Could Mayweather have made it to the top during the era of Sugar Ray, Hagler, and Hearns?

Floyd might be the best natural defensive fighter I have seen. By that I mean that he relies on form and fundamentals more than natural athletic ability or speed. But it does not end there. I see people questioning his defense and calling it weak opposition and running and fighting off the back foot (like that is an insult, rather than a good quality and skill set). But he is also one of the best if not the best counter punchers of the last 50 years. I keep hearing about his lack of power (and it has declined both through the years and higher weight competition) yet he possesses enough pop that everyone he fights throws less than normal because he makes you pay just enough to make you question how and when you want to lead and initiate the action. The work rate and accuracy of all of his opponents diminishes drastically when they fight him. He is no power puncher by any stretch but he possess enough to deter his opponents from forcing the action like they want/planned.

Once again I think he translates into any era. And rises to the top alongside of the 4 kings even if not surpassing them.

Worst case scenario he is a peer and rival of Benitez, although I find him a step above and on par with Hearns SRL and Duran. I make Hearns a favorite over him but think he is a pick em against Duran/SRL

 

Idiot

 

Yes if the money was there and he was able to dictate favorable terms in contract negotiations...he is not a whole lot different than SRL in that regard IMHO

 

Guess I'm just not seeing an even matchup between SRL and May. I think that fight is all wrong for May, just not as wrong as the Hearns fight, but still all wrong.

 

I'm ok with your opinion. It's yours. But my opinion is based on what I've seen from him at his best ( Which was at Jr.lightweight, Not Welter) At welter, he wouldnt have the firepower to get Duran's respect thus Duran would be in his chest until he's stopped or the referee saves him in less than 9 rds .Hearns at welter would be a total mismatch for Mayweather jr. 5'7" with a 72inch reach and again not having the firepower to make 6'1 78 inch reach punching like a Lt heavy Hearns respect him. Hearns takes him out clean within 5rds . ( But Mayweather jr would be "shrewd enough to avoid Hearns like the plague) SRL at welter more than matches him in hand speed, faster feet, and skill level, but less defensively sound( but Leonard was aggressive and took more risk, so of course he was) SRL at welter was just too physically strong for Mayweather jr. And would realize Again Mayweatherjr doesn't have the pop to really earn his respect, destroys his body with his very underrated body attack . Break Mayweather down stops him within 7rds. ( But again judging his history, Mayweatherjr would avoid prime SRL like he would Hearns) I see Benitez beating him by unanimous dec. He possibly beats Cuevas and Palomino. (But Palomino went 10 hard rds with a prime Duran so that's also debatable in my mind)

 

Agree when it comes to dictating terms, but disagree strongly when it comes to taking on the best. SRL fought Wilfred, Hearns x2, Duran x2 (not considering the first fight), Hagler. All those fighters were prime sans Hagler, but that version of Hagler was better than the ancient greats May beat like Mosley and Hoya. May has nobody on his record like the above, and avoided those types of fights. He didn't fight Mosely when he was prime and they were around the same weight. Same Tszyu when he was the man. Pac wasn't near prime, and neither was JMM. In reality the best prime fighter May got in the ring with were Corrales (his best win/performance imo) and Castillo. Castillo beat him on my card in the first fight, and came back in great fashion to win the second time. Maybe through in Cotto. Point is, all in all, there is nothing on May's record that leads me to believe he'd challenge a PRIME SRL, Hearns or Duran. He'd likely wait for them to leave whatever division he was in or wanting to go to and then move up.

 

Well since I don’t find Floyd to be the coward? Many are painting him out to be....I believe so if the money was there...and if he won...maybe he would make Hearns wait 8 years for a rematch like SRL did