Lets say this really is it for Floyd where do you rank him All time?

[Bald Shavers]

Time to rank Mayweather. He has had a great career, often rated among the best defensive boxers ever. He does not hold any records (Pac has 8 titles in 8 weight divisions; Ricardo Lopez retired 54-0 (1 draw); Armstrong held 3 titles in 3 weight divisions simultaneously; Robinson won and recaptured middleweight title 5 times; Joe Louis had 26 title defenses over almost twelve years).

But Mayweather, when it comes to fighter vs fighter skills comparison, was near flawless. It is for this reason that I rank him this way in my all time great pound for pound rankings.

1. Sugar Ray Robinson
2. Muhammad Ali
3. Willie Pep
4. Henry Armstrong
5. Joe Louis
6. Sugar Ray Leonard
7. Archie Moore
8. Roberto Duran
9. Harry Greb
10. Sam Lanford
11. Benny Leonard
12. Jimmy Wilde
13. Joe Gans
14. Carlos Monzon
15. Ezzard Charles
16. Manny Pacquiao
17. Roy Jones
18. Julio Ceasar Chavez SENIOR
19. Floyd Mayweather JUNIOR
20. Pernell Whitaker
21. Bernard Hopkins
22. Gene Tunney
23. Tommy Loughran
24. Carmen Basilio
25. Tony Canzoneri
26. George Foreman
27. Marvelous Marvin Hagler
28. Jack Dempsey
29. Salvador Sanchez
30. Kid Gavilan

[LomaUsykKlichko]

Top ten fighter, Best fighter of our era, beat everyone he faced. I was just hoping he would face someone better than Berto for his last fight.

[SkillspayBills]

Top 10 no lower than top 20. I don't need to list all the accolades again. He has accomplished things no other fighter ever has.

[BrometheusBob.]

Nostalgia got people rating mighty high all of a sudden.

http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=683006

This was the general thought just 2 months ago...

[Mr.Fantastic]

Top 10 no lower than top 20. I don't need to list all the accolades again. He has accomplished things no other fighter ever has.

Like? No money accomplishments.

[-Kev-]

No idea to be honest. But talking out of my ass, i'd say top 25. Realistically, I would prefer to see the supposed best from the past 100 years in their prime vs their best opponents and then make a decision, which would be impossible because TV wasn't available 100 years ago. But watching Floyd's defensive skills, I think he would hold his own vs any Super Featherweight through Jr Middleweight in the history of boxing.

I think he fought the best fighters he can fight at the time he can fight them given promotional rifts and boxing politics, and he gets a lot flack for things that were not really in his control and happens to every other fighter in every other promotional company(money, promotional disputes, lawsuits with former promoter, refusing business with another promoter, etc).

[creekrat77]

I think Floyd would give most atg's around welterweight a run for their money. But I think performance and how impressive they are needs to be taken into account. Floyd's greatest attribute to his legacy is exactly what he ingeniously marketed himself as. That he can go in the ring and find a way to win under any circumstances. He has at least proven it, and rightly there are critics left and right with how he may go about winning. But Floyd's perspective is much different then past ATG's. His perspective is less show and tell and more winning at all cost. Much like a ruthless business man. Minimizing risk to the extent where most scratch their head.

[madsweeney]

No idea to be honest. But talking out of my ass, i'd say top 25. Realistically, I would prefer to see the supposed best from the past 100 years in their prime vs their best opponents and then make a decision, which would be impossible because TV wasn't available 100 years ago. But watching Floyd's defensive skills, I think he would hold his own vs any Super Featherweight through Jr Middleweight in the history of boxing.

I think he fought the best fighters he can fight at the time he can fight them given promotional rifts and boxing politics, and he gets a lot flack for things that were not really in his control and happens to every other fighter in every other promotional company(money, promotional disputes, lawsuits with former promoter, refusing business with another promoter, etc).

I'm with you on this, however, I don't necessarily aggree with your second paragraph. When comparing to that upper echelon of ATG's, there were no excuses really, they just fought everyone. Today's greats have too much influence on who they can and will fight and lets face it, they're pampered. Would Floyd or any other modern great do as well if they HAD to fight 2-3x more a year? Also, while his 23 world champs is great, lets face it, it seems like everyone and their mother can get belts these days, between the number of divisions and belts.

Phenomenal that he has maintained a perfect record and his defense is top notch for sure. Unfortunately, I just feel he (or Hopkins/Pac) can't get up that high just by the nature of the game today vs even 20 years ago.

[Jim Jeffries]

Shouldn't this be in the history section?

[Suckmedry]

I dont know exactly because I'm not a fan of all time lists based too heavily on resume..

ability wise, he just might be the greatest fighter of all time. Id rank others such as Duran, Sweet pea, and Leonard on his level.

On one of those lists based mainly on resume people with no lives compile? He's probably top 30-40. Top 25 at best.