Who would win this fantasy fight between Pernell Whitaker and Floyd Money Mayweather?

Pea was better than Floyd and would have won a competitive, yet clear decision.

 

Floyd was better than Pea and would have won a competitive, yet clear decision.

 

Even fight, draw or close decision either way

 

I can’t see Floyd losing to anyone in his prime. I try to imagine it but can’t see it.

 

It has taken me a few years to come to this conclusion as well. Against my personal desire I hold a similar opinion now.

 

I just don't see prime Floyd beating Tommy Hearns. Hearns all wrong for him

 

Would you say Floyd’s prime was in 2006? If so I might agree with you. I think he was top notch then, but struggle to see many beating him from SFW-LWW. I would not pick him over Tommy or quite a few other welters for that matter.

 

Not really fair considering Hearns is significantly bigger and heavier.

If you're being fair, I'd say it's more Joe Gans, Packey McFarland, Benny Leonard, Henry Armstrong and Roberto Duran to compare to Floyd.

 

Whitaker

 

Yeah to be fair his prime was before Welterweight I suppose.

 

I've always fancied a motivated Duran to topple Floyd.

Hard comparing era's but you would imagine Armstrong and Floyd would be interesing. Either Hank is too much for Floyd or the advanced modern fighter is too slick for Armstrong.

 

Whitaker by decision.

 

This is just too damn close to call. There's really no point in making a definitive prediction. (Or whatever noun best fits counterfactual speculations. "Retrodiction"? Counterdiction"?.)
Anyway, I favor Mayweather slightly but I wouldn't bet a half-eaten sandwich.

 

It's always difficult to imagine a guy who has never lost losing a fight. Being unbeaten is not the same as being unbeatable. That said, Floyd would be a tough ask for most great fighters.

His weakness would be against high volume punchers with great infighting skills and a great workrate who make him fight every second of a round - Henry Armstrong for example.

Pernell Whitaker clearly doesn't fit that model so it comes down to who is better defensively and at which weight they fight at. I think Whitaker might take Mayweather at Lightweight but I'm not sure.