Now who's the leader of their generation: Pacquiao or Mayweather?

It’s hard to say because both fighters have brought something different to the table which has taken them to the top. Mayweather has his pure unrivalled boxing ability which has made him the favourite against nearly all of his opposition (past, present and future), and Pacquiao has the best resume in the sport with spectacular wins and the most fan friendly style out there. History will probably remember Pacquiao in a more positive light because underdogs who proved everyone wrong tend to be appreciated more. Mayweather is too skilled for his own good and unfortunately has never been giving the same opportunities Pacquiao has had to ‘shock’ the world. He’s always been the favourite and expected to win.

 

You answered your own question. Pac has the better resume. You prove your the best by fighting the best. This is something Floyd refused to do in the 6+ years he's been at welterweight.,

 

I think that's unfair. Aside from retiring in 2008 and not fighting prime Pacquiao, he's been in with good opposition despite low activity. Judah, Baldomir, Oscar, Hatton, and Mosley were good fights.

 

i agree. Pac was a 1st ballet HOF'er for being the 1st flyweight champ to become lightweight champ. And doing it by beating 3 ATG's in the process.

Anything above that has been a bonus. Even if floyd beat Manny, I would never say floyd was better than him in a ATG lineup. Manny was never supposed to be at these higher weights dominating like he was

 

His WW run has glaring holes . An undefeated Cotto, a still fresh / younger Shane Mosley, Margarito, P Williams, Pacquiao, etc were all active in the division while he was fighting at welterweight, and he fought none of them - at least not when they were anywhere near their best. Instead he 'retired' after fighting Hatton (a junior ww), came back and dragged a career featherweight up 2 weight divisions, took more vacations/retirements, avoided Pacquiao like the plague, rest is history.

 

Yes I acknowledge the retirements and not meeting those fighters mentioned. But when people make out as though he avoided good opposition his entire time at welterweight I think they’re wrong. Especially when they talk about Shane Mosley. Everyone forgets that Mayweather chased him for years and as far as I recall Mosley turned him down two times. Then Mayweather fought him at the best opportunity he could. Practically as soon as he came back from retiring. After he beat Marquez he obliged Mosley’s challenge right away. Something which Mosley didn’t do.

 

Pacquiao has the better resume but Mayweather is the favourite to beat him and anybody else.

Mayweather dominated top opposition in the 90's with 5 title fights, one with the great G. Hernandez, he has literally LED the generation.

 

When he "retired" it wasn't just Pacquiao he was dodging. It was prime Cotto, prime Margarito, prime Williams and a just past prime Mosley. Mayweather's resume at 147 in the 6 years he's been at that weight is awful.

To me they are both the leading fighters of their generation, Pacquiao has taken challenges head on when the odds were stacked against him due to his size. Mayweather has shirked challenges ever since leaving 130lb - he wanted De La Hoya's fame, and markets that 0 for all it's worth. If you want to consider Bradley as a legit loss, and consider Marquez III as a loss then you have to consider the Castillo fight as a loss on Mayweather's record either, no way he won that fight. Castillo was robbed. He isn't active enough either, and picks his opponents very carefully.

Pacquiao can come back, KO Marquez and people will just say "Marquez is his Frazier" - Pacquiao at least sought him out and never let losing be a reason to avoid someone...

I think Mayweather is a phenomenal defensive boxer, but he ensures his opponents are tailor made for him

 

Whatever your position,Manny gave the fans a better deal but most of us know that even in 2009,Floyd was always going to beat him.

The best of the generation has to be the one who was undefeated and would most likely win.It's not as if Floyd has fought bum after bum.They have common opponents FFS.

 

Manny will be rated higher unlese Mayweather does something dramatic the next couple of years. But who is better? Mayweather by a mile

 

I don't agree at all. I think both styles pose problems to the other in many ways and I think we'll never know. And that fact hurts Mayweather's legacy more than Pacquiao's in my opinion

 

I would say, H2H Mayweather. Resume/achievements, Pacquaio.

Its a pity Mayweather didn't fight more often because he would probably beat most of his potential opponents, but we will never know so that probably hurts his ranking.

 

Pac does not have a better resume. It's a smoke and mirrors con trick made up of fighting the boiled down bones of former contenders.

Mayweather vs Ortiz or Cotto at their own weight tops Pac fighting scraps of anyone. Besides it's obvious to even a blind man that Mayweather would toy with Manny in much the same way he did with JMM. Mayweather is the best of this generation.