Could Mayweather have hung with Chavez in the pocket?

Floyd had better footspeed and was better, technically, with the footwork - Pete could be described as more 'artistic', but IMO, not significantly better with footwork. Whitaker's defense was more reliant on reflexes, blocking, parrying and specifically squatting than one would expect from a defensive master.

One of Pete's most obvious faults is that he crossed his feet, putting himself off-balance and momentarily vulnerable ... this is something highlighted by the commentators in the first Ramirez bout ... so no, his footwork was not "still much better"