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

[sargo]

Mayweather critics might say things like "all he does is run and hug" but deep down inside they know he's the real deal. They recognize if it was that easy anyone could do it.

At least I hope they do.

He is not the only one who excessively holds.

And yes he has great attributes. But how great, really? Why the need to punch then hold and duck then hold? Mayweather fanboys are lying when they say Mayweather does not do it excessively. Come on. Just watch his recent fights. Very first combination attack of Pacquiao what does he do? Hug. What follows a right straight from Floyd?-many times a push to the head or even a backhand swing. What follows a ducked hook from Floyd? A push down on the head.Just not a fair fighter. Not great.

[BrometheusBob.]

Can't argue with that.

[Santa_]

Floyd Mayweather over Roy Jones Jr???

[SweetPbfAli]

There's no way ESPN, a sports entertainment business would have ranked anyone ahead of Mayweather at this point. It serves their business interests to place Mayweather on top to generate more traffic and conversation about the list. Mayweather is a lightening rod plus he's the most recently successful and visible fighter on the list and actually has the credentials to make his placement atop the list credible. Also, Roy getting KO'd the last 10 years hasn't helped his case.

[jcpryor]

There's no way ESPN, a sports entertainment business would have ranked anyone ahead of Mayweather at this point. It serves their business interests to place Mayweather on top to generate more traffic and conversation about the list. Mayweather is a lightening rod plus he's the most recently successful and visible fighter on the list and actually has the credentials to make his placement atop the list credible. Also, Roy getting KO'd the last 10 years hasn't helped his case.

They would have generated just as much traffic putting him literally anywhere. It creates conversation regardless.

[JStill Unbiased]

Of course he will get it. But in 10 years it will look silly that he did, because p4p head to head there are atleast 3 fighters I am not sure Floyd could get past in the last 25 years.

#1) Roy Jones Jr.
#2) Pernell Whitaker.
#3) James Toney ( Imagine watching Floyd fight Toney ).
#4) Bernard Hopkins.

Then is we want to get into the smaller weights.

#1) Guillermo Rigondeaux not sure Floyd could get past him.
#2) Finito Lopez.
#3) I am not sure Floyd would have gotten past Chavez Sr... I mean look what Castillo did to him.
People are forgetting 25 years encompases Pernell Whitaker...

The top comments can be debunked but the bolded is just out right blashpemy.

[JStill Unbiased]

What is obvious is your blind bias for Floyd. Marquez and Bradley fought Pacquiao back.pedalling all the way, but they fought. When Manny punched they defended - without the grabbing that is STANDARD for Floyd. In the second fight Bradley grabbed Manny's head during a Manny Flurry - one time. Floyd? Most of the time. When Marquez and Bradley punch they are susceptible to counters. Floyd punches and then holds so no counter. Boring. Not great. Whitaker was sweet with his defense. RJJ awesome with his speed. Toney with his roll and counters. Floyd had speed and precision but had to hold when punched and after punching. Not great at all, not a fair fighter, and boring.

He held Corralles? Gatti? Ndou? Mitchell, Bruseles, Chavez, Hernendaz???????? You guy's love talking about a past prime Floyd

[JStill Unbiased]

Roy fought at 154. Could the schooled vetran Mayweather have beaten Roy Jones who fought at 154lb?

I doubt it. You have to consider 154 is Floyd's 5th Division, where as it was Roy's first, he was breifly there. By the time Floyd got to Jr. Middle, his best years were behind him, contrary to popular belief. Roy on the other hand was just starting out and fresher, he's naturally the bigger guy.

[Jcsuper]

He is not the only one who excessively holds.

And yes he has great attributes. But how great, really? Why the need to punch then hold and duck then hold? Mayweather fanboys are lying when they say Mayweather does not do it excessively. Come on. Just watch his recent fights. Very first combination attack of Pacquiao what does he do? Hug. What follows a right straight from Floyd?-many times a push to the head or even a backhand swing. What follows a ducked hook from Floyd? A push down on the head.Just not a fair fighter. Not great.

Obviously you're one of the new guy to boxing who watched Floyd's fight in his 35-40 years old period. Go watch his fights from 18 to 35 years old and come say the same thing.

Thanks

[Jcsuper]

Lol been watching boxing regularly since Duan-Leonard 1. There's youtube. Just watch Mayweather's most recent fights and that of the greats. Mayweather, Rigondeaux, John Ruiz, W. Klitschko are punch-hold and duck-hold which you guys call spoiling. True greats just don't do that. Barrera, Morales and Marquez did not do that. Ironically Mayweather who is bigger than all three did.

And which two fights are those? Against Pacquiao his own Dad told him he was fighting scared. Bandwagon? Discuss the issues don't attack the messenger.

Watch Floyd's recent fights vs Leonards fights from 35 to 40 years old for an objective comparison, oh right leonard was getting dismantled by norris and camacho.

Watch Floyd's recent fights vs Robinsons fights from 35 to retirement for an objective comparison, oh yeah robinson got 15 losses in that period.

I can go on and on. Basically asking people to watch Floyds last few fight at more than 36 years old and compare it to great fighters from the past is totally idiotics, intellectually fallacious and a subjective way to take down a fighter you obviously don't like.

Ask people to watch Floyd vs Corrales, Hatton, Gatti, etc... and then watch the other greats and maybe we can have an adult discussion.