ESPN Ranks Floyd Mayweather As The Best Fighter Of The Last 25 Years

[!! Shawn]

Oh lord help me, James Toney, Ricardo Lopez and Rigondeaux ranked higher than Floyd Mayweaher.

A+ for comedic value.

I didn't say they are rated higher than Floyd I listed fighters that I am not sure in a p4p head to head prime for prime fight Floyd could get past.

James Toney is one of the ATG's especially on his best night. He has every skill set Floyd has, but more power, and combination punching ability. He didn't have the discipline that Floyd does, so you can't rattle off the kind of impressive career names, although he has a lot. People forget what an ANIMAL Toney was, and he was every bit as quick as Floyd, every bit as slick, and he is a mirror image of him that throws more punches.

Lay out a game plan of how Floyd Dismantles a prime prepared Toney. Because Roy Jones shouldn't have even beaten Toney on paper. He did though.

Ricardo Lopez, once again... dont underestimate great fighters. He retired undefeated aswell with more wins. A better, rangier version of Marquez who quite a few consider to be the best fighter EVER to come out of Mexico... But nah Castillo can beat Floyd... so Finito Lopez would have no chance head to head right, especially since he ran an undefeated career aswell?

[deathofaclown]

Floyd got dropped by a guy that just lost to Baldomir. Your point?

Rigondeaux has not gotten the chance to fight the best, but when he did, he proved he was up to the task. He is clearly not in his prime anymore. 35 years old at 122lb, that's like being 45 at 147.

He also hasn't gotten slapped around by anyone. He has gotten shaken up, nobody has ever accused him of having the best chin in the world, but Floyd was almost knocked out by DeMarcus Corley...

So about these fights he got slapped around in... let me guess they are all the ones you never actually watched that people always like to quote, Cordoba fight, where he got went down off balance from a jab after being aggressive and then played the defensive counter puncher to the T, and easily won. Or is it the Marroquin fight, where he got rocked, regained his composure, and once again went on to dominate. Or is it the Aamagasa fight where he was caught off balance moving, but literally almost beat the kid to death...

Even Robert Garcia says that skills wise Rigondeaux is probably more talented than Floyd, but Floyd is a more rounded package because he can "punch". We know Rigo can punch, and Garcia has sour g****s in his mouth from what Rigo did to Donaire.

You may not enjoy his fighting style. You may not appreciate his fighting style. But how would Floyd beat him?

Is he going to walk down and knock out a fighter with better defensive stats that he himself has? Is he going to get Rigondeaux to come to him? Laughable, if Floyd could coax Rigondeaux into taking the lead, I would bow down and immediately proclaim Floyd the greatest fighter to ever live.

Is Floyd going to use his superior speed to pot shot Rigondeaux? Where did that get Donaire? A fighter equally as fast as Floyd.

2 Gold Medals, and avoided by EVERYONE once he proved that he was the real deal.

You don't think he is on Floyds Level at his best? Remember the Problems Floyd was having with 4 round Zab? What kind of problems would have have with arguably the most technically sound southpaw to ever lace up a pair of gloves?

Rigo's career is a shame. But he had his chance to shine against the best of his time at his weight, at his peak in Donaire, and he put on one of the best masterclasses we have seen in a long time.

Still got slapped around and dropped heavily by journeyman. That never happened to Floyd in a 19 year career fighting much better opposition than Rigo. Floyd might have touched down with his glove or something, but never been straight put down heavily like Rigo. He's the most overrated fighter in the game, but yes, excellent amateur. I'm not a Floyd fan by the way but as a pro, he is levels and levels above Rigo in terms of skill, nevermind resume.

Of course Rigo's defensive stats are great, he's barely fought anyone in the top 30 outside of Donaire. How do you think Floyd's stats would look if he was fighting the likes of Kevin Bizier or somebody like that, that's the usual calibre of Rigo's fighter. Infact Bizier is probably better than the guys Rigo fights. Maybe that isn't his fault but it's obvious thats why his defensive stats are good.

[!! Shawn]

Still got slapped around and dropped heavily by journeyman. That never happened to Floyd in a 19 year career fighting much better opposition than Rigo. Floyd might have touched down with his glove or something, but never been straight put down heavily like Rigo. He's the most overrated fighter in the game, but yes, excellent amateur. I'm not a Floyd fan by the way but as a pro, he is levels and levels above Rigo.

When did he get slapped around? You want to talk about getting slapped around by a Journeyman... Whats up with Maidana? Even Devon Alexander had no problems with him.

[IronDanHamza]

I didn't say they are rated higher than Floyd I listed fighters that I am not sure in a p4p head to head prime for prime fight Floyd could get past.

James Toney is one of the ATG's especially on his best night. He has every skill set Floyd has, but more power, and combination punching ability. He didn't have the discipline that Floyd does, so you can't rattle off the kind of impressive career names, although he has a lot. People forget what an ANIMAL Toney was, and he was every bit as quick as Floyd, every bit as slick, and he is a mirror image of him that throws more punches.

Lay out a game plan of how Floyd Dismantles a prime prepared Toney. Because Roy Jones shouldn't have even beaten Toney on paper. He did though.

Ricardo Lopez, once again... dont underestimate great fighters. He retired undefeated aswell with more wins. A better, rangier version of Marquez who quite a few consider to be the best fighter EVER to come out of Mexico... But nah Castillo can beat Floyd... so Finito Lopez would have no chance head to head right, especially since he ran an undefeated career aswell?

"James Toney a mirror image of Mayweather" what a zinger.

Why's that because they both shoulder roll? "just as quick and slick"

Who are these "quite a few" people who consider Ricardo Lopez to be the best fighter to come out of Mexico and how long have they had brain damage? Or did you just pull that claim out of thin air?

What kind of idiotic comparison is that? Castillo and Lopez are complete polar opposites as fighters. Are you using them as a comparison because they're both Mexican?

Ricardo Lopez is no where near Mayweather's level I won't even entertain such a ridiculous conversation.

[!! Shawn]

ROBBED BLIND vs PRIME De La Hoya.

My use of CAPITAL LETTERS is as OVER the TOP as stretching the CLAIM that that FIGHT was a ROBBERY

Are you saying Oscar won that fight? The fight that is basically one massive highlight reel of Pernell Whitaker making Oscar look like a fool? Oh yeah, the same one where Whitaker outlanded Oscar by almost 50 punches, and scored the only knockdown in the fight... but somehow Oscar wins with scorecards of 116-110 and 115-111.

Everyone knows Oscar got that fight because he was the young star on the rise, and Pernell was the old star on the decline.

Pernell was far more deserving of a win vs Oscar than Floyd was, and Floyd deserved his win against Oscar.

[Razcal26]

James Toney is one of the ATG's especially on his best night. He has every skill set Floyd has, but more power, and combination punching ability. He didn't have the discipline that Floyd does, so you can't rattle off the kind of impressive career names, although he has a lot. People forget what an ANIMAL Toney was, and he was every bit as quick as Floyd, every bit as slick, and he is a mirror image of him that throws more punches.

I'm sorry, what?

[b00g13man]

I didn't say they are rated higher than Floyd I listed fighters that I am not sure in a p4p head to head prime for prime fight Floyd could get past.

James Toney is one of the ATG's especially on his best night. He has every skill set Floyd has, but more power, and combination punching ability. He didn't have the discipline that Floyd does, so you can't rattle off the kind of impressive career names, although he has a lot. People forget what an ANIMAL Toney was, and he was every bit as quick as Floyd, every bit as slick, and he is a mirror image of him that throws more punches.

Lay out a game plan of how Floyd Dismantles a prime prepared Toney. Because Roy Jones shouldn't have even beaten Toney on paper. He did though.

Ricardo Lopez, once again... dont underestimate great fighters. He retired undefeated aswell with more wins. A better, rangier version of Marquez who quite a few consider to be the best fighter EVER to come out of Mexico... But nah Castillo can beat Floyd... so Finito Lopez would have no chance head to head right, especially since he ran an undefeated career aswell?

[IronDanHamza]

Are you saying Oscar won that fight? The fight that is basically one massive highlight reel of Pernell Whitaker making Oscar look like a fool? Oh yeah, the same one where Whitaker outlanded Oscar by almost 50 punches, and scored the only knockdown in the fight... but somehow Oscar wins with scorecards of 116-110 and 115-111.

Everyone knows Oscar got that fight because he was the young star on the rise, and Pernell was the old star on the decline.

Pernell was far more deserving of a win vs Oscar than Floyd was, and Floyd deserved his win against Oscar.

Nope. Thought Whitaker edged it.

Far from a ROBBERY though. Far from ROBBED BLIND.

[!! Shawn]

"James Toney a mirror image of Mayweather" what a zinger.

Why's that because they both shoulder roll? "just as quick and slick"

Who are these "quite a few" people who consider Ricardo Lopez to be the best fighter to come out of Mexico and how long have they had brain damage? Or did you just pull that claim out of thin air?

What kind of idiotic comparison is that? Castillo and Lopez are complete polar opposites as fighters. Are you using them as a comparison because they're both Mexican?

Ricardo Lopez is no where near Mayweather's level I won't even entertain such a ridiculous conversation.

Once again, to hear how great Finito is, you just have to walk into any GYM. He was technically flawless as a fighter. Marquez with defense and range. Watch him, it speaks for itself.

Yes, James Toney and Floyd Mayweather are mirror images of each other. Yes because the fight behind the shoulder, yes beause the fight in the pocket with counter uppercuts yes because they pull counter, yes because they both duck below the waist, yes because they are both lightning fast.

Yes Floyd was more conservative, and prefered to slow down the pace, yes Toney liked to fight a bit more. Yes Toneys defense was close to as good as Floyds was.

No Toney didn't always come in shape, yes his skills and fundamentals carried him through fights he had no position being in the ring in. Cough cough Vasily Jirov.

Everyone always things of the fat old Toney, nobody remember Toney at 160lb, YES HE WAS AT 160lb ONCE!

And he was a beast.

Difference between him and Floyd is Toney wasn't as patient. Floyd could have gotten him to follow him, but from there seeing them fight in the pocket it would have been anyones game. Toney actually has the upper hand in lateral movement on the inside over Floyd. He was much better at working around guys that Floyd was. Floyd throws his piece and gets out. Toney worked around guys brilliantly.

[IronDanHamza]

I'm sorry, what?

In a thread full of hilarious zingers I think that one takes that cake.

That, or "quite a few people say Lopez is the greatest Mexican fighter ever"'right after using Castillo as a triangle theory for Mayweather-Lopez for which the only reason I can gather is both of them being Mexican.