Mayweather, Underrated?

[turbotime]

More like overrated if you ask me. Whenever I say someone says he woulda beat the likes of Hearns & SRL, yeah that's just...............something else.

But he started at 130. Most of his fantasy fights should go down at 130-135 regardless.

[Bushbaby]

But he started at 130. Most of his fantasy fights should go down at 130-135 regardless.

Duran fathers Floyd at lightweight.

[Jayallday9]

Yes he is underrated. He doesn't get a fair shake. I watched every clip i could find of his early career and he is the truth. Even though i wanted him to lose on several occasions, after dealing with these irrational Pac fans I end up defending him! When they ignore Pac fighting people who have no chance of winning, and downplay Floyd dominating better opposition it just gets ******. Bradley is Pac's FIRST REAL FIGHT in a while but somehow that don't matter!! Lets look at Floyd's fight with Ortiz; at first he was scared of a big young southpaw, forget the ending cause it wasn't even close while it lasted and then what?? Look at Shane; Floyd scared of a big strong full blown welterweight until Floyd dominates him, now he's old and shot and even if he is, why would you excuse Pac fighting someone who is labeled old and shot????? I respect all who just want Floyd to lose cause he talks too much but be real with yourself if you can, and admit the boy is awsome!!!

[Brother Jay]

It really comes down to this:

Ability - Floyd is elite. He is not at the very top though as Roy Jones was clearly more gifted than Floyd in nearly every category as it pertains to physical attributes.

Skills - Floyd may be one of if not thee most skilled boxers in history. Most acknowledge this.

Work ethic - Second to none. Acknowledged by his peers as the consummate professional. A gym rat. Stays in shape between fights. Trains year round. True dedication.

Now here's where things get sticky ....

Career - Floyd has done everything that any excellent fighter has done to cement his status as an ALL TIME GREAT.

Floyd has consistently fought the #1 & 2 in every division save 140(Tszyu).

Floyd has dominated with incredible longevity.

Floyd has moved up to seek bigger challenges once a division is stale.

Floyd has always sought the champions. He has never sought to raise his standings by capturing vacant titles.

To date, Mayweather has been dominate in 5 divisions. He has, every time he's moved up, been underestimated.

There is no question that there is little else that Floyd could have done outside of letting Arum manipulate him into handing over more of his own money by being forced to fight Top Rank boxers. Pretty much that is the only factor in contention.

Legacy - Floyd Mayweather .. either you hate him or you love him .. which is really no different than how folks felt bout Jack Johnson, Ray Robinson and Ali in their day. A legacy cannot be weighed while a fighter is active. Never has been done and never will be.

All we can discuss is Floyd's career as of now, and if you go by the merits of what Floyd has actually accomplished and compare it to his closest rival, its a no-brainer that Floyd is destined to be among the greatest ATG's IMO.

Not because of his personality. Not because of his money. Its solely based on Floyd's skills, and the men he displayed them upon and their rank at the time when they met.

Historians will weigh in whether or not Floyd met these men at their best. The one thing Floyd won't ever have to worry about though is historians having to factor in catchweights or vacant titles. Floyd needed no such shortcuts or special needs advantages.

On the scale that weighs value in terms of legacy, Floyd is old school in that he trained hard and fought men at their best without making excuses or seeking unfair advantages.

Time will tell for all of these guys.

Still, it should be mentioned that had all of these so-called future ATGs done what Floyd has done, boxing would be a much more exciting sport with a much bigger fanbase. There would be no shortage of great fights. There would always be a megafight once a month. There would always be a clear-cut champion because everyone would have fought each other.

I'm asking forum members ... who else, for over a 15 year span, has consistently faced the #1 & 2 fighters in a division and then moved up to do the same thing over again, and again, and again?

Who?

I'm not saying that other fighters weren't good or even great for that matter. I am saying that being great in one specific area and being great under all criteria are two very different things.

For instance Kostya Tszyu was a very dominant boxer, but he never tested his mettle outside of 140lbs, which was pretty much a dead division for most of his reign.

Another example is DLH, who was willing to fight nearly everybody, but outside of a few passed-their-prime HOF's, DLH lost every significant match he's ever had at the top of the world stage.

There will always be those whose efforts are appreciated and respected. That doesn't make them elite, and it doesn't mean that they are truly special when compared to the best that have ever done it.

[nicamarvin]

It really comes down to this:

Ability - Floyd is elite. he is not the top as Roy Jones was clearly more gifted than Floyd in nearly every category as it pertains to physical attributes.

Skills - Floyd may be one of if not thee most skilled boxers in history. Most acknowledge this.

Work ethic - second to none. Acknowledged by his peers as the consummate professional. A gym rat. Stays in shape between fights. Trains year round. True dedication.

Now here's where things get sticky ....

Career - Floyd has done everything that any excellent fighter has done to cement his status as an ALL TIME GREAT.

Floyd has consistently fought the #1 & 2 in every division save 140(Tszyu).

Floyd has dominated with incredible longevity.

Floyd has moved up to seek bigger challenges once a division is stale.

Floyd has always sought the champions. He has never sought to raise his standings by capturing vacant titles.

To date, Mayweather has been dominate in 5 divisions. He has, every time he's moved up, been underestimated.

There is no question that there is little else that Floyd could have done outside of letting Arum manipulate him into handing over more of his own money by being forced to fight Top Rank boxers. Pretty much that is the only factor in contention.

Legacy - Floyd Mayweather .. either you hate him or you love him .. which is really no different than how folks felt bout Jack Johnson, Ray Robinson and Ali in their day. A legacy cannot be weighed while a fighter is active. Never has been done and never will be.

All we can discuss is Floyd's career as of now, and if you go by the merits of what Floyd has actually accomplished and compare it to his closest rival, its a no-brainer that Floyd is destined to among the greatest ATG's IMO.

Not because of his personality. Not because of his money. Its solely based on Floyd's skills, and the men he displayed them upon and their rank at the time when they met.

Historians will weigh in whether or not Floyd met these men at their best. The one thing Floyd won't ever have to worry about though is historians having to factor in catchweights or vacant titles. Floyd needed no such shortcuts or special needs advantages.

On the scale that weighs value in terms of legacy, Floyd is old school in that he trained hard and fought men at their best without making excuses or seeking unfair advantage.

Time will tell for all of the guys.

Still, it should be mentioned that had all of these so-called future ATGs done what Floyd has done, boxing would be a much more exciting sport with a much bigger fanbase. There would be no shortage of great fights. There would always be a megafight once a month. There would always be a clear-cut champion because everyone would have fought each other.

I'm asking forum members ... who else for over a 15 years span has consistently faced the #1 & 2 fighters in a division and then moved up to do the same thing over again and again and again?

Who?

I'm not saying that other fighters weren't good or even great for that matter. I am saying that being great in one specific are and being great under all criteria are two very different things.

For instance Kostya Tszyu was a very dominant boxer, but he never tested his mettle outside of 140lbs which was pretty much a dead division for most of his reign.

Another example is DLH who was willing to fight nearly everybody, but outside of a few passed their prime HOF's, DLH lost every significant match he's ever had at the top of the world stage.

There will always those whose efforts are appreciated and respected. That doesn't make them elite and it doesn't mean that they are truly special when compared to the best that have ever done it.

^^^^^^This

[rambov]

I agree totally brother Jay. Floyd is underrated to casual fans. I have never seen anyone fight like Floyd.

His work ethic is flawless and pars with that of Walter Payton

[turbotime]

Duran fathers Floyd at lightweight.

That's fine if you choose Duran, a lot would. But he would be one of few to 'father him' below 135. And at 130, I'd take Floyd over Duran.

[Bushbaby]

That's fine if you choose Duran, a lot would. But he would be one of few to 'father him' below 135.

True, also Prior sons him too.

[turbotime]

True, also Prior sons him too.

At and below 135 ? Doubtful. Floyd would handle Duran at 130, too.

It's PrYor, btw.

[Dubbed90]

You have some saying he is the most skilled fighter of all time and you have others saying he has a weak resume.

Two examples of overrating him and underrating him.

Whilst I agree he is somewhat "up there" in terms of solely skillls I still wouldn't say he's the best fighter ever in that regard. And, plenty say he is, which I why I feel he is overrated in that sense.

On the flipside, saying he has a weak resume is obviously a ****** statement. And a clear example of him being underrated.

I think he is the most skilled boxer of all time (technically). I don't feel like I am "overrating" him.