Well I have all of Floyd's fights and have watched them all atleast twice and say he is absolutely one of the greatest counter punchers of all time. The ability to make an opponent miss and the hit him is what the sweet science is all about.
Surely hitting your opponent before he even has a chance to throw is the purest form of the sweet science. Rather than take the risk of getting clipped by welcoming an opponent onto you, dispatch him as quickly and clinically as possible. That's why Joe Louis and Sugar Ray Robinson and the like were the purest form of sweet scientists, no?
Anyway, for what it's worth, yes he's a superb counterpuncher. Not sure about top 5 ever, would take a lot of thought as there have been so many great counterpunchers (who have proven their counterpunching ability against much better opposition than Floyd), but nevertheless he is undoubtedly great at this.
I would disagree. If your opponent is just hitting and throwing punches at you, you would want to throw and hit back. If every time you throw, you miss and get tagged, you become much less inclined to throw punches. I'm not diminishing hitting your opponent before he has the chance to throw, I just believe that counter punching is the purest form of the sweet science. That being said, Floyd is a genius counter puncher. It's almost hilarious watching guys try to figure him out and get beat down in the process.
While I do see your point, you could say that throwing first is not always the recipe for greatness. Yes - in your example you used Joe and Ray- Excellant offensive fighters, but in the case of the counter puncher, someone like Pernell Whitaker or Mayweather who can make you miss and land with accuracy before you can restabilize yourself is, I think a more difficult to master and awe inspiring talent. The game is hit and don't be hit- Joe Louis and Ray Robinson took damage to give out MORE damage. I am not saying mayweather is better than Joe or Ray- IMO he is NOT. What I am saying is that counter punchers are more finely tuned artists of the sweet science. It may not be your cup of tea to watch, but it is a thing of beauty to watch Defense AND Offense honed and poised in the form of a Counter puncher. And yes- Mayweather IMO is a top 5 counter puncher
Without a doubt, the answer is yes [check hooks, pull counter are a thing of beauty for all lovers of sweet science] and the 3 *******s that voted no are douche bags. They must be blind, i know they don't like Floyd but at least try and comes across as objective.
Floyd's defensive skills make him already a top counter fighter, you can't counter punch good if your defence ain't better than the countering itself.
No doubt!!! "If every time you throw, you miss and get tagged, you become much less inclined to throw punches." Perfectly said by Englund; the foundation for how Mayweather operates is exactly that. This is the premise on which Hatton got KO'd, DLH stopped throwing his jab, Corrales (RIP) tasted canvas 5x, Mosley's punch output was significantly low, etc. Not only is Mayweather top 5 counter puncher, but he is top 5 most accurate and efficient puncher as well.
No even as a nuthugger I don't think he's quite top 5, Toney for 1 is a better natural counter puncher for my money, Jones Jr too
Let's see... who else might be in the running for top 5 counter punchers Toney, Bhop, Mayweather, Marquez, Holyfield, Tszyu, Benitez, Sweet pea...