Mayweather, to me, is simply not sufficiently proven against quality welterweights with the type of size advantage we’re talking here in terms of height and reach. He beat a faded (though still good) De La Hoya in a competitive fight; not sure how that translates in beating a prime Hearns of Leonard. In an idealized fantasy fight scenario with both men bringing their A game, I'd give Duran the edge for the reasons Thread Stealer stated. He needs to be at his best to win it, though.
Man people hate Floyd lol. I think Duran and SRL are both 50/50 type of fights. I don’t think he gets blown out in any of them. I tend to think Hearns 60/40ish just the length reach and power. I still wouldn’t rule Floyd out and if he can minimize the effectiveness of Hearns Jab. Unless Hearns is giving mere lip service he sees Floyd as a tough fight that would go the distance. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.*****.net/2020/10/14/thomas-hearns-floyd-mayweather/amp/ I don’t even want to think about Hagler, and doubt Floyd would attempt middle weight. I do think Floyd would beat Benitez. so 1-1-2 with no fight against Hagler is my outcome.
Well it won’t let me post the link...so here is Hearns take for whatever it is worth: Boxing legend Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns revealed what strategy he’d use if he ever came up against the great Floyd Mayweather inside the ropes. Mayweather, who claimed the WBN Fighter of the Decade for 2010 to 2020 – awarded in 2021, is revered with the all-time best. Hearns was himself part of an everlasting legacy of fighters involved in the greatest rivalry of all time during the 1980s. On what his strategy would be in a fight against Mayweather, Hearns told Lem Satterfield for The Ring Magazine: “Against me, I would have to respect him. “I think that he could go the distance with me. I would have to out-think him and definitely out-jab him. He’s a shorter man. So he can’t get to me. “I would have to keep the jab on him and keep him at a distance. Force him to use his head movement all of the time. Somewhere down the line, I would probably hit him with a couple of right hands. “I would probably get him with a good right hand if not an average right hand. If I was to go to the body, you know that might play into what he is probably trying to do strategically. “I think that if I got closer to him trying to land a body shot, that would be what he wants. So I think that my best thing would be to stay on the outside and box him. “But I think that he could go the distance with me.”
ROFLMAO!! You'd have NEVER got Floyd in the ring with Duran, Hearns or especially Hagler. Not even in Vegas with his own back up crew behind him NSAC & Vegas "friendly" officials" All 3 would have knocked his ass out cold & he knew it. Sacharin Ray Leonard might be the only chance he might have. Floyd really got beaten by Castillo & Maidana. Marcos left him in tears crying foul because he " Beat me up & Roughed me up & the ref did nothing to stop him it wasnt fair " ROFL
Because, many members think Mayweather was one of the greatest fighters that ever lived. Mayweather Jr has always been a cherry picker, only took fights where he had every advantage in the contract, never fought the threats to him in any division he went up to or at his opponents best weight, always going for names and not talent. He avoided taller fighters as well. It is a shame , because he really did have the talent to be special, but he never allowed himself to be in any danger. It will forever keep him lower in rankings when it comes to ATG's on my lists. Thinking about how he stacks up against the true greats is always a way to deflate the Mayweather fan boys.
They all beat him. No knock on Floyd who was a great fighter but so were the four. Hearns matches up very well style wise. Hagler way too big. Leonard the best welter not named Robinson. Duran of Montreal like nothing Floyd ever imagined.
Personally Mayweather Jr wouldn't get into a boxing ring with ANY prime ATG. Above 135 or lightweight in my opinion. Its very doubtful he'd take the " Chance and be great" against the top lightweights either. It just wasn't in him. Everything Mayweather Jr has demonstrated since his lightweight run is he picks and chooses very carefully who he steps into a boxing ring with. All the advantages are with him . But let's say he did , let's say he would and could get into a boxing ring with the Fab - 5. He'd lose to all 5, just the severity of the losses would be the difference. His best chance would've been Benitez, a dull fight, only a purist would watch. The difference though would be Benitez's size. Though May Jr, would have a reach advantage, all the other physical attributes would be in Benitez's favor. Including punching power. Benitez wins a 15 rd close dec. Duran if focused and ready( And Mayweather would have Duran focused and ready) wins probably a late stoppage, Duran was 3x the fighter Castillo was, yet Mayweather had major issues with Castillo's physical style. Imagine if that was Duran? Yep it would be ugly for May. Hagler, just too big and too strong, with great skill, Hagler can be lulled too sleep by slick boxers, but those slick boxers were natural middles or are atg fighters that carried the weight well (Duran, Leonard) Hagler by stoppage or ud. Leonard and Hearns would be entirely wrong for Mayweather Jr. Leonard would be the easiest of the two. Leonard would match Mayweather in skills, but Leonard would be the bigger, stronger, faster fighter,,,,,, with a mean streak. Leonard was a viscous body puncher, its a part of his game that rarely gets the praise it deserves, Leonard wouldn't waste much time throwing at Mays head. He'd focus on his body, the biggest weakness on May's style of fighting, breaks him down, stops him in 8-10rds. Hearns? Child please. Hearns all wrong for damn near every fighter between welter and middle. Now a blow up natural Jr lightweight ( The weight he looked his absolute best) short, no real power threat, brittle hands or not at welterweight, a severe height and reach disadvantage, no real speed advantage, what would or COULD May do? Plus Hearns could go hard to the body which is often overlooked with him also. If Mayweather lasted 5rds with Hearns it would be a miracle. May's never seen a combination of advantages Hearns would have, plus Hearns could out box him behind his jab. Nothing May could do with Hearns prime vs prime but get K.T.F.O. From easiest to deal with in Benitez, to impossible to deal with in Hearns.
Such a waste of a post, love more hate less Floyd was great not the greatest anyone educated in the sport knows that care less for casuals and you may sleep better.
I think he could have gone 14 rounds with Hagler being really negative in a defensive shell being out-reached at a safe distance by Hagler`s southpaw jab.
Those are the kind of fights I always wanted to see Mayweather fight. I don't think he beats any of them except maybe Benitez. Benitez was a master, but Floyd wasn't bad himself. I lean toward Floyd by very close decision.
SRL - TKO 7 HEARNS - KO 1 ( a Pure Stylistic nightmare for Floyd ) HAGLER - TKO 5 ROBERTO DURAN is literally the only one Floyd might have a realistic chance of beating but even then I still wouldn't pick Floyd to beat him , I got Duran on points or late stoppage.
