Better defensive boxer: Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Pernell Whitaker?

My opinion, it's Whitaker. He did it against better competition when that competition was still relevant. Also, he was able to befuddle top level competition when he was clearly past prime as he did against Deloyhoya and Trinidad.
Mayweather's competition was hand picked by himself.
He knew he had a better than average chance of beating them.
The best names on his resume were clearly past their best when he fought them.
Or he knew was overrated ( Canelo Alvarez) and wasn't the threat his undeafeated record would suggest he'd be....

 

I generally agree with your posts but I don’t see how Mayweather knew his opponent was overrated (Alvarez) before he fought him and most fighters believe that they have a good chance of beating their opponent going into every fight. I remember Mayweather challenging Oscar and Mosley years before they actually fought. Mayweather fought just about every relevant opponent available. The timing of the fights were not completely in his control.

 

Maske deserves a mention. Never lost a fight. Never buzzed. Never nevered.

 

You thinking of Ottke? Maske lost to Virgil Hill, although he can make the Lennox Lewis claim of beating everyone he fought, as he won a rematch when they were in their forties.

 

Whitaker was dropped a lot more than Floyd was. No, it wasn't because he fought better opposition either.

 

No.

Worst decision in 160 years of professional pugilism. Stands as a W in my book.