Mayweather was #1 at 130 and 135. He was the linear champion at 147, although he didn't defend against his best challengers. Jones was, and has been for a while, shot. The win is really quite meaningless. He has not beaten a world class fighter in basically 5 years, lost 3 fights straight, two by knockout. It means little more than Camacho's win over Ray Leonard. Hopkins, first of all is not necessarily above Floyd all-time. They are very close, and a case could be made for ranking either just a spot or so higher. He was also past his prime. He is clearly still a great fighter, but a win over the 43-year old Hopkins is not the same thing as a win over the prime Hopkins of 6 or 7 years ago. It was also a very close win. Calzaghe deserved it, but it was by no means convincing. Floyd's resume is better and his overall acheivements of dominating 130lbs and winning titles at 4 other weights is more impressive than Calzaghe's reign at 168 and winning the 175lbs title. Calzaghe is a great fighter certainly. Mayweather however, clearly did more in his career.
These guys are at the opposite ends of my 'approval spectrum.' I don't like Floyd much. And I'm a Calzaghe fan. But Floyd is better.
So lets see...Being a Calzaghe fan mas you more objective? But being a Mayweather fan makes you? Biased? Hypocrisy at it's finest...
Calzaghe,,,,mayweather in the begining of his career is when i was impressed after leaving 135 i got not much to say about him,,,he didn't fight the best in anyweight class after leaving the lower classe,,,,i think if calzaghe would like he could hang around for a couple of years,,,,,,,mayweather a paycheck in dlh more then what dlh use to be. You got williams, cotto, margarito an so nice champs that could give him the names that calzahe got by beating a good hopkins,,,,,,,,,,,,,if mayweather would of fought tzyu an won, i would give him the nod,,,,,calzaghe cleaned out 168 an now clean out the guy who cleaned out 175 in hopkins..
Hopkins beat one 175lbs fighter, hardly cleaned out the division. Calzaghe also did not clean out 168, there were some fighters that he missed at the weight and he did not fight the best guy at the weight he could have until his last fight there against Kessler. That said, what each could have done or still can do doesn't matter much. Mayweather did more in his career and beat a better list of qaulity fighters, that much should be clear.
Floyd, there is a reason he was p4p #1 for 3-4 years and Calzaghe not. Though they are similiar being undefeated and not having the best of resumes. Floyd just looked better doing it. Calzaghe beat up a Lacy and Roy. Floyd diced Corrales(no disrespect) Hatton, Hernandez. All were coming off good wins. I dont count Gatti but the way Floyd brutalized Gatti was worse than what Lacy went through.
Floyd easily. - Better resume - More skilled fighter - Won more world titles - Won more world titles in more different weight divisions - Was world pound-for-pound number 1 for a 3-year reign What the hell is the case for Calzaghe?!