Floyd and Mikey at 135

[Bjl12]

You assume this thread will be about a fantasy match between Mikey and Floyd at 135 but not so. I got a realization I want to present. When Floyd was at 135 he called out welterweights on numerous occasions, in particular Oscar and Shane.

I thought Floyd was a small guy but I never once doubted he could move up from 35 to 47, challenge and defeat any fighter at those weights. History shows that he was able to do just that yet when Mikey says he will move up from 135-140-147 I have 0 confidence that he can successfully challenge and defeat hardly any of the current welterweight champions.

So why do/did boxing fans including myself take Floyd seriously about moving up and giving him a great chance to be successful yet we have no confidence in Mikey's abilities to accomplish the same thing? Is there a difference, are they not attempting the same goals?

Floyd was VERY fast at the lower weights..almost ALWAYS the quicker guy and his defense was so good you thought to yourself "if they cant hit him it dkesnt matter".

Oh and Floyd has oddly long arms which help tremendously. Mikey has normal arms for a short guy - bad against bigger fighters

More importantly...Floyd wasnt 31 years old moving up. In fact Floyd N E V E R moved up in weight after 30. He fight DLH and came back down to 147...returned to 154 two more times for big fights.

Mikey is 31 and hes fought at 140 where he looked like a fat Mexi walking out of Dunkin Donuts. Hes not overly strong, overly fast, overly evasive...hes going to be shorter with less reach...the odds of Mikey surviving let alone winning are very low.

[Curtis Harper]

May all day.

[daggum]

floyd took it slow and easy and i mean slow and easy. i have no doubt if mikey garcia was moving up to fight baldomir he could beat him. then he would pretend he's the best and never fight any of the other top guys lol

[killakali]

Edit: I definitely didn't read the actual question at hand and thought this was about a potential hypothetical match up SMH.

As for the question at hand, I do think Mikey can successfully fight at WW. I mean he would be a favorite right now against guys like DSG and probably even Porter. He also won a title at 140 last year and has fought at 140 in two of his last three fights. Basically only going up one weight class and not two.

Floyd had more explosiveness and physical gifts that made the jump easier for him, and also had the height. Mikey though has the heavier hands and definitely has the IQ to compete with most WWs. I'm expecting a good fight against Spence!

Floyd is just bigger than Mikey. He is taller plus Mikey started a weight class lower than Floyd. Mikey is like 5'6" while Floyd is 5'8". That makes a difference to

[Code Red]

That is not a very accurate picture of how things were. Mayweather was champion at 130 lbs at the young age of 21. He slowly moved up the weight classes as he out grew them. He never fought a welterweight when he was still a natural lightweight. When Mayweather started fighting at 147 he was a hard muscular full sized welterweight who could no longer make 135. In contrast Mikey is 31 years old and his growing days are long gone. Mikey can still easily make 135. I would give Mikey an excellent chance to beat any welterweight but Spence. I think Spence will beat Mikey not because he is bigger but because I think Spence is a better fighter even pfp, MAN DOWN!

I think age is a good observation, Floyd was much younger than Mikey when he called out welters. He had years and time to grow. Mikey is 31 and this is likely as big and strong as he ever will be, not nearly close enough to compete with Spence. But then again Floyd taking on Canelo as the older smaller fighter is a legit comparison to what Mikey is trying to accomplish with Spence. Again I had much confidence in Floyd but not so much with Garcia. I respect what he trying to do though, get that legacy defining win!

[KTFOKING]

Floyd is just bigger than Mikey. He is taller plus Mikey started a weight class lower than Floyd. Mikey is like 5'6" while Floyd is 5'8". That makes a difference to

For sure, but you can make up for lack of height if you have superior gifts like Pacman. Mikey doesn't have that type of explosiveness. But he can still be a successful WW due to his skill level and IQ. Should have enough pop to keep those guys honest.

[Code Red]

Because Floyd is a better fighter plus you're in love with him.

I know you trying to be sarcastic but you can't deny young Floyd was highly impressive, especially at the lower weights. And I like Mikey a lot at those weights but he's not looking sharp to me as he moves up, not just in weight but level of opponent. If he pulls of the upset it'll rank up there, maybe top 5

[Code Red]

For sure, but you can make up for lack of height if you have superior gifts like Pacman. Mikey doesn't have that type of explosiveness. But he can still be a successful WW due to his skill level and IQ. Should have enough pop to keep those guys honest.

Good Point, Pacquiao was also able to move to welter impressively. I think Mikey sees Floyd and Pac moving up as a blueprint, wants to prove he's on that level

[KTFOKING]

Good Point, Pacquiao was also able to move to welter impressively. I think Mikey sees Floyd and Pac moving up as a blueprint, wants to prove he's on that level

This will be more like JMM moving up to WW. But JMM around Bradley fight not when he first moved up to fight Floyd. JMM only had one fight at 135 before going up to 147, but Mikey has fought at 140 in three of his last five fights since coming back from 2+ year "break."

[BillyBoxing]

Floyd had longer arms, started at 130, Mikey at 126, Floyd is bigger than Mikey.

So Mikey fighting Spence would be like Floyd fighting Canelo at 154, but without the catch-weight and with less experience, just one fight at 147 and none at 154...