Who in history beats Mayweather?

The list of greats who don't beat Mayweather is much shorter.

 

I'll play:

Robinson
Leonard
Hearns

 

Duran
Forrest
Curry

 

Three excellent picks. That is a hellish gauntlet to run through right there.

From the more modern era, I'd say Mosley, Oscar and Trinidad at their best all have a decent shot.
Montreal Duran? Very distinct possibility. I wonder how Floyd's defensive excellence along the ropes would cope with Duran's relentless aggression and animal ferocity.

 

Assuming he did agree to fight them:

No, nobody can get Mayweather lead unless they're completely outgunned and helpless. Leonard would be just fine leading and then countering Mayweather's counters. It would be a chess match, but only for about 6 or 7 rounds, then the difference in ability becomes clearer. Mayweather only throws one punch a at a time, maaaaybe two if he's really got a wide opening, and Leonard will be punching in combinations.

You think Leonard won't know how to solve that flat footed shoulder roll defense? Leonard throws combinations to the head and body 3,4,5 at a time... He'll be landing while Mayweather waits to counter with his short right or hook.

He is awesome to watch, and I think he gives a hard time to many welters, even many great ones, but if what you mean by "rating" is rank him among the greats, he falls short. He has done a great job of avoiding the toughest challenges throughout his career and is very overrated right now.

In 10 years, he'll be viewed more realistically, somewhere between the "haters" who think he's a piece of **** and the "*****s" who vastly and blindly overrate him.

Head to head, he is quite a fighter.

 

Duran, Leonard,Hearns,SRR,Basilio, & possibly Benitez

 

Trinidad is an interesting choice. He could be outboxed for 7 rounds or whatever but if he hit Mayweather with a glancing blow in the right spot it could change the fight. Tito had serious fight changing power at `47 and `54. He carried that power the distance as well.

Not saying Mayweather couldn`t outbox him but it would be a level of Welterweight that he has never faced before. A dangerous night.

 

I think Basillio beats him too.

 

I was going to add something about Tito, because I love him as a fighter and would so love to say Tito knocks him senseless, but that would be dishonest.

Floyd probably spoils and potshots Tito, making him miss and pay; Trinidad wasn't very creative or adaptable. If what he was doing wasn't working, he'd keep trying, and perhaps, later in the fight, when Floyd gets too comfortable or makes a mistake, Felix lands something that changes the momentum. It very well could happen, but probably wouldn't.

 

Robinson kills him with the left hook.

Leonard humiliates him, then knocks him out.

Hearns puts him away early.

Pryor would eat his punches, then swarm him to death.