Let's be real here. It doesn't mean they will be on their peak for every of these fights. They'll start at 19 and retire at 40 (like Floyd), it means 50 fights in 21 year. That means that, say, Henry Armstrong would've had time to prepare for next opponent for months, not for a few days as was common in his era. That also means that Canzoneri wouldn't have been shot fighter at 31, having fought just 30+ fights instead of 170+ fights and having far less elite opponents in his resume by that age. The fighters are: Tony Canzoneri Henry Armstrong Roberto Duran J C Chavez Pernell Whitaker
Just trying to understand the scenario/question. Is it: If these fighters had fought the same fighters as Floyd had over the same amount of time as Floyd, what would their records be?
It's impossible to say. If those guys only fought 50 fights over 20 years I think boxing history would be lacking some of its greatness.
So the chubby late 30s Duran who fought guys like Paul Thorn and the late 30s Chavez who lost to Willie Wise and Tszyu are taking on the Canelo Alvarez (who blows up to 170) and Miguel Cotto who Floyd beat? Sure about this?
It's easy to say that it would be not the hardest way to reach 50-0 for these fighters on paper. But in reality we had Whitaker being clearly past it at 33, while Duran was underperforming more than once after 30. JCC was a shell of himself at 35. So it's interesting if they can reach 50-0 under these circumstances (which is highly unlikely IMO at least for these 3, can't say about Canzoneri or Armstrong).
There are two things I think are worth noting about this comparison: 1. Whatever you say about Floyd (and I'm not his biggest fan) he has always showed remarkable discipline and kept himself in shape both in the lead up to fights and when he wasn't fighting. The only other modern fighter I can think of who showed the same sort of discipline over a similar period is Bernard Hopkins. 2. Floyd has had a pretty unique career and in terms of self-management, the only other career that comes to my mind, in terms of being able to call his own shots, is Sugar Ray Leonard's. So, comparing these other fighters with Mayweather: -Duran did not have the between-fight discipline to do this. He would not go 50-0 under these conditions. But he did go 72-1 over 13 years regardless. -Chavez's style was not suited to the same longevity as Mayweather's. But he did go 87-0 over 13 years regardless. -Mayweather had the career he had because it personally suited him to manage it that way and he had the leverage to do it. If the ball was on the other foot and Mayweather had to fight with the frequency of a Henry Armstrong or a Tony Canzoneri, his career wouldn't have lasted 20 years and I'm pretty certain would have included plenty of losses.
So 57-0 then? Also, isn't that more or less what Greg Haugen said (substitute 'cab drivers' for 'tomato cans') before Chavez gave him a royal beating?
Well, but then Duran and Chavez would have had a lot less wear and tear with the little Mayweather fought. Possibly they wouldn't have been done that "early". Also, if Mayweather would have fought often as they did, would he have lasted as long? Probably not. I don't get that comparison. Every career is unique. I think RJJ had the most similar career to Mayweather until the end.