Floyd is The Best Ever so what Holyfield says don't hold no weight.
Holyfield's word counts for more than yours. After all you are a fanboy first and foremost a Boxing fan a distant second. You don't know enough about Boxing history to make claims.
What Holyfield said is fact based. It doesn't mean Mayweather isn't a great fighter and it's not even an attack. I am unsure (but not surprised) why Mayweather fans are denying the information and getting upset.
Floyd technically was never a majority title holder in one weight class (majority meaning either undisputed or a 3 title holder in the era WBO became respected or 2 belts in the years before), perhaps just 147 very friedly. Even at 154 when he held two titles (against Canelo) that was at a catch-weight and two titles so kind of doesn't hold the same weight as if he'd have won at 154 unfortunately.
At 130, 135, 140 it was just one belt per division at 140 only became about because of an injury to Tszyu forcing two belts to go vacant for fighters like Vivian Harris and Arturo Gatti to win. So not even unified at those weights. I hold Pacquaio to the same standards as he was never a majority title holder either.
Considering both were the two biggest things in the sport for about a decade that's odd especially in Floyd's case as he was the guy calling the shots for a decade yet not only did he fail to ever face a great fighter in their prime he also wasn't any more than a belt holder (not even holding two outside of 147 for long and no 154 shouldn't count) in 4 of the divisions he won titles in. Like I said, a great fighter but when you stack up with legends like Leonard, Duran, Robinson, Ali, Whitaker, Pep, Greb, Monzon, Jofre, Charles, Moore etc; it puts it into more perspective.
I'd rank him between 30-50 all-time which is where most historians would rank him.
I can't say I agree. However, I think in terms of missing fights that would have enhanced his legacy:
Kostya
Pacman (when both were younger)
Margarito
Everyone else (Paul Williams, Khan, Thurman, Brook, Porter, Lara, Bradley) are just names people throw out to stretch a fighter thin when they simply want them to lose. Those fighters would not have enhanced his lasting legacy as they wouldn't have been considered "ready" as the case with people's comments about Canelo. Those are just a list of "It would be cool to see him fight_____". Those guys are more of packaged deal where beating one doesn't too much, but beating say 3 or more does something.
However beating an earlier Pacman, Kostya and Margarito may have done him some more good.
Floyd technically was never a majority title holder in one weight class (majority meaning either undisputed or a 3 title holder in the era WBO became respected or 2 belts in the years before), perhaps just 147 very friedly. Even at 154 when he held two titles (against Canelo) that was at a catch-weight and two titles so kind of doesn't hold the same weight as if he'd have won at 154 unfortunately.
At 130, 135, 140 it was just one belt per division at 140 only became about because of an injury to Tszyu forcing two belts to go vacant for fighters like Vivian Harris and Arturo Gatti to win. So not even unified at those weights. I hold Pacquaio to the same standards as he was never a majority title holder either.
Considering both were the two biggest things in the sport for about a decade that's odd especially in Floyd's case as he was the guy calling the shots for a decade yet not only did he fail to ever face a great fighter in their prime he also wasn't any more than a belt holder (not even holding two outside of 147 for long and no 154 shouldn't count) in 4 of the divisions he won titles in. Like I said, a great fighter but when you stack up with legends like Leonard, Duran, Robinson, Ali, Whitaker, Pep, Greb, Monzon, Jofre, Charles, Moore etc; it puts it into more perspective.
I'd rank him between 30-50 all-time which is where most historians would rank him.
He had won titles at 154, no CW, on 2 separate occasions prior to beating Canelo.
The ATG fighters in their prime repeatedly refused to fight him.
Most historians rank him in the top 20-25, including two lists we've seen on this site. So please, if you wish to put him lower that is your choice, but don't speculate where experts would rank him given the information available completely contradicts that opinion.
Just give the man his due, rank him where you wish, and point out that you personally disagree with where he comes up in expert rankings.
Holyfield is one of my favorite fighters but I don't think a fighter should put down another. In the ring, Holyfield had more heart and was more entertaining but Floyd leaves with his mind and his money. All things considered, I'd rather be Floyd.
He had won titles at 154, no CW, on 2 separate occasions prior to beating Canelo.
The ATG fighters in their prime repeatedly refused to fight him.
Most historians rank him in the top 20-25, including two lists we've seen on this site. So please, if you wish to put him lower that is your choice, but don't speculate where experts would rank him given the information available completely contradicts that opinion.
Just give the man his due, rank him where you wish, and point out that you personally disagree with where he comes up in expert rankings.
Individual titles but never unified. He was part unified at welterweight only.
We can speculate all day and all week about why he never got a great fighter in the ring in their prime but it never happened and as the shot caller in the sport for half of your career that raises a question. Even the top level hall of fame caliber (but not quite great) guys like Mosley (about 8 or 9 years past it), De La Hoya (6-7 years), Cotto (3-4 years) were not really near their primes either.
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