Is Mayweather the best pure boxer since Whitaker ?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Bill Butcher, May 7, 2010.

  1. Bill Butcher

    Bill Butcher Erik`El Terrible`Morales Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2007
    Messages:
    28,518
    Likes Received:
    82
    The UK commentators mentioned during the Mosely fight that some rate Mayweather as the best fighter in a boxing sense since Leonard or Whitaker, we`ll stick with Whitaker because if I say since Leonard, we all know that the thread is gonna be full of posters saying `no, Pea is.`

    So, classic opinion, is Floyd Mayweather the best`boxer`since Pernell Whitaker ? :think
     
  2. Suga

    Suga Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2010
    Messages:
    3,731
    Likes Received:
    1
    Simple answer: YES

    And with enough couple of wins I will rate him higher, if he isnt higher already.
     
  3. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2007
    Messages:
    28,075
    Likes Received:
    54
    Maybe, Ivan Calderon is up there though. Both Mayweather and Calderon are more skilled than Wlad in this regard imo, that's a strong opinion. Mayweather to me is more of a 'defensive minded' guy than a 'pure boxer', Calderon is to an extent also, vt Mayweather sometimes goes inside and maintains defense, so i rate him as a defensive specialist first and foremost. Calderon at his best would show great footwork, head movement, and control range to the point where he's throwing combos from the outside. Slept on fighter, whether he was in a weak division for a long time or not.
     
  4. Pachilles

    Pachilles Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2009
    Messages:
    6,294
    Likes Received:
    28
    No, James Toney is
     
  5. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2007
    Messages:
    28,075
    Likes Received:
    54
    That's bull****.
     
  6. Suga

    Suga Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2010
    Messages:
    3,731
    Likes Received:
    1
    Well there was a time in Floyds career where he actually could do everything besides relying on defence, I just think he is past his prime, thats why he is so defensively minded today, but Floyd at super feather/lightweight is more complete than Calderon.
     
  7. Suga

    Suga Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2010
    Messages:
    3,731
    Likes Received:
    1
    No he is not.
     
  8. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2007
    Messages:
    28,075
    Likes Received:
    54
    He's more complete for sure, that's not what were being asked though, 'pure boxer' is the question. I voted yes anyway, i just wanted to give props to Calderon, he's up there in this regard. There's a difference between a pure boxer and a complete technician so i don't get your point.
     
  9. snakeface

    snakeface The Woodside Hurricane Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2010
    Messages:
    7,313
    Likes Received:
    0
    mayweather don't play the games like whitaker would....

    whitaker would clown around alot and also pretend like the punch made him groggy etc. (the de lahoya fight for instance) I think the judges didn't quite get it sometimes.

    none the less.. an escape artist with masterful footwork. I appreciated watching his fights.
    It was sad to see him faded in the middleweight tournament. In his prime he would have beaten alot of those guys down.
     
  10. bodhi

    bodhi Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2009
    Messages:
    19,229
    Likes Received:
    257
    In wanted to mention Calderon but as good as he is, I think Mayweather is a tad better.
     
  11. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2007
    Messages:
    28,075
    Likes Received:
    54
    Yeah, what Mayweather does, he does technically perfect.
     
  12. Suga

    Suga Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2010
    Messages:
    3,731
    Likes Received:
    1
    I was referring to a more complete pure boxer than Calderon, but yeah I agree with you, Calderon desurves a mention.
     
  13. teeto

    teeto Obsessed with Boxing banned

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2007
    Messages:
    28,075
    Likes Received:
    54
    Oh ok, it's props to Mayweather that he deserves mention as being more of a varied fighter whereas Calderon is exclusively a pure boxer. Variation is huge, and Floyd does have it.
     
  14. Suga

    Suga Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2010
    Messages:
    3,731
    Likes Received:
    1
    Yeah thats what I meant. Good point about Calderon though, good of you mentioning him.
     
  15. itrymariti

    itrymariti CaƱas! Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2008
    Messages:
    13,728
    Likes Received:
    47
    I wouldn't class Mayweather as a pure boxer, actually. I think teeto makes a good point: Mayweather is much more of a defensive fighter than anything else. It sounds pedantic, but without that consideration the thread just becomes, "Is Mayweather the best fighter since Whitaker?"

    Whitaker is much more of a pure, general technician.