defend his Light Heavy crown).

**STRUGG** · 08-02-2011, 06:41 PM

both are paper champion.............................i agree at 154

**RL_GMA** · 08-02-2011, 06:45 PM

Originally posted by DLT

Oscar was the best fighter at 154 when Floyd beat him

Which at that point wasn't saying much at all, but more than that it was the most lucrative fight in general Floyd could've taken. He'd be an idiot not to fight Oscar at that point.

**BennyST** · 08-02-2011, 06:46 PM

Well, Pac is the absolute definition of a paper titlist at 154. It doesn't get any worse than that. Margarito wasn't champ, shouldn't have been ranked and hadn't beaten anyone. It was a title and fight thought up and made for no other purpose whatsoever than to give Pac a title there; fought closer to 147 than the 154 limit no less. It's even worse than Leonard/Lalonde.

At least Oscar was a champ. So, Floyd was a legit titlist there but I don't think it was lineal or anything so in a way still a paper titlist...just not a complete bull****, disgustingly corrupt one.

I'lll say yes to Pac, no to Floyd.

**BoxerDood** · 08-02-2011, 06:47 PM

Floyd fought DLH coming off of a dominant victory over Mayorga. It was a vacant title, but at least Mayorga was ranked high, making it a somewhat decent title shot. Still a vacant title though.

Margarito did nothing to deserve to be ranked ahead of Canelo (the SILVER champ), Angulo or Vanes. A joke of a title shot.

So while both were vacant at one point, Floyd's was legit because he beat a true champ, who fought a ranked opponent for the title as opposed to Margo fighting Roberto Garcia and somehow getting ahead of guys who have done MUCH more.

**-MAKAVELLI-** · 08-02-2011, 06:47 PM

i'm not gonna fault smaller fighters testing how high they can go...if that makes them paper champs then so be it

i never considered Roy as the real HW champ of the world but ****, it was quite an accomplishment for a former MW to get all the way that high

same with PAC and PBF

Are Mayweather and Pacquiao paper champions at 154 lbs?