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

He lost to Castillo the first time out. This was no Ramirez robbery... many people had Castillo ahead, and regardless it was a close fight, unlike the Ramirez one.

 

A fight only for purist, casual fans need not watch. Two counter punchers , both would wait on the other to initiate, both were brilliant defensively ,it's a very hard fight to pick a winner. If I had to take a guess, I'd guess Whitaker, reason being he's a south paw, who also was more inclined to body punch. But I wouldn't bet a" Happy meal " on it. More than likely it would be who's at the top of their game that night.

 

I believe Whitaker was simply better and more comfortable fighting at all angles and distances more than May. Pea could be inside, outside and anywhere in between. He was more active than May, and threw more punches than May. His jab was more of a weapon than Floyd's and would disrupt Floyd's offense. Pea also had a mean streak of sorts, he'd get in there and bang and get aggressive when he needed to, much more so than Floyd would. To me this fight would come down to Whitaker's better workrate, jab, and being better and more ways a fight can go. Think of it this way... Whitaker fought a prime peak ODLH who was bull rushing and being aggressive when needed thanks to his size and youth. A well past his prime ODLH controlled May for the better part of their fight with the jab and wasn't aggressive with May... a prime ODLH couldn't do anything with Whitaker's jab. Yet I'm supposed to believe he'd be able to control Whitaker's enough to win? Don't see. He wouldn't gas like ODLH did and stop throwing it... he'd abuse it if need be.

 

I don’t dispute your pick, and while I favor Floyd by a hair I see it as a pick em type of fight.

The question I ask is based off of Floyd’s opposition. You say Pea threw more punches than Floyd. I agree, but so did all of Floyd’s opposition. But when they fought Floyd thier output declined and thier land percentage also declined.

I don’t think Pea would be vastly more active than Floyd due to Floyd’s countering, placement and defense. I think both guys would be engaging at a minimum. And the one who pressed more might come out worse for it.

 

Agreed more or less, good post.

 

Good points Philly, and I appreciate your feedback on these fights.

The thing is though... The one guy who was best at pressuring/outworking, likely beat him the first time around. People tried to pressure Pea, and were unable to do so. Nelson literally was on him like white on rice the entire fight... pressuring him trying to outwork him. Ramirez tried the same thing. Chavez tried the same thing. ODLH did it in spurts. Point is, I believe Pea did better and faced better fighters who tried to press him and failed. So I do get your point about fighters pressing May and throwing more but missing.... but Pea's volume would be much different than the volume punchers Floyd did face. Pea would be doing it behind the jab and going to the body hard. Just listen to the McGirt interview sometime... Pea hit hard to the body and do so often. So I believe the body work would take a minor toll on Floyd throughout the fight and Whitaker's busy isn't the usual type to deal with. It isn't a... let me plow forward and just start winging punches hoping I land. Pea's would be educated pressure and pressure behind a jab. I literally mean this... If Floyd tried to go against the ropes and do his shoulder roll thing... that would be the worst move possible for Floyd. He'd get outworked and wouldn't be able to counter Pea like he could others. He'd be taking hard scoring shots to the body all night long. In my view there be literally no way for Floyd to win that type of fight against Pea. In my view he'd have to take control of the center of the ring and be more aggressive with his jab and pace. His more passive style doesn't seem to lead to a decision win against Pea imo.

Lastly, and I think it's an important factor... Pea has loads and loads of experience facing world class right handed fighters. May has next to no experience fighting a world class left handed fighter. That might not matter when if it was a fighter with a low ring IQ or somebody he could simply boss and comfortably outbox. That wouldn't be the case with Pea... he'd have an educated tough fighter in front of him who's just as good at defense as he is. I believe that would mess up May's timing and take him to an area he's never had to go to before.

 

All excellent points.

 

Pernell could have competed with Hearns. I don't think Floyd's style would.

 

Was a close one but I don’t even consider that prime mayweather

 

Who gave Whitaker that type of scare where they could've won or barely lost to a pre-prime or prime Whitaker?

 

It sounded better he was down and hurt.

 

I dont think either could

 

Pernell would have had a better chance. I could see him straight in front of Hearns avoiding the right side to side, but Floyd would have to avoid the side punch and to me that is hard with Hearns and his jab...

 

You know Pea went to the body really good .Its how he kept boxers honest.
And he really dug hard to the body.
You know from 85 to 97 nobody beat him. Sure they robbed him in the first Rameriez fight and the Chavez draw was BS. He also should have gotten the decision vs Oscar .
And he beat alot of very good/great fighters and most with EASE.

 

He picked Whitaker over Hagler some months back.