Which pre-1980s fighters, 140lbs or under, would you favor over Floyd Jr?

Willie Meehan

 

Barney Ross.

 

Joe Gans, Henry Armstrong, Barney Ross, Benny Leonard, Roberto Duran, Jimmy McLarnin... that's a start.

 

Either you are taking the **** or need to read things a little more carefully.

 

True-that.

 

screw those who say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit

 

Considering that Mayweather is probbly at his physcial best at 130 and 135 and that 140 gets overrated. I'd take B. Leonard, P. Whitaker, I. Williams and F. Mayweather ovr anyone at 140. J. C. Chavez. K. Tszyu, A Pryor, N Locche and so on.
Mayweather is also a big lightweight and super featherweight, who knows how to control the distance and is at his best when he has a guy coming after him.
I'd still pick Leonard to beat him at 135 or 140. However he might not lose to anyone ever 130-140.

 

Prime JC Chavez would give him plenty to think about.

 

atsch morales would get the **** beat out of him.

Duran at 135, Robinson at 140, Pernell at 135 and 140
There's a few more that would beat him but minds gone a bit blank
I think Pyror is a 50-50 at 140, slightly favour him over Chavez.
DLH is an interesting opponent. I'd take Floyd at 130 and 135 (both tough fights) but favour DLH at 140 slightly. Mosley I think is 50-50 as well at,both 135 and 140.

Edit: just seen someone post tszyu and I'd thought I'd throw him in there as a 50-50 at 140

 

Nah, Corrales isn't good enough to warrant that praise IMO, and yes I do remember how he was perceived at the time but it was unwarranted IMO.

I can see it, but don't necessarily agree myself.

Benton>Floyd :hey

 

Don't see Tszyu getting the measure of Floyd at all. There's one fight where all he can do is line up the right. Don't see him sparking Floyd outright so Jr comes through any rough patch and beats Tszyu pretty easily IMO.

 

Some of these picks are silly, let's analyse them

Kid Chocolate - natural FW or smaller, very skilled but not as strong/big durable or quick, unlikely
Angott - a fighter who's a class below really who beat some big names by spoiling, you think he's winning by spoiling? Really?
Pep - a 5'5 slower FW who couldn't beat a spoiling Angott doing a John Ruiz impression when he moved upto LW and was walked down by Saddler? OK doesn't sound likely
Gans - pretty unsophisticated skill set and slower
Benny Leonard - slower/shorter/ outboxer who isn't as skilled, OK
Ike Williams - Very much a plodding puncher who was often outboxed, hardly a good style match up for him, even if he is the best puncher with a 33% KO ratio
Barney Ross - I had a debate long ago asking what he actually does better than Mayweather, you could argue lateral movement and someone said jabbing, well his jab is slower and doesn't have as much range so does he have a better jab? I don't think so

 

Does angott's victory over a prime pep not make you think it's atleast a possibility he beats floyd?

makes me pause for consideration.

Although Floyd is quite underrated because of his career path imo.

 

It's that Ross did it against the guys he did it against PP. I doubt that Mauweather would look as flawless as he sometimes does facing the guys that Ross faced.

That's why I'm not particularly blown away by Floyd's application against an above average bunch.

 

There just simply are not many better performances involving the top two fighters in a division at any given point.