Is Floyd Mayweather Jr. a GOAT?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Maximuz, Sep 22, 2009.


Page 1 of 2
  1. Maximuz

    Maximuz Member Full Member

    235
    0
    Aug 24, 2009
    Simply put, I say "not yet", although Floyd did fight a masterful and exotic true boxer style fight against Marquez last weekend and wone quite easily with his style.

    Here is my issue, Floyd IMHO does his legacy no service until he steps up like a GOAT would and fights Cotto, Mosley, Clottey, Margarito, Berto or any other descent / good welterweight.

    For some reason, I believe Floyd is going for a 45-0 record and then retiring. So, that leaves him with 5 fights left.....he better choose wisely.

    Why does he not fight any of these guys?

    Yuriorkis Gamboa (15-0, 13 KOs). A little risky to put a fighter with such a scant record on the list; however, an exception can be made with regard to Gamboa. He won Olympic gold in 2004 and is as explosive as any man fighting today.

    Nonito Donaire (22-1, 14 KOs). Donaire lost his second professional fight, which can be forgiven in light of the fact that The Filipino Flash has destroyed the flyweight division since then and was the first man to defeat Vic Darchinyan--by brutal knockout.

    Timothy Bradley (24-0, 11 KOs). Bradley isn't flashy, he isn't heavy handed, but he is technically superb and a legitimate "good guy" within the sport. His dismantling of Nate Campbell last month (before the lobbied stoppage) proved that Desert Storm isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

    Edwin Valero (25-0, 25 KOs). How does an awkward fighter who is not technically sound make this list? He is an absolute killer in the ring and appears to know just one way to win a fight--by knockout. Valero will likely never get a shot at Pacquiao, but he runs in Juan Manuel Marquez's territory....

    Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KOs). Berto is on this list for one simple reason--he fights legitimate welterweights and so far has taken them all down. Andre was on the short list to fight Shane Mosley--an opponent that Mayweather has elected to avoid.

    Juan Manuel Lopez (26-0, 24 KOs). Not only is JuanMa a destroyer, but no fighter has ever lasted 12 rounds with him. He beats his opponents physically and mentally. Miguel Cotto may well be more popular; however, Lopez is the most exciting fighter from Puerto Rico.

    Jorge Linares (27-0, 18 KOs). Linares is a fantastic boxer out of Tokyo by way Barinas, Venezuela. He is mostly unknown outside of the Pacific Rim, but his one trip to America showcased that he was able to do what Manny Pacquiao could not--knockout Oscar Larios.

    Chad Dawson (28-0, 17 KOs). The problem with Dawson is that he is in a weak division; however, he is the only man to have defeated Tomasz Adamek and has wins over Glen Johnson and Antonio Tarver (twice).

    Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KOs). King Arthur defended his middleweight title 10 times before electing to move up in weight to 168lbs in order to participate in the Showtime tournament. His next opponent, Jermian Taylor, will no doubt cause speculation as to how Abraham would have fared against Kelly Pavlik in a middleweight unification bout--a fight Abraham begged to be made.

    Chris John (42-0-2, 22 KOs). John's record alone justifies his participation on this list.

    Clearly Floyd would argue that except for John, all these "contenders" are too far away from his record to have "earned" a fight with Floyd and his money.

    What the above fighters seem to have that Floyd clearly does not, is that the above fighters are all willing to fight the best....to be the best. Mayweather does not seem willing to do the same.

    Floyd is also at a critical point in his physical life. He is 32 and as he ages each day, he will get slower. I look forward to seeing him fight at age 33, 34 and 35.

    One thing is for sure, Floyd is clearly determined to have the reputation of a GOAT.....the big question is, will he get what he deserves?

    I want to see Floyd test himself....move up in weight, fight someone closer to his power, size, speed, age and weight...make it a true gladiator match.

    Enough of the "tune-ups" ... I want Floyd to earn the title GOAT by overcoming a worthy opponent or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5. I want to see Floyd get knocked down and rise up to finish the job. I want to see Floyd "struggle" in order to win his next fights....
     
    Maximuz, Sep 22, 2009
    Maximuz, Sep 22, 2009
    #1
  2. Hulkamania

    Hulkamania What ya gonna do!!! Full Member

    2,312
    1
    Jun 30, 2008
    PBF is an amazing fighter; it is sad that he is not fighting better caliber fighters which can be a threat to him because to be honest.... when watching PBF fight Marquez, Hatton ext..... I get the feeling that we haven't seen 100% of what PBF can actually do.

    He is still young, right now he is the GOAT at picking and managing his career but not the GOAT in the fight game.

    I want to see Mosley vs. Sugar Shane Mosley :happy
     
    Hulkamania, Sep 22, 2009
    Hulkamania, Sep 22, 2009
    #2
  3. BADINTENTIONS2

    BADINTENTIONS2 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,073
    0
    Feb 16, 2008
    all the guys you mentioned (with their records) dont bring in the revenue.

    and the reason why guys like gatti are 'throwback fighters' is because guys like gatti and mayorga dont exist much in modern day boxing - but the flipside is that the greats from the past would have operated under the same rules as the moneymakers do in modern day boxing.

    its very naaive of anyone to think any different.

    its unfortunate, but when we compare modern day great fighters to past greats there's usually going to be a big diference regarding this.
     
    BADINTENTIONS2, Sep 22, 2009
    BADINTENTIONS2, Sep 22, 2009
    #3
  4. Jeff Young

    Jeff Young Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,656
    0
    Jun 5, 2009
    IF (Big If), mayweather challenged for the MW title, and wins.....he would be discussed atleast as THE Goat.....not saying that he would be, but he would be discussed....

    at the moment i have him ranked in the top 40 ATG.....but no higher then 25.....
     
    Jeff Young, Sep 22, 2009
    Jeff Young, Sep 22, 2009
    #4
  5. heatman

    heatman Fight Game Connoisseur Full Member

    885
    50
    May 3, 2009
    He's one of the most skilled boxers ever, so in that sense he is a GOAT

    I dont buy into this consensus that he takes easy fights, its a bit thin. Goin up to JMW to win a S.D vs DLH made it tough fight. Hatton fight was the biggest money fight out there following that. JMM came after a 21 month layoff against the P4P no. 2 and the man many argue beat Pacquaio.

    I think the only fight he could have made but didnt was a Margarito fight. He called out SSM twice an got ignored and I understand he tried to make a Cotto fight. Who else did u want him to fight?Williams?The guy who'd just lost to Quintana?

    Lets see who he fights now that he's back.

    To answer the question. Floyd IS ONE OF THE BEST FIGHTERS OF ALL TIME
     
    heatman, Sep 22, 2009
    heatman, Sep 22, 2009
    #5
  6. Addie

    Addie Myung Woo Yuh! Full Member

    42,502
    401
    Jun 14, 2006


    Floyd is one of the best fighters of all time in the sense a Marco Barrera or Erik Morales are two of the best fighters of all time. Not in the same league as a Leonard or Whitaker, though.
     
    Addie, Sep 22, 2009
    Addie, Sep 22, 2009
    #6
  7. Knives7

    Knives7 Boxing Addict banned

    7,196
    1
    Jan 24, 2009
    Define GOAT?
     
    Knives7, Sep 22, 2009
    Knives7, Sep 22, 2009
    #7
  8. Ringnut

    Ringnut Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,009
    2
    May 1, 2009
    I don't think he's a goat. Maybe a chicken? :lol:
     
    Ringnut, Sep 22, 2009
    Ringnut, Sep 22, 2009
    #8
  9. Lar Janus

    Lar Janus Member Full Member

    334
    0
    Apr 24, 2007
    If he'd stop being a beotch and actually take some chances, he could be.

    There are a bunch of guys at 147 he could fight to cement his legacy: Mosley, Cotto, Clottey, Williams.

    If he were as great as he and his fanboys make him out to be, you'd think he'd be calling out Pavlik and BHop!

    I'll be very interested to see who he fights next.

    My guess in PacMan, whether he wins or loses against Cotto.

    Always the path of least resistance for Floyd...
     
    Lar Janus, Sep 22, 2009
    Lar Janus, Sep 22, 2009
    #9
  10. BADINTENTIONS2

    BADINTENTIONS2 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    9,073
    0
    Feb 16, 2008
    will you stop whining?

    thats 3 in a row now. why dont you run off a list of guys floyd has fought and then you'll see that hes being judged because he talks a bigger game than he admits too.

    it's floyd's mouth that cheapens his wins because he keeps saying he's the greatest. but his resume is actually pretty impressive.
     
    BADINTENTIONS2, Sep 22, 2009
    BADINTENTIONS2, Sep 22, 2009
    #10
  11. Mob

    Mob Active Member Full Member

    554
    0
    Jul 23, 2004
    I say he is.....reluctantly.

    To me, he is better P4P than Whitaker.
     
    Mob, Sep 22, 2009
    Mob, Sep 22, 2009
    #11
  12. essexboy

    essexboy The Cat Full Member

    4,063
    4
    Jul 12, 2009
    baaaah!
     
    essexboy, Sep 22, 2009
    essexboy, Sep 22, 2009
    #12
  13. Jeff Young

    Jeff Young Boxing Junkie Full Member

    11,656
    0
    Jun 5, 2009
    Floyd's toughest fight is miguel cotto.....IMHO floyd could have people saying "shane is shot" if they fight, that's an opinion of course....pacquiao will hit floyd more then usual, just look at the judah fight......but cotto is his toughest fight because of his ability to negate speed....
     
    Jeff Young, Sep 22, 2009
    Jeff Young, Sep 22, 2009
    #13
  14. sugarsean

    sugarsean Boxing Addict Full Member

    4,496
    14
    Jun 2, 2009
    Clottey although a good fighter would'nt cement Mayweather's legacy neither would Mosley because if he beats Mosley which I believe he would people will turn around and say well he beat a 38 year old Mosley who is past it.

    if Pacquiao beats Cotto which I also believe he will {tough fight though} and then Mayweather fights Pacman and beats him which again I believe he would {quiet easily as well} then people will turn around and say well he beat a dwarf and that he's just picked on a little man.

    he can't win either way

    So the only way he might get credit is if Cotto wins against Pacman which I hope he does but I can't see it happening { Don't think Cotto will be able to keep up with Pac's speed and combination's} and then Mayweather beats Cotto which I believe he would then I think it would be hard to find and excuse because he would of beaten an genuine Welterweight who was young and had just come of a big win.

    also if he beat Williams { who I don't think is as good as people make out} at 154 { because he if he fights him at 147 people will say that Williams was weight drained} the people would find it hard to make an excuse because he would of beaten a fighter who whould of had all the advantage's in { height, reach, weight} then he would get credit, {just so you know I think he beats Williams too}

    just so you know I think he should get credit for any of these wins but the things that I stated is what the critics would say.

    also I'm not being dimissive of the other fighters because I have respect for them and Cotto's one of my favourite's .
     
    sugarsean, Sep 22, 2009
    sugarsean, Sep 22, 2009
    #14
  15. TheGreatest

    TheGreatest Member Full Member

    343
    0
    Aug 30, 2009
    no way!!!
     
    TheGreatest, Sep 22, 2009
    TheGreatest, Sep 22, 2009
    #15
Page 1 of 2