Has Mayweather surpassed Whitaker?

Hem... Exsqueeze me! Is there any room in your highly intellectual exchanges to squeeze in the "it's hard to tell" comment? :hi:

 

No semantics, as you aren't trying to cover up a statement by given it hidden meanings. But I don't agree with your analysis.

Mayweather, it should be noted, is smaller than Whitaker IMO. DLH was unable to corner Whitaker at 147 where DLH was bigger, but not signifigantly so. DLH made PBF come up to 154, and DLH was signifigantly larger than PBF, something he didn't enjoy in the Whitaker fight. He also didn't employ a smaller ring. But that is neither here nor there.

Mayweather is not as good defensively as Whitaker, and Whitaker should be given credit for it in that fight. However, Mayweather landed more power shots and harder shots than Whitaker did in his fight with DLH. And while DLH showed better defense and blocked many shots, Mayweather still hit him flush often enough for it to be very clear IMO that he was winning. DLH tried to steal rounds, but I saw many of his punches getting blocked on the ropes, and Mayweather was winning when he wasn't on the ropes.

As far as ring generalship, I can't see DLH winning this. He was doing well until the mid rounds, then Mayweather took over. In the middle of the ring, DLH looked lost. (He looked lost the entire time against Whitaker). I certainly didn't see him controlling the pace. And what was significant to me was that Mayweather forced DLH to try and steal rounds, because he was well aware that he was at a disadvantage center ring, something I have never seen him do. I have never scored that fight closer than 7-4-1.

 

:huh

Mayweather- 5'8, 72' reach

Whitaker- 5'6, 69' reach

 

First off I would gladly proclaim myself to be part of the Jones gang. I think he is without doubt question the greatest fighter to ever live. Secondly, I understand that you are very consistent. However, by judging resume this way you leave room for the not so consistent posters to come to a very different conclusion using the same method. Judging things this way you have no way of making an infallible arguement either way. In closer fights, this will become even more so apparent, as even the most consistent of posters will tend to disagree at times.

 

Good post KG. I agree with your analysis here.

 

I don't understand your befuddlement. Mayweather is still a small WW, really a Jr WW. I think Whitaker was a bit thicker even while being shorter. And he was an average sized WW. Just my opinion.

You could do the same with Hatton and Mayweather....but I don't feel PBF is bigger than Hatton. Mayweather is slender with thick calves and slender shoulders. I think Whitaker is a bit thicker.

 

Touche...

 

Whitaker was quite small for a WW. Shorter, with a smaller reach. Whitaker was also softer at 154 than Floyd, and even at 147 if we're being honest, especially in some of his later fights.

 

Mayweather's shoulders are pretty broad I'd say, moreso than Pea's for sure. And as I said, Pea was softer at higher weights.

 

hahaha.... But seriously what fun would that be. We would miss out on 10 pages of inconclusive arguement.

 

I don't think he was that small at all. Shorter with a smaller reach doesn't always define size. I mean Baldomir is shorter and has less reach then Mayweather. I would argue Baldomir is bigger.

 

Yeah I know, that's also how they wrote the Patriot Act.

 

I don't think his shoulders are broad at all. Perhaps I am mistaking softness for size, but I am not ready to concede that. Whitaker did start higher and compete more frequently at the higher weights than Mayweather has.

 

IMO both of these fighters are very close. Skillwise, they both were the total package. Floyd has more power, and seems a bit more focused defensively. However, when Pernell wasn't clowning, may have been the better defensive fighter. If you look at Sweet Peas wins, they aren't much better than Floyd's, if better at all. H2H, this is a close matchup. However, Sweet Peas' speed, defensive ability, offensive variety, ring intelligence, and left handedness, would probably be enough to eek out a decision against Floyd. I could see it going the other way though.

Interestingly enough, I remember when Floyd fought Corrales. During that fight, Merchant made an interesting comment about these two. He said something to the effect that Floyd's supporters compare him to Sugar Ray Leonard, while his detractors compare him to Pernell Whitaker. Interesting perspective.

 

Again though, Whitaker was not a natural 190 pounder, and was softer than Floyd. Floyd was more muscle I'd say, therefore more size.

It's obvious it is close, but I think clear for Mayweather in terms of size. My main point was, you brought this up as if to show Mayweather was at more of a disadvantage than Pea when facing Oscar, which I think isn't much of a point at all.