This is the issue I have with faulting his performances: if his opponents were able to challenge him more, his fights would be more entertaining but he'd also veer closer to losing. It's the Gatti effect.
well that and defensive fighters aren't always the most popular or exiting to watch.. How many of Mike McCallum's fights had people on the edge of their seats? not many I'm thinking. But does that detract from how good he was?
Muhammad Ali could avoid getting hit and totally dominate his opponents, like he did with Ernie Terrell. He went that extra mile, put a beating on 'em.
He couldn't avoid getting hit by Frazier, I know he was out for years but I feel Frazier would have given pre exile Ali hell too...
Yes Ali could stick and move and use his foot work to avoid being hit... But he wasn't a defensive fighter by most people's standards.
True, but Ali went in there and fought him regardless. The likes of Mayweather would delay the fight for 5 years. Ali took on a prime Frazier without hesitation.
Top10 for me I think, it depends on criteria but I tend to go with overall P4P ability at their best weight. I consider him better than Armstrong, Benny Leonard, Pep, Chavez and Arguello and on par or there abouts with Duran and Whitaker. I think you could make a long list of great fighters that were dominated in or around their primes
That's the key.. His speed was his defense and once that was gone he was more hitable. Floyd uses arm defense and actually "blocks" shots.
Yes, and he moves well too. His defense is great. But I like to see violence as well, fighters defending well but pressing the attack when they've established their superiority, pouring on the pressure, pouring on the punches. Mayweather just stalls and slows it down, often in his fights anyway. Mayweather's ideal round would probably be to land one clean counter and not get hit. 12 rounds, 12 punches thrown, 12 landed. 120-108. For me, there are higher standards.
I don't rank active fighters but just say he retires tomorrow, something like this: Robinson Whitaker Robinson Armstrong Duran R. Leonard B. Leonard Pep Ali Mayweather Followed by something like Hagler Hearns Pacquiao Hopkins Burley
I think he's closing in to top 15-20 territory, but I don't think he quite cracks the top 10 when all is said and done. Talent wise, perhaps, career and competition wise, nope.