Ranking Floyd Mayweather

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by lufcrazy, Jun 10, 2020.


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  1. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    I think over the last decade I've flipped completely on how I view Floyd.

    I used to think he was an elite talent who fell short of all time greatness. So basically he would rank higher from a H2H view point as opposed to a greatness viewpoint.

    But now I think I've flipped that entirely, that actually he ranks higher from a greatness viewpoint as opposed to a H2H viewpoint.

    I'm starting to be of the view that he got everything out of his career that he possibly could. That he took his talent as far as it would go.

    I kinda feel the achievements he achieved in the sport are the very maximum he was capable of achieving.

    I mean had he faced Casamayor, Freitas, Zoo, Margarito, Williams, Winky, and prime versions of Mosley, Hoya, Cotto and Pac, I don't think he gets through that gauntlet unbeaten. I think had he done that, he wouldn't have added to his achievements and certainly wouldn't be seen in as high a regard as he is now.

    What do others think, was Floyd capable of doing more than he did, or is he a perfect example of career management. He fought the right people at the right time over and over and over again and in doing so he forged an amazing legacy culminating in winning fighter of the decade.

    Thoughts?

    Does Floyd rank higher from a greatness point of view or from a H2H point of view?
     
    lufcrazy, Jun 10, 2020
    lufcrazy, Jun 10, 2020
    #1
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  2. Charlietf

    Charlietf Well-Known Member Full Member

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    H2h he is one of the very best and legacy too
     
    Charlietf, Jun 10, 2020
    Charlietf, Jun 10, 2020
    #2
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  3. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    See this is the one stance I can't take, otherwise he'd have faced better opposition at various times in his career.

    I've kinda narrowed it down to he's either a once in a generation talent who didn't live up to his potential or a very talented fighter who achieved all he ever could have done.
     
    lufcrazy, Jun 10, 2020
    lufcrazy, Jun 10, 2020
    #3
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  4. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I think his legacy should rank higher than most fighters... 50-0 record. Belts in like five divisions. Nearly 50% of his career spent in a championship ring. Wins over countless past and present champions including a few hall of famers... head to head he’s very formidable but I think there’s a lot of guys who would have beaten him depending on whatever impossible set of circumstances you put him in. For example a 30+ year old Mayweather trying to win a belt at jr. middle against a prime Hearns isn’t happening.
     
    mr. magoo, Jun 10, 2020
    mr. magoo, Jun 10, 2020
    #4
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  5. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    He's one of the greatest fighters that ever lived.
     
    McGrain, Jun 10, 2020
    McGrain, Jun 10, 2020
    #5
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  6. Charlietf

    Charlietf Well-Known Member Full Member

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    This
     
    Charlietf, Jun 10, 2020
    Charlietf, Jun 10, 2020
    #6
  7. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    Do you think he's one of the best fighters that ever lived?

    And if so do you think he could have achieved more?
     
    lufcrazy, Jun 10, 2020
    lufcrazy, Jun 10, 2020
    #7
  8. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    How about non impossible situations. So say challenging Pacquiao after he'd beaten Cotto?

    Defending against Casamayor after he'd beaten Castillo

    Unifying with Zoo after he'd beaten Gatti
     
    lufcrazy, Jun 10, 2020
    lufcrazy, Jun 10, 2020
    #8
  9. surfinghb1

    surfinghb1 Member Full Member

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    so many great fighters throughout the history of this sport. Top 40 - 60 is a good spot for him
     
    surfinghb1, Jun 10, 2020
    surfinghb1, Jun 10, 2020
    #9
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  10. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I’m sure there were all kinds of fights or opportunities that he “ could have “ taken. But legacy wise there aren’t many people who I personally would rate higher than Mayweather.
     
    mr. magoo, Jun 10, 2020
    mr. magoo, Jun 10, 2020
    #10
  11. asero

    asero Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    nope.
    He's one of the greatest boxers that ever lived.

    Look at the faces of most of the elite fighters he has beaten. Most of them are left unscattered
     
    asero, Jun 10, 2020
    asero, Jun 10, 2020
    #11
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  12. Bukkake

    Bukkake Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Absolutely!
     
    Bukkake, Jun 10, 2020
    Bukkake, Jun 10, 2020
    #12
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  13. wutang

    wutang Active Member Full Member

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    I think he could have faced and defeated all the fighters you mentioned. Albeit, some fights would have been very close. But he couldnt have faced all of them because boxing politics are a pretty ugly business that dont always give fans what they wants. At the same time there were a few too many misses in his career that fight fans really wanted. He's definitely an atg in my opinion but he could have been much greater.
     
    wutang, Jun 10, 2020
    wutang, Jun 10, 2020
    #13
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  14. scandcb

    scandcb Active Member Full Member

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    Top 50 of all-time.

    Not top 20.
     
    scandcb, Jun 10, 2020
    scandcb, Jun 10, 2020
    #14
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  15. cuchulain

    cuchulain Loyal Member Full Member

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    The portion of your post I quoted sums him up for me.

    And that's not necessarily a negative...career management is a very important, and sometimes overlooked or even maligned aspect of a boxer's resume and legacy.

    He didn't take some fights that he could have, and some he didn't take WHEN he should have, but he did take a lot of great fights and preserved his zero without any out and out robberies...Castillo (1) notwithstanding.

    His defensive skills were spectacular, and overall, for the great majority of his career he was at or near the top of the p4p pack.

    You could make a bit of a case to include him in the top ten.
    I would put him somewhere between 11 and 20.
     
    cuchulain, Jun 11, 2020
    cuchulain, Jun 11, 2020
    #15
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