Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs The Fab Four

[elmersalsa]

How about the greatest fighter pound per pound today versus the Fab Four of Duran, Leonard, Hagler and Hearns? Any chance against these EXTRAORDINARY AND PHENOMENAL FOURSOME?

[dempseyfire]

On their best night? No chance vs any of them, but please if there is a heaven let me see the whuppin' a prime Hagler would have put on Floyd, and if day before weigh-in, Marvin can weigh at 154.

[BoxBuzz]

dempsey....you think it's a whuppin? Or just an ongoing non engaged embarassment? I'm thinkin Floyd turns Joe Louis's statement upside down...by actually finding a place to hide for 12 rounds.

[Rover]

I agree with the consensus.

[Giancarlo]

Can't picture him coming close to beating any of them.

[jezzamundo]

All of the five fighters in this discussion are undisputedly great. I believe Mayweather's career rates below of theirs, but depending on what he does in the next couple of years, he could truly be in the discussion. However, the only fighter he has a shadow of a chance of beating is Duran, followed by Hagler and I'd give him next to no chance of beating either Leonard or Hearns (or Hagler to be honest). Let's look at some of their numbers:

Age turned pro:
Duran -16
Hagler - 18
Leonard - 20
Hearns - 19
Mayweather - 19

Height:
Duran - 5'7"
Hagler - 5'9 1/2"
Leonard - 5'10"
Hearns - 6'1"
Mayweather - 5'8"

Reach:
Duran - 66"
Hagler - 75"
Leonard - 74"
Hearns - 78"
Mayweather - 72"

Fighting weight age 21:
Duran - 132lb
Hagler - 160lb
Leonard - 142lb
Hearns - 146lb
Mayweather - 130lb

Fighting weight age 26:
Duran - 134lb (although often fighting at 140lb in non-title bouts)
Hagler - 160lb
Leonard - 149lb (had a title at 154lb)
Hearns - 154lb (would soon move to middleweight)
Mayweather - 134lb

Fighting weight age 31:
Duran - 153lb
Hagler - 160lb
Leonard - 158lb (first fight at middleweight)
Hearns - 168lb (just moved up from middleweight)
Mayweather - 147lb (had fought at 154lb weighing well under the limit)

Fighting weight age 36:
Duran - 162lb (later fight at middleweight)
Hagler - retired having only ever fought at middleweight
Leonard - retired, previous fight at 154lb
Hearns - 184lb (later fights at light heavyweight)
Mayweather - 146lb (fights at 154lb well under the limit)


For a start, we can see from the numbers that Floyd is a MUCH smaller man than either Leonard, Hearns or Hagler. Even at 36 he could still make 140lb if he wanted to, something that none of the fab four could possibly do. He also lacks the punching power to trouble Hagler or Leonard and while I think he could potentially hurt Hearns, he certainly wouldn't stop him. Floyd is a great, but when discussing his greatness, it's more fair to compare him with the great lightweights of the past.

[Ezzard]

The different weigh in times mess with the weight stats. But it's an interesting analysis. Good way of looking at it.

Mayweather has never beaten anyone who, on that night, could have beaten the fab 4

[polecateddy]

Duran is the weak link, in that the right smart boxer could outbox him. I think it's not really such a stretch to have Floyd winning at lightweight or welterweight. The rest are difficult. A peak Hagler is a middleweight obviously. As Floyd has no form-line at the weight against a high calibre champion, I wouldn't think it wise to make as bold a prediction as Floyd running away with another decision. I think Hagler could do enough work to impress the judges in probably an interesting, competitive fight. Hearns over 12 is a tall order. If he was caught like against Moseley it could be good night. Potentially Floyd is better conditioned and if he was still in the fight could peg things back in the late rounds. In fact a 15 round fight might be tip Floyd's way eventually. The Ray fight would be pretty even, but I think Ray could just edge Floyd out of it.

[jezzamundo]

The different weigh in times mess with the weight stats. But it's an interesting analysis. Good way of looking at it.

Mayweather has never beaten anyone who, on that night, could have beaten the fab 4

Weigh in times have an effect, but not a big one as Floyd isn't a big dehydrator. Hagler could certainly make 154lb, especially early in his career with day-before weigh-ins, but he's still a much bigger, stronger man than Floyd.

Duran is the weak link, in that the right smart boxer could outbox him. I think it's not really such a stretch to have Floyd winning at lightweight or welterweight. The rest are difficult. A peak Hagler is a middleweight obviously. As Floyd has no form-line at the weight against a high calibre champion, I wouldn't think it wise to make as bold a prediction as Floyd running away with another decision. I think Hagler could do enough work to impress the judges in probably an interesting, competitive fight. Hearns over 12 is a tall order. If he was caught like against Moseley it could be good night. Potentially Floyd is better conditioned and if he was still in the fight could peg things back in the late rounds. In fact a 15 round fight might be tip Floyd's way eventually. The Ray fight would be pretty even, but I think Ray could just edge Floyd out of it.

I agree that Floyd outboxing Duran is definitely his most likely win, but peak-for-peak I don't see Floyd winning at lightweight or welterweight. I think Hearns is a stylistic nightmare for Floyd, don't like his chances of seeing the final bell in that fight, let alone winning a decision. I also think you overrate Mayweather's chance against SRL - Leonard was better than Floyd in every measurable way with the exception of defence and perhaps ring intelligence.

[Ezzard]

The weigh in times would effect the others though.

Duran was the best of the four and on his night simply too much for Mayweather. No doubt though that Floyd is more consistent in the later years.

Hearns has just too much skill for Mayweather. Floyd could land late in the fight but I don't see him as willing to take those risks...and I don't see him fighting at enough of a pace to really drain Tommy.

[SenorPipino]

Like some of you, I agree that Floyd beats Duran. It's no secret that excellent boxers who moved troubled the stalking Panamanian.
Floyd would give Duran angles all night and never let his back touch the ropes.Who knows? A frustrated Duran might even say "No Mas."

Floyd would give the other 3 competitive fights, if only based on speed and style. Don't know if he could upend an ATG middleweight like Hagler, though. The bigger Leonard might have been able to outbox Marvin, but Mayweather has looked vulnerable when facing jr. middleweights, so topping Hagler is probably a reach. But his smart boxing would give Hagler some fits, just like Duran did when he boxed Marvin.

[man]

as good as floyd is defensively i cannot picture
any of the four not being all over him until they
get a clean shot. i actually think none of the four
bouts would even be competitive.

[man]

Duran was the best of the four

whenever i try to find the best of the fab four i
start to run in circles and so far i never found a
satisfying exit.

[gilgamesh]

On their best night I don't see him beating any of them. Roberto Duran would probably be the guy he could give the most trouble too, but I don't think he'd win.

[Rover]

Like some of you, I agree that Floyd beats Duran. It's no secret that excellent boxers who moved troubled the stalking Panamanian.
Floyd would give Duran angles all night and never let his back touch the ropes.Who knows? A frustrated Duran might even say "No Mas."

Floyd would give the other 3 competitive fights, if only based on speed and style. Don't know if he could upend an ATG middleweight like Hagler, though. The bigger Leonard might have been able to outbox Marvin, but Mayweather has looked vulnerable when facing jr. middleweights, so topping Hagler is probably a reach. But his smart boxing would give Hagler some fits, just like Duran did when he boxed Marvin.

And Duran was a lot better version of Castillo.
Though Floyd could win if Duran didn't train and came in out of shape.

[Ezzard]

Like some of you, I agree that Floyd beats Duran. It's no secret that excellent boxers who moved troubled the stalking Panamanian.
Floyd would give Duran angles all night and never let his back touch the ropes.Who knows? A frustrated Duran might even say "No Mas."

Floyd would give the other 3 competitive fights, if only based on speed and style. Don't know if he could upend an ATG middleweight like Hagler, though. The bigger Leonard might have been able to outbox Marvin, but Mayweather has looked vulnerable when facing jr. middleweights, so topping Hagler is probably a reach. But his smart boxing would give Hagler some fits, just like Duran did when he boxed Marvin.

And Duran was a lot better version of Castillo.
Though Floyd could win if Duran didn't train and came in out of shape.

100%. Floyd won't win any of these but nobody would have it that easy. They would have to be in shape.

[polecateddy]

Floyd's peak level stretches for years, whereas with the Fab Four you'd have to pick certain fights/years where they were at their own peak. All four's level dropped below Floyd's at the end of their championship level reigns.

[wvboxer]

I'm the same as everyone else. Maybe he could beat Duran. Floyd would be very competitive with both he & Leonard. I don't think he has a shot against Hearns or Hagler. Who outboxes Hearns? You have to brawl with him.

[The Great John L]

It's hard to imagine Floyd dealing with the freakish size, speed and raw power of Hearns, or the physical southpaw style of the larger Hagler, but I think he would have been quite competitive against Duran and Leonard. Floyds defensive skills, and his ability to adapt during a fight are quite impressive.

[stevieb_8006]

Duran at light weight vs floyd at lightweight, floyd gets owned. I hate that Durans lightweight achievements get totally overlooked due to his involvement in the Fab Four. Any higher and I'd lean to floyd fighting scared and picking up a decision.

[Ezzard]

Okay let’s go back a little further…same sort of guys…

Monzon
Griffith
Napoles

Monzon wins. Griffith wins. Napoles probably wins but could go either way.

[Rover]

Okay let’s go back a little further…same sort of guys…

Monzon
Griffith
Napoles

Monzon wins. Griffith wins. Napoles probably wins but could go either way.

Napoles had the cuts issue.

[Borinken25]

I think Mayweather is one of the smartest boxers to ever fight. But I don't see him defeating or being even competitive vs Hearns. Leonard speed and boxing ability would give him too many problems. Hagler would be just too strong for Mayweather. And I think Duran would have been a nightmare for Mayweather too because of his relentless pressure. Duran had the speed and power to bother Mayweather. We all saw what Cotto did to Mayweather and Cotto is nowhere close to the ability of Duran. I don't see Mayweather beating any of them.

[tommo100]

just as a matter of interest how do you think floyd would have fared agaisnt pernel whitaker,equally as slippery as floyd,i think sweet pea has the edge on offence

[elmersalsa]

To me, Duran, Leonard, Hearns and Hagler were fighters out of this world. I would never see anything like them again. They were too extraordinary. Too bad that Duran fought most of those fights when he was out of prime. I would have love to see a prime Duran fighting Hearns and Hagler. It would have been better fights. Sugar Ray caught the Hands of Stone in an OFF NIGHT.

And like all the rest in this topic, I cannot see Pretty Boy Floyd beating none of them at their very best.