42-0. Age 35. Upcoming jail sentence. Seven wins away from Marciano's perfect record. How do you see it? Will he chase the record by fighting 'easier' opponents? At two fights per year (asking a lot) he'd be nearly 40 when should he do it. Will he take on legacy defining fights with Paq/Martinez? If he took on and beat Cotto, Berto, Khan, Paq, Martinez, Alvarez and Brook () in his next 7 and won them all, where would he rank? (Extremely unlikely to take these on but hypothetically) Top 10/20/50 all time?
For me, he retires undefeated having at least two more after cotto, one of which wil be a legacy type fight (pac) He is already among the greats imo, reckon he would have held his own in any era and won v nearly everyone. A truly great fighter.
If he fought and beat Paq and Martinez at at least 154, would he be top 25 all time? Higher than Roy Jones/Whitaker/Chavez?
Not for me. Martinez is good, very good actually, but he's not really been able to prove his dominance over the 160lb class due to ''politics'' - basically other ''champions'' preferring to fight bus drivers instead. It's a fight I'd advise Floyd to take at 160 - the welterweight champion defeating the middleweight champion is huge, in any era, the achievement will only be cheapened by doing it at 154 anyway. Pac.... he's slipped - I'd rather not see that fight now to be honest. Beat Bradley and retire would be my advice to him. Watching him be made to look silly by Marquez was sad - I wanted Marquez to win but not like that. Floyd had all the opportunities and chose not to take them, which reflects badly on him - Margarito was hyped and in good form - he chose Baldomir. Cotto likewise - he ''retired''. Beating guys like Ortiz just isn't enough, he's not a ''proper'' fighter IMO, he's just a creation of the GBP/HBO alliance, I'd stick Frankie Gavin in with him tomorrow to be honest. Floyd had nearly two years off and took the **** out of him, forcing a shocking meltdown in the end. Still, Ortiz got what he wanted - out with his cheque, taking as little damage as possible. If he'd gone the distance he'd never have fought again.
I don't get this? Yeah, a Paq win now doesn't have the weight it did 2 years ago, even though he is older. However, if Paq stops Bradley it'll come back IMO. Opinions change so much of the back of one fight. I see your point (I don't really mind he hasn't fought Pirog/Chavez Jr etc, there's no doubt whatsoever he'd beat them all with ease) about Martinez but him at 160 is a fight he'd NEVER take. He refuses 50/50 fights and for me I'd have Martinez a slight favourite at 160.
I don't rate Ortiz at all, basically. His lack of ring IQ is ridiculous, and he's got very little skill. Pac.... I wasn't sure what was happening with him during the Mosley fight, wasn't sure whether he seemed to have lost something or whether he was just carrying Shane, but in the Marquez fight it was evident that his legs are going. Without his legs, he's no chance against Floyd I'm afraid. With Floyd, it's a shame he wouldn't take Martinez up at 160, I'd make Floyd a slight favourite in that one. Martinez isn't really the type to impose himself on someone, saying that we've all seen how Floyd toys with those kind of fighters anyway.
Only one of those is in my top 25 (Pernell) and absolutely no chance would I put Floyd in that company. If he beat Pac' and Sergio he might break the top 50-60.
Floyd probably is in the top 25 for natural talent and ability, but in terms of accomplishments you can't help but feel underwhelmed. I wouldn't go as far as to say he's never fought anyone (like I would with Calzaghe pretty much), but there's only a couple of opponents he faced at their most dangerous. And a list of excellent opponents that he either didn't face or got at the wrong time legacy wise.