Floyd haters: Isn't it about time to discuss him in the same breath as SRR?

lol here comes the Pac brigade

 

Floyd greatest win is what? Corrales atsch.

 

nah, we are just putting things in perspective. Pac's resume is still way much better than Void.

 

He is in the mix of ATGs. listen to SRL himself,he took the second Duran fight because he knew he had blown up by 60 pounds and when he fought Hagler he had had an insight into the fact that Hagler was getting sick of training.Hearns Leonard 1 is SRL at his best and even then he got outboxed for the first 12 rounds.so yes,mention them in the same sentence and appreciate the swweet science that floyd demonstrates now because pretty soon he will be retired. You can't fight the best if you are the best.you just have to pick em right.
SRL was great. Floyd is great.

 

His footwork and timing wouldn't get him inside. Go and watch Hearns in his prime, and watch the first Leonard fight. You make it sound so simple. A 5'8 guy cannot out box a 6'1 monster, with a 79" reach, who had a cobra like jab, and a dynamite right hand. Tommy Hearns could not be out boxed. Ray tried, and he failed. The only way to beat Tommy was to fight him. Ray changed his game plan and stood and FOUGHT Tommy Hearns in a shootout. Floyd doesn't fight. He's a master boxer. I'd say that Ray and Floyd were very close in terms of skill and speed, with Floyd edging it defensively and Ray edging it offensively, with more fire power.

Floyd would not have fought Tommy Hearns like Ray did. It would never have happened. Floyd could have feinted and tried his best to not get tagged, but then how would he have done enough to win the rounds? He wouldn't have been able to do both. If he'd have tried to stay out of danger, he'd have lost on points, due to a lack of activity. To reach Tommy, you'd end up getting hit, because you'd be in his range, as soon as you got close enough to throw your own shots. That's why a master boxer like Ray was getting bashed up. If Ray couldn't out box him, then Floyd certainly couldn't have. If Floyd had opened up, there's every chance he'd have got taken out. Floyd doesn't possess Ray's heart, and he doesn't have his power.

Styles make fights. You can do a head to breakdown between the two, analysing every attribute, and Floyd may come out on top. But that doesn't mean that Floyd would have beaten him had they fought. I don't want to sound rude, but again, I think you need to go and watch Hearns vs Leonard, and Hearn's other fights while prime. Floyd simply couldn't get inside by using footwork and timing. Roy Jones had a great saying which was "You box a fighter, and you fight a boxer." Nobody Floyd's size could get inside and outbox The Hitman, and could you honestly see Floyd trying to fight Hearns like Ray did? Not a chance! A guy who swerved Manny, would not have been willing to trade with a peak Hearns to get him out of there. Stylistically, Tommy Hearns would have been the worst match up for Floyd. Whichever way I look at it, it's lose-lose scenario for Floyd.

 

At no point in time was it, and it still is not.

 

I've said for a few years he will go down as a top 20 fighter of all time. I still feel that way. It may take decades before that becomes the consensus even among his biggest critics but it will.

 

Pacquiao's best win is against Marco Antonio Barrera. What is Floyd's best win?

 

You've been watching too many Dwyer videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9EBzeiBXuo

 

If that is how you judge a career than your ATG list is all sorts of crazy, my friend.

 

I think it's fair to say that Floyd is now an ATG, and he can only beat the best in his era. I think he is a tremendous talent, no question. That said, how would he have coped with Hearns, Leonard or Duran. Or Cuevas, Napoles or Pryor. Then there are guys like Gavilan and Basilio. Of course, we'll never know, and that is why I try not to get into that type of debate.

Does Floyd deserve to be put in the pantheon of great fighters? Yes, in my opinion.
Does he compare favourably to SRR? No, in my opinion. But who does?

 

Excellent post, sir!

 

Look..no offence on Floyd..he's got special ATG skills IMO..no doubt..but those skillz also have a question on them..if he were to fight a 1981 Roberto Duran today could he do it?Who has he fought who's even close to that level of that type fighter?I'm not even gonna go and mention cats like Hearns,Hagler and the like..going back even further..the likes of Kid Gavilian..Rocky Graziano and them old cats..

There is no chance Floyd keeps his 0 fighting in the 70s - 80 era..much less in the 40s..no way no how..we know styles make fights..but even as I type here..remebering what I've seen on tape of those cats..I dont think so..

And so..while his skillz are great to see..they have to be weighed the level of is competition..I'm not even sure his competition matches up against Oscar De LaHoya's in his prime.

He's great folks..but not that great.

 

Ive already adressed this.

Floyd is greater then Hearns because of his overall boxing acumen. Not because of who would win a fantasy fight.

 

Not a hater but I always believed Mayweather was greatly overrated. Now I believe he is the greatest boxer of the last 30 years..albeit, the talent pool really isn't that great. Its a combo of Mayweather being pretty good..(top 30 ATG) mixed in with a bunch of guys who arent that special. But I will admit, Floyd is the best we've had in a long time.