Forget about debating who is going to win next week, I haven't even made a prediction yet. I may not even make one, as I want to pull for a great fight and not really a specific outcome. I am just curious to how Mayweather would be viewed from an all time stand point if he were to defeat Hatton, and later Miguel Cotto. What do you say about a fighter that has defeated everyone he's faced, and his list includes: At 130: Genaro Hernandez, Diego Corrales, and Jesus Chavez At 135: Jose Luis Castillo At 147: Zab Judah, Carlos Baldomir At 154: De la Hoya ? He has also managed wins over decent contenders, that really didn't pose any sort of threat to him; Angel Manfredy, Gregorio Vargas, Gatti, Mitchell, and maybe some others. If he can beat two young fighters, that have proven to be on a high level, what will this do for him to go out with a record of 40-0?
I think it kind of depends on what Hatton and Cotto go on to accomplish. I must say, looking at the two of them right now, I don't really see greatness in them, but they could well go on to prove me wrong. Personally I feel Mayweather himself is hugely overrated, and I already have him losing to Castillo and DLH, so I don't think that highly of him as it is. But assuming Cotto and Hatton go on to have decent careers, Floyd would have gone a whole career without decisively losing a fight, whilst facing a lot of good fighters, and so he will have to be up there somehwere. Just how high, I can't really say right now without seeing what Hatton and Cotto go on to accomplish, and also the manner in which Floyd beats them.
Is Mayweather a classic/great boxer. Maybe, but the designation is a bit, to state the matter mildly, premature.
Hahah, sorry, I somehow came out with DLH edging it by a point. 115-114 DLH Mayweather taking rounds 3,5,8,10 and 11. DLH taking rounds 2,4,6,7,9 and 12. Round 1 being even. Maybe I'm biased in that I don't like Mayweather. Then again, I probably like DLH even less, so go figure. I have no problem with anyone scoring rounds 1,9 or 12 for Mayweather, as those rounds could have gone either way imo.
Let me just add that a lot is made in DLH-Mayweather of Floyd's defense and him making DLH miss, but I think the story of the fight was DLH's defense. He blocked plenty of Mayweather's punches with his gloves and pretty effectively blunted Floyd's (minimal as it already was) attack. Mind you, I also had Winky drawing with Bernard on the same principles. So there's two decisions where I guess plenty of people would disagree with me. Oh well, so be it.
I had Winky and Hop as a draw as well.. But saw Floyd beating DLH up, although it seemed to be competitive, i still didnt see anything but a UD for Floyd.
It may be premature, RoccoMarciano, to call Floyd great now; but the point of this thread was an if. If Mayweather went on to defeat Hatton, and maybe even Cotto. What would that do for him in an all time sense?
