Why Floyd Mayweather Jr. is one of the ATGs

[NateJR]

We all know Floyd Mayweather Jr. is one of the most controversial figures in all of sports, with a list of "Haters" much longer than his list of supporters (which is one of the main reasons he's reached such high financial success). This doesn't take away his greatness as a fighter or where he stacks up against other current and former "GREAT" fighters. There's this saying that "the popular (opinion) isn't always right" and there isn't a fighter in the history of the sport of boxing that this saying applies to more than Floyd "Money" Mayweather JR..

There is too much blinded dislike for Floyd to even attempt to defend him as both a person and athlete with out hearing some off the wall reasons he doesn't stack up against past great fighters. It seems no matter what the man accomplishes the naysayers always find a way to discredit this man by making excuses and creating flat out lies to tarnish this mans accomplishments. Even with these common misconceptions being easy to debunk, it seems the facts simply will never deter the haters from expressing their delusional opinions based on out of the ring antics and simply holding the man at a standard they don't seem willing to hold any other fighter at even when it comes to his in the Ring accomplishments. The fact of the matter is, when the naysayers hold Floyd at this unfair standard while always looking at his accomplishments in a negative way only proves his superiority compared to his peers in the sport today. Being the greatest of your era, no matter how you try to spin it, is the ultimate accomplishment no matter what era you want to compare it to.

First off a man who has a record of 23-0 against Champions and former world Champions, even in todays scene is a unbelievable feat. The fact Floyd Mayweather has accomplished this feat in a 18 year professional career, while being champion for 17 of those years and winning those titles in 5 different weight divisions (spanning from Super-Featherweight to Junior-Middleweight) only illustrates and proves that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is among one of the greatest to ever lace them up. Just sit back and think about this for a second, let it soak in and there's really no logical way to discredit a great feat like this. To really break it down to help understand this accomplishment, Floyd has averaged fighting more than 1 World Champion or former World Champion a year since becoming a professional. If that doesn't impress you, let's put it this way, you're impossible to impress and really shouldn't be anywhere near a boxing forum and there's no room to be impressed when it comes to any boxing accomplishments from any fighters. Just to create a example on how impressive this is.

GGG would have to fight a minimum of 3 world champions or former world champions a year for the next 7 years from MW to at least the LHW division to even make a comparison to fighting as stiff of competition Floyd has fought through out his career, while not losing a single fight. Simply put, GGG won't even get close to accomplishing anything nearly that great in that sense and has managed to only beat 2 world champions/former world champions in 10 years in 1 division in 14 title fights. Floyd had already won World titles in 4 different divisions and beaten 15 champions and former world champions in that same span. So in 10 years as a pro compared to Golovkin, Floyd had beaten more Worlds Champions/Former World Champions than Championship fights Golovkin has fought in total while beating 13 more world champions and Former world champions. This is comparing Floyd to one of boxings highest regarded and most liked fighters in the sport today.. Just proof that "opinions" blind people of facts and people will give credit to guys they like for doing much less while not giving credit to fighters they dislike for accomplishing much more.. So in Floyds first 10 years as a pro, he fought in a total of 17 title fights and won 11 of those fights by stoppage against 15 different Champions/Former World champions.

As far as Floyds accomplishments,this is only scratching the surface.

[NateJR]

In Floyds last 11 fights, he's fought nothing but World Champions and Former World Champions. 9 of those fighters being current world champions with the only exceptions being Shane Mosley (who vacated his title because he didn't want to pay the sanctioning fees and was at the time the #2 ranked Welterweight in the world) and Madaina in their rematch after losing his World title to Floyd himself.

[world ranked]

Maybe the best defensive fighters of all time. And beat guys like Hernandez, Corrales, Castillo, Hatton, Mosley, Pacquaio, Cotto, Alvarez, etc

[jamesmcdonnell]

I'd have to agree - I think history will be kind to him - in some senses, he's his own worst enemy, because he makes pretty much everyone he fights look ordinary, which makes it look like his opponents aren't that good.

I don't rate him near the top 5 Welterweights of all time, however, his overall career is nothing short of phenomenal, he's fought at the highest level for almost his entire career.

I think in the end History will be a little kinder to Floyd than the present.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Maybe the best defensive fighters of all time. And beat guys like Hernandez, Corrales, Castillo, Hatton, Mosley, Pacquaio, Cotto, Alvarez, etc

Yes the only real competition I can think of in my lifetime, is Pernell Whittaker. Similar fighters, though Pernell carried a little more pop.

[world ranked]

Maybe the best defensive fighters of all time. And beat guys like Hernandez, Corrales, Castillo, Hatton, Mosley, Pacquaio, Cotto, Alvarez, etc

Yes the only real competition I can think of in my lifetime, is Pernell Whittaker. Similar fighters, though Pernell carried a little more pop.

I actually though Floyd was a bigger puncher.

[davie]

I suspect only the hardest of Floyd haters would attempt to say he was not an ATG, or that he is not p4p no1 or the best of his generation

He is all of these things.

What he is not is the G.O.A.T. that some would have you believe. Where he ranks in the ATG list is up for much debate but just as the haters may mark him lower on that list, there are every bit as many Floyd fan boys who will place him closer to the top (if not at the top) of that list than he merits.

Also, just because he is, unquestionably, an ATG and his record is fantastic does not mean his record is not open to scrutiny and his choice of opponent, the timing of certain fights, the manner of his wins and career in general cannot be questioned.

It doesn't make you a hater just because you think he should have fought Canelo at 154lbs or fought Manny in 2009 instead of 2015
It isn't wrong to say he got away with murder against Hatton and the ref was poor, or that he had a hard night against Castillo or Maidana.

None of these things take away from his fantastic achievements but when you sit at the top for so long and proclaim yourself as the greatest of all time, you invite added scutiny and critisism. You set yourself a higher standard against which to be judged.

Another critism he takes is for his safety first fighting style.
From a purely boxing point of view and where he sits among the greats, you can't detract for him not getting hit, thats part of what makes him so good. but he is an entertainer, paid more than any other sportperson on the planet. People expect to be entertained for that kind of money and have every right to complain when they are not.

[mullenman]

Floyd is an atg

probably best ever

biggest piece of shit ever too

[jamesmcdonnell]

I suspect only the hardest of Floyd haters would attempt to say he was not an ATG, or that he is not p4p no1 or the best of his generation

He is all of these things.

What he is not is the G.O.A.T. that some would have you believe. Where he ranks in the ATG list is up for much debate but just as the haters may mark him lower on that list, there are every bit as many Floyd fan boys who will place him closer to the top (if not at the top) of that list than he merits.

Also, just because he is, unquestionably, an ATG and his record is fantastic does not mean his record is not open to scrutiny and his choice of opponent, the timing of certain fights, the manner of his wins and career in general cannot be questioned.

It doesn't make you a hater just because you think he should have fought Canelo at 154lbs or fought Manny in 2009 instead of 2015
It isn't wrong to say he got away with murder against Hatton and the ref was poor, or that he had a hard night against Castillo or Maidana.

None of these things take away from his fantastic achievements but when you sit at the top for so long and proclaim yourself as the greatest of all time, you invite added scutiny and critisism. You set yourself a higher standard against which to be judged.

Another critism he takes is for his safety first fighting style.
From a purely boxing point of view and where he sits among the greats, you can't detract for him not getting hit, thats part of what makes him so good. but he is an entertainer, paid more than any other sportperson on the planet. People expect to be entertained for that kind of money and have every right to complain when they are not.

To be frank - I doubt that Floyd himself believes that - I think it's part of the persona he's created to sell fights.

There are people from this generation who believe it to be so, but I'm not sure many knowledgable fans with a bit of perspective do.

He's got to be top 10.

[man]

undoubtedly floyd is the p4p indisputable king of
this generation as well as an ATG10 p4p.

he is not GOAT for me because while his style
is winning, it kind of does that often in a sneaky
rather than open way. unlike the likes of SRR,
greb, ali, SRL etc.

for me he, ali and SRL are equally GOAT in terms
of ring intelligence and floyd exceeds everyone
in the category "adaptation" ... definitely GOAT
there.

[world ranked]

IMO if you think he's TBE ever ur a nuthugger. If you think he's not an ATG ur a hater. Not the greatest overall fighter, but his resume along possibly the best defensive fighter makes him ATG

[NateJR]

I agree Floyd isn't G.O.A.T, but he definitely belongs in the top 10 and arguably in the top 5 based on his longevity along with his overall accomplishments. Floyd could arguably be the greatest defensive fighter to ever lace them up (he undeniably belongs in the mix), or the most intelligent ring general with the ability to adapt to every style that was put in front of him.

I personally feel if Floyd were to lose a fight even at the age of 39, that loss would hold more weight than it actually should. To be fair, there isn't a fighter on any ones top 10 ATG list that was still fighting and winning at the same level Floyd continues to fight and win at. That isn't how people view Floyd though, they look for every little nick and cranny to scrutinize him not even taking into consideration Floyd spent the first 11 years of his career taking risks in the ring and eventually evolved his style to make fights easier as he got older (realizing his couldn't take those types of risks later on his career if he wanted to live a healthy life after retirement). Floyd chose to take the smart route and learn how to fight smarter, not harder which is the main reason he's been so successful this late in his career. Floyd payed his dues in the early part of his career, fought tough fighters and fought tough, taking risks and proving he was more than a pure boxer and that he could mix it up when he had to, those are the days that people tend to forget and tend to forget that Floyd is now 39 years old and is no longer the same fighter he was. It seems to me, everyone bases Floyds entire career on his last 7 years of his career and either don't know or have forgotten the road he took the first 11 years of his career.

Now to those saying Floyd deserves scrutiny at 39 years old for not fighting like he was 25 years old, just think about what you said for second. Floyd has been fighting in a safety first manner for the last 7 years of his career (with a few fights where he actually wasn't safety first, like against Hatton, Mosley, Ortiz and Madaina 1).. Now Floyd has a history of fighting this way, if you're willing to pay $100 for a Mayweather PPV with out knowing how Floyd Mayweather fights, how does Floyd deserve scrutiny due to other peoples ignorance? The truth of the matter is, everyone bought into the hype that Pacquiao, Alvarez etc. were the boogey men that were going to beat Floyd. People payed to see Floyd lose, but when it didn't happen, suddenly it's Floyd fault because they payed to see Floyd Mayweather win a fight the way Floyd Mayweather fights. Like I said, why does Floyd deserve scrutiny based on another persons ignorance?

[Taansend]

He's one of the best defensive boxers of all time.

Possibly top twenty overall.

[crusader]

He's easily an ATG but it seems to me like those who think he's TBE know very little about past generations of fighters.

[Rexob]

Agreed longevity alone does it for him.

[tommo100]

it`s not his fault but Floyd has never had the level of opponents that other atg`s have,his best performance for me was the destruction of chico

[hurricanemitch14]

He's easily an ATG but it seems to me like those who think he's TBE know very little about past generations of fighters.

Totally agree....plus when most guys compare him to others they pick atg welters. Welter isnt his best weight. 135 and lower he was koing most guys.

[caldo2025]

Maybe the best defensive fighters of all time. And beat guys like Hernandez, Corrales, Castillo, Hatton, Mosley, Pacquaio, Cotto, Alvarez, etc

Yes the only real competition I can think of in my lifetime, is Pernell Whittaker. Similar fighters, though Pernell carried a little more pop.

GREAT comparison. One of the most underrated boxers in recent history. When Sweat Pea was #1 P4P fighter during that brief stint at the top, he couldn't be hit. He just didn't have the right type of "dink" like Floyd does. Floyd cornered the Dink Market. I think that Floyd is THE greatest athlete from a marketing standpoint but I can't call him the best boxer ever. He's taken way too many over calculating risks than some of the greats. For instance, Sugar Ray Leonard taking on Marvin Hagler after being retired for a few years. That would be equivalent to Floyd taking the last two years off and coming back to fight GGG this year. Floyd will never do something like that. It took him too long to fight the second ranked person in his flight. He earned the right to be in the conversation but he doesn't earn the right to wear the TBE gear. He very well could have been the best had he taken on all comers but he didn't and his choices not to have to be considered when all the paint dries and we look at what's on the canvas that was his career.

[tiny_acres]

Maybe the best defensive fighters of all time. And beat guys like Hernandez, Corrales, Castillo, Hatton, Mosley, Pacquaio, Cotto, Alvarez, etc

Yes the only real competition I can think of in my lifetime, is Pernell Whittaker. Similar fighters, though Pernell carried a little more pop.

For instance, Sugar Ray Leonard taking on Marvin Hagler after being retired for a few years. That would be equivalent to Floyd taking the last two years off and coming back to fight GGG this year.

Well that is crazy.
Sugar Ray Leonard was 30 years old when he faced Hagler.
Floyd is 38.Comparing a 2 year lay off for a guy that has already been a champion for the better part of
2 decades.And in 5 different weight divisions. is well CRAZY.
Name a fighter who at 38 who was universally accepted as p4p #1.
There has never been one.

I do not think Floyd is the best ever.But his name needs to be mentioned with those all time greats.
He has earned it.

[stevedoc]

Maybe the best defensive fighters of all time. And beat guys like Hernandez, Corrales, Castillo, Hatton, Mosley, Pacquaio, Cotto, Alvarez, etc

Yes the only real competition I can think of in my lifetime, is Pernell Whittaker. Similar fighters, though Pernell carried a little more pop.

Really, different styles and pernell couldn't punch at all Floyd has more power but doesn't chose to trade

[KBB]

Notice the Pacquiao faithful won't even bother to get in this thread to give Floyd any credit at all, this is how you know how butthurt these IDIOTS are, they call themselves "boxing fans" and cannot even put their girlie hate emotions aside to give credit where credit is due.

It's funny whenever I read threads like these and someone will say that the ATG's fought better competition, I say go and get the records of these so called "ATGs" and do a side by side comparison to those on Mayweather's list and you'll see for yourself that many of the fighters on their lists barely measure up or are nowhere near far ahead but they only have a name for themselves based on who they lost to or beat.

SRL waited until Hagler was long in the tooth before he took that bout, he never faced Pryor. It was Manny Pacquiao's fault that the fight didn't happen in 2010 so anyone still stupid enough to blame that on Floyd obviously doesn't know what they are talking about.

Floyd is definitely one of the ATGs, by the time it's said and done (assuming he breaks Marciano's record) he will easily sit in the Top 10 whether the hater here like it or not.

[punchoutsb]

Floyd is the best defensive fighter of his generation, and in my opinion it's not even close.

Discussing whether or not he's an all time great is like discussing if SRR or Harry Greb or Pep or SRL are all time great; there is no discussion, just fact.

And why am I surprised Brut couldn't keep Manny off his lips again

[NateJR]

Saying Floyd would have to move up to 160 (2 divisions above his naturalweight) and fight a prime Champion at the age of 39 to compare to Leonard beating Hagler is ludacris. These are the types of standards people hold Floyd to that i was talking about. As was mentioned Leonard was only 30 when he fought Hagler, plus Leonard was a bonafide Welterweight or bigger his entire career, Floyd is a former super featherweight. IMO floyd beating DLH, Cotto and Alvarez is more impressive than Leonard beating Hagler.

[NateJR]

Maybe the best defensive fighters of all time. And beat guys like Hernandez, Corrales, Castillo, Hatton, Mosley, Pacquaio, Cotto, Alvarez, etc

Yes the only real competition I can think of in my lifetime, is Pernell Whittaker. Similar fighters, though Pernell carried a little more pop.

Really, different styles and pernell couldn't punch at all Floyd has more power but doesn't chose to trade

I agree floyd has more pop but Whitaker used his power more.

[MachoTime]

Saying Floyd would have to move up to 160 (2 divisions above his naturalweight) and fight a prime Champion at the age of 39 to compare to Leonard beating Hagler is ludacris. These are the types of standards people hold Floyd to that i was talking about. As was mentioned Leonard was only 30 when he fought Hagler, plus Leonard was a bonafide Welterweight or bigger his entire career, Floyd is a former super featherweight. IMO floyd beating DLH, Cotto and Alvarez is more impressive than Leonard beating Hagler.

All of them guys your talking about DLH, Cotto and Alvarez would have been lit up by Leonard & Hagler. Is more impressive than beating Hagler, yeah sure.