Could Floyd Mayweather been another Hank Armstrong in Hank's era

Nah...he wouldn't be able to cherry pick his foes...he would have had to fight the top guys in the division

 

He doesnt even fight top level 154 lbers like Williams or Martinez so how is going to be fighting in 3 weight classes when they don't have any junior/super classes much less winning the titles (and not paper titles - because there was only 1 per class in Hank's day)

 

Armstrong must of have been a freak of nature to fight that many times in such a short period and still be effective against top rate opposition. Most guys would have burned out early ( see John Henry Lewis. ) The man was amazing. While Floyd may be just as skilled I don't know if he has the staying power to handle that work load. Just crazy stuff that only comes around once or twice within a century.

 

i think ambers beat mayweather one time
other than that mayweather dominates,,, great fighters adapt. and he is great
but he wouldnt destroy nearly everyone like armstrong did he would scrape through some fights

 

You're essentially asking if Floyd could dominate from 126-147 or 135-160, at the same time.

Of course he couldn't. That's 5 weight classes today, and he can barely handle 2 (rehydration clauses, etc.).

 

Difference is there were far more boxers around in the 30's and 40's and they had to fight the best and often to get any decent money. In other words due to the sheer numbers plying their trade there would have been a greater talent pool and consequently better quality fighters and fights. There is a pervading view on this forum that 'modern athletes' are somehow a different species from the fighters of the past but unless I'm missing something the human race hasn't actually evolved in the last 80 years! The only things that have changed are training methods and nutrition but these things can only improve a fighter by so much. Fundamentally a great fighter is a great fighter due to innate qualities both physical and psychological.