Manny's got some of the fastest combos I've ever seen, right on par with SRR but he still couldn't touch Floyd even when he had Floyd in the corner... I know Floyd faced off against quick handed fighters before, but which opponents of SRR had a defensive style like Floyd's or the ability to time punches so effectively?
Floyd Jr. has got a good defense, but SRR was 121-1-2 when he moved up from welter to win the MW crown from Jake LaMotta. SRR started as a lightweight, then moved to WW, but fought numerous small & big MW's. Probably Kid Gavilan was the best WW he fought and beat twice....but the overall 1940's era numerous very good WW's were on the scene, and were fighting each other. Kid Gavilan would probably be "even money" against Floyd, Jr. due the very odd angle & numerous punches he threw.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Sugar Ray Robinson would do better against Floyd Mayweather Jnr than Manny Pacquiao did.
Manny of 2015 was just another very good fighter. He looked feather-fisted and as if he was in slow motion compared to the Manny who annihilated Hatton and Cotto in 2009, and had very little of the footwork and different angles he showed around that time, too. I give Mayweather credit for his win, but nothing even in the same stratosphere as I'd have given him (and which he'd have deserved) if he'd beaten Pacquiao in 2010 when the fight should have happened. If you want to think about how Floyd against Robinson might have panned out, then it's all good - it's a legitimate match up. But I don't think how Floyd did against that version of Pacquiao should be anyone's starting point.
By the time he finally got Mayweather Jr. in the ring, Pac was clearly not the same fighter he was years prior (A pattern for Mayweather) So what Mayweather was dealing with isn't what he would've had to deal with yrs prior. Yes prime Robinson would've fared much better and most very good to great welters would also. Mayweather at welter was more smoke and mirrors than substance. And even at the lighter weights outside of Corrales (who was very good) who was truly special.
Of course Ray would have fared better. Manny was faded, injured, and had a small reach. Ray was bigger than Floyd, as well as stronger, more powerful, just as fast, and he was possibly the GOAT when he was at WW.
Ray had a better, longer, smarter and more consistent jab than Manny, you have to use a jab v Floyd and most fast fighters, Manny hardly threw the jab because he was easy to counter when he jabbed, due to him leaving his rear hand low as he jabbed, he was really hesitant due to Floyd`s amazing counter right hand, Ray would take more risks and had more power than Manny did.
Right on the first part … Funny how some even look at that fight in 2015 and try and draw a conclusion as that fight was for 2010.. You wonder if people even followed his career? I mean I don't know how a Politician(Senator) who's life had spiraled completely out of friggin control is supposed to do? 2nd part --- Don't think Prime Pac destroys Prime May, stylistically it leans to favoring May, and May has his height and big reach adv... If he can survive the work rate of Pac, Pac will get countered all night as he leaves himself open for that … But I will say , I really don't think anyone beats Pac from around those years '08 - '10, in that era,….except a maybe from May, close fight for me
AND ...SRR at 147 is on a completely different planet than both May and Pac .. You can't just add 12-20 pounds over their best weight and say they could match the p4p best fighter ever at his best weight, a fighter who stacks up just fine at MW as well ,, probably being in the top 5 of all time AND has a case for #1 … some here live on Fantasy Island with Gilligan, the Skipper, MaryAnn, and Ginger. . , man Ginger was hot