I was watching Napoles v Billy Backus and even though outclassed Backus threw some good counters and I got the feeling boxers in the top 10 back then were probably better than contenders during Mayweather`s prime. De La Hoya was one of Floyd`s best fights and I think Backus would have given him problems because he threw so many counters against Napoles! Just using that as an example, what does anyone think?
It was definitely a better era, Napoles' resume is just outstanding and very stacked. It was the unregulated PED era, too. Napoles only lost to Backus in the first fight because of a cut. He got too badly cut more often in his career than the other greats, it was weird. Mayweather loses to Monzon and Emile Griffith (if he is motivated) could beat Mayweather. Mayweather-Griffith - I really can't confidently call it. Griffith, PED'd and ready as they say: http://68.media.tumblr.com/386ac87061949cbba97c9cc4b6e4ff08/tumblr_nry396l7fF1tuy8zto2_400.jpg Lastly, Napoles beats Mayweather. Napoles to me is probably around 7th best ever.
I feel Floyd wouldn`t stand a chance against Monzon because of his size and reach. Napoles lost but proved he could do great against a much taller person like Tommy Hearns.
Monzon was too big, too good. At very, very least the same tier as Mayweather at Mayweather's prime weights. Yeah Napoles can hold his own, maybe not get KO'd but I do think Hearns would beat Napoles by UD in that case, styles make fights and when you're up against the best ever tall rangy guy, it isn't looking so good lol.
EDIT: Monzon defeats all. He's the best and biggest of everyone Napoles and Floyd fought combined. A whole huge bulk of Napoles' opponents like most of his first 60 fights don't stand a chance or only would defeat Floyds' 130-135 opponents due to the size more than anything if they did. He does not have near the quality to keep up if we're being honest, however Griffith does easy work on almost every single of Floyds' opponents.
Of course they were better. It was a different era back then. People weren't as concerned with things like CTE because they didn't really know about it.
