If hopkins wins, is he the fighter of the decade?

With all due to respect to Pacman(who is a legit future Hall of Famer), he's lost more than once and nobody ever watched him and said to themselves "Jesus, does this guy have any flaws? This guy has amazing defense!! Is this guy the best ever?" These are questions we've asked ourselves when watching Mayweather. Also, let's not underrate Mayweather's opposition. There were many people that were either picking Corrales, Oscar, and Hatton to beat him, or at the very least to give him a great fight. Corrales was destroyed, Hatton was knocked out, and Oscar was beaten cleanly.

 

it would put him in pole position with 2 years to go

 

I agree with you that Mayweather is a much better fighter then Pacquiao, but Manny continues to fight the best (Win, lose or draw) while I don't feel Mayweather does. I also agree that beating up Corrales and Hatton convincingly was impressive, but, the thing is Mayweather fancies himself as 'one of the greatest'. Now the difference between Mayweather and someone great like Ray Leonard is Leonard wanted to and fought guys like Hearns and Hagler..other all time greats in their primes to have the claim as being the best of the bunch. I have yet to see Mayweather do that. A guy he should be fighting for his legacy is Cotto but it doesn't look that fight will happen and instead we hear of him rematching De La Hoya and Hatton again.

Mayweather has all time great skills, but doesn't want to risk the perfect record (I think). I have no problems calling him a very good fighter, but not great. The greats challenge other greats (Ali-Foreman, Hearns-Hagler, etc.)