The thing that would hinder Carmen Basilio is Floyd Mayweather's speed and movement, much the same way that it bothered him on March 25 1958, when he was outpointed by the great Sugar Ray Robinson in losing his World Middleweight Title. Basilio as aggressive as he is, would be getting out punched through the full 12 rounds, unable to catch Floyd cleanly, Mayweather puts on a boxing clinic to score a unanimous decision.
Hard to say. I don't think Floyd fought a Welterweight close to as good as Basilio. The opposite isn't true. Carmen was at a high level at 147lbs. I respect Mayweather's skills and talent just not as much as Welterweight. I don't think Floyd would have beaten Kid Gavilan either. Basilio fought him tough. Carmen as he showed later in his most famous fights had some finesse. He could be slick as well as rough. He would beat Mayeather with both. I don't believe Floyd could hit him with anything to stop him in his tracks or make Carmen slow his output. Basilio had a sneaky jab that opened up boxers like a can opener. He was a two handed threat and he put his punches together. Mayweather could potshot him and score but check the films if you doubt what I'm saying here. Carmen moved his head better than you may think. Mayweather won't have the punch output to win a decision. Since I don't believe Basilio allows him to control pace he is in for a rough evening. Consider this a slightly lower level version of (Montreal) Carmen Basilio had solid power but I dont think he stops Floyd. Basilio W15.
You mean the fight on Sept 23 1957, when Basilio won the title. Basilio looked real good, I was comparing the March 25 1958 fight with Sugar Ray Robinson, as what a fight would have looked like against Floyd Mayweather. But both fights against Robinson were very competitive.
The thing about these matchups, when you match two top guys, they are both in the habit of imposing their will, in the habit of fighting their fight and making the other guy go along with it. Carmen Basilio isn't Robert Guerrero and he isn't Diego Corrales. He fought Billy Graham and he fought Kid Gavilan. He moved up in weight to fight Sugar Ray Robinson because he believed that he could impose himself on Robinson, make Robinson fight his fight, and he did it. He lost the rematch to Robinson but it wasn't easy for Ray, and Mayweather doesn't have the height and reach advantages Robinson had, nor does he punch like Robinson. I'm not going to take anything away from Floyd; he was a smart and skillful guy, he knows how to fight. He may well win this fight but Basilio wouldn't let him pick his spots and set the terms for the exchanges. Floyd would have to earn that and he would probably have to earn it every time.
I think Basilio outworks the economical Mayweather for a decision. Mayweather does not punch hard enough at that weight to make the tough-as-nails, Basilio reconsider his gameplan.
There's more than a little Basilio in Maidana, maybe not quite the pop, but the swarming, odd-angle aggression and even a better motor. I think this would be a lot tougher night for May than most.
He did beat Robinson also mate, he has the intangibles that always bothered Floyd, and better than the ones that gave Floyd grief..
If this were 15, I might give Basilio a shot, but he sometimes took a while to get untracked, especially against guys who liked to move. Tihat's not helping him over a 12 round distance. Moreover, Mayweather is capable of hanging in the trenches and doing enough clean work inside to keep Basilio from completely running roughshod over him. Mayweather boxes his way to an early lead, drops about three or four rounds as Basilio mounts a comeback but does enough to bust Basilio up on the process, and then adjusts and boxes well over the championship rounds to earn a clear decision.
If The Onion Farmer could beat Sugar Ray Robinson he sure as hell could beat Floyd Mayweather. Especially if it's a 15 rounder. 10 rounds....Floyd gets on his bicycle and wins a decision. 15 rounds...Basilio scores a couple late knockdowns and wins a split decision.
