bold statement john :good i like it i see him going 50/50 and being remembered much the same way many of the era are remembered: able to beat the best and be BEATEN by the best, depending on the night, the fighter and the weight
Many people on this forum hate him (and/or modern fighters in general), and I doubt you will find many who can remain unbiased... Taking what should be a prime version of PBF vs those listed.... Duran by UD @ LW Hearns by UD @ WW SRL by 14 rd TKO PBF takes a decision over Pryor @ LWW PBF beats camacho by comfortable decision @ any weight Whitaker by close/clear decision JCC by UD PBF/Arguello @ SFW...I have never been able to pick a winner...slight edge to PBF PBF decision over Curry
Taking another approach and placing 98-2012 Floyd in 1978-1992 SFW 1978-81 10 fights....He rules the roost and destroys guys like Serrano, Baltazar, Chacon, Limon, Navarrete, Rosario....the only thing standing in his way would be Arguello....If they fought in 78 I would give an edge to Arguello....but I imaging Arguello would move up to LW in 80, and they would miss each other leaving Floyd to become the dominant SFW. LW 1981-1983 4 fights... Again Floyd would be the cream of the crop except for (or alongside) Arguello! Floyd would likely beat 3 good boxers...I will take Mancini, Bramble & Howard Davis...setting the stage for a summer of 83 mega fight w/ Arguello...where Floyd beats The Thin Man for a decision, and a rematch @ 140 making the Pryor fights never happen and ruining any legacy that Aaron has today. LWW 1984-85 3 fights... Floyd again decisions Arguello, Saoul Mamby setting up Pryors mega fight w/ Floyd...Floyd loses the first three rounds and then takes total control winning a wide decision.... WW 1986 and again from 87-91...Along w/ 2 fights @ LMW in 87 and 92...10 fights Floyd beats curry & Honeyghan... This sets the stage for mega fight Hearns & Floyd @ 154...No more 0 and Floyd is stopped in 8 rounds.... Floyd moves back to Welter and beats... S. Brown, Blocker, Starling (very close fight SD...many say Starling won), McGirt, Meldrick Taylor & Aaron Davis... the stage is set for Floyd vs Terrible Terry @ 154....Norris destroys Floyd much like Sugar....after this horrendous beating Floyd contemplates retirement!!!! He moves through the 80's w/ 2 loses presuming he fights some of the best.
Whatever you think of Floyd, he wouldn't have beaten Curry while I've got a hole in my arse. Apart from being bigger, lighter on his feet, punching harder and having a slightly better jab, Curry was at least as fast and accurate as Mayweather and just as defensively sound and technically skilled. That sniper-like style is well suited to dealing with even the best version of Mayweather, never mind the flat-footed, potshotting version from 147 up.