TBE? Was it ever possible?

There isn't one.

And it's been true and clear to some of us for a good little while, too.

 

I think it's a case of nobody being on Floyd's level. I agree with you that there aren't enough ATGs or HOFers in this era.

I mean, Ali had Foreman and Frazier, Leonard had Hearns, Hagler, and Duran. Other than Pacquiao, who does Floyd really have?

 

He could have been far greater had he boxed more than 49 fights.
It basically boils down to that for me. His opposition needs to be picked apart when he could have taken the argument away. If anybody had a chance at genuinely becoming considered the best ever, it was probably Mayweather.
Best ever boxing businessman for sure.

 

that goes for every great fighter of every era, they'll be sorely missed and only given credit once they're long retired, remember how people called Lewis boring? once he retired, those same people started crying about the state of the HW division

 

Exactly, which is what a lot of Floyd's fans fail to consider that scream TBE. You are the best because of who is around you. It's not really his fault, it just is what it is.

 

he wouldn't have beat all those guys though, that's the trouble with fighting opponents in their prime - it's a lot harder.

Floyd never wanted the hard road, he wanted the yellow brick road with Dorothy Ellerbe.

 

You really think Floyd couldn't have beaten all of the guys I listed? I would favor him over all of them.

 

No it wasn't but he could of got closer if he did not duck so many prime top contenders in and around his division, he may have gotten top 20 all time. Even now he could of fought Khan/Brook/Thurman/Porter/Bradley/Garcia are all better than Maidana/Berto/Guerrero/Ortiz.

 

People will be sad once he retires, you guys dont understand how special a fighter he is.

You'll be telling folk stories of a Floyd around a camp fire to your great grand children.

 

For all the talk about his career if Mayweather fought the Cotto/Alvarez winner or GGG next @56+ for the Lineal MW Title or the WBA/IBF* MW Titles and won he'd arguably be top 10 still.

 

I'd say Pacquiao has a slightly better resume but Floyd beat him too so that negates it.

 

If he moved up to 160 and outpointed Golovkin, I would rank him right up there... so yes.

 

Impossible to be the best ever.....should be T.B.N...the best now

 

He has an outstanding resume, there is no ****ing argument, if people hold other fighters of this era's resume against Floyd's and WHEN he fought guys, it's a damn impressive thing, not perfect but who the hell's is, his consistency is admirable.

If he was competitive for 6 rounds with GGG, that enhances it even if he's KTFO.
Martinez was possible but shouldn't be expected to face a true middlweight if he's not been above junior.
Same as GGG, I wouldn't want them down to 154 nor Mayweather at 160, I'd like a fight for GGG or Maravilla at that weight BEFORE fighting Floyd or Floyd above 154 to see if they can fight effectively.
Williams would've been good, Margarito would have caused him problems but he wins UD still for me and 75% others with the most recent poll we did on that fight.
Bradley is another stand out from this era who would look damn good.
Any of the current WW's in the top 10 would be nice but wouldn't take his resume that much higher for me, ofc damn better than Berto but it is what it is.
Cotto is the obvious one he should aim for, for 50 unless Pacman wins against a relevant fighter.
Cotto got his belt off a decayed Martinez though so the MW thing is kinda redundant.

 

It's not about who he fought, it's about how he beat them. He fought cautiously and lost rounds all the time against mediocre fighters. If he beat the opponents he beat in the same way Roy Jones beat his opponents i'd call Floyd TBE no problem. Credit to him for always finding the W but there were plenty of close fights and average performances. I'd put Pac above him all time just for the way he beat guys like Morales, Barrera, DLH, Cotto and Hatton. It's not who you beat, it's how you beat them.