BoxRec

The article places six names in contention vs the then unbeaten Prince. As we know 8 months later Antonio Barrera was the man named in the article to defeat an overconfident Naseem.
With the benefit of hindsight I'm asking ould one, some or all of these other 5 men named in that article, have performed the same feat?

Of the five remaining names I think only Morales could have equaled the feat. Timing is important here IMHO. The rest I believe would have ended up second place in a competitive two man race. I don't feel Mayweather was ready at that point in time.

If you wouldnt mind, vote for the fighters or fighter you believe could have accomplished what Barrera accomplished on or about the same day. Or vote "none of the above". You can choose up to five options.

Why do I ask? Because me and my nephew have a bet on what the outcome is going to be from our sample group.

I think Mayweather would be far to slick for Hamed and beat him bad for 12 rounds and win a wide UD decision

Even in early 2001?

I think so he still had brilliant skill in 2001 i think he'd be far to slick for an easily hittable Hamed

Mayweather, Morales and Corrales.

Mayweather - yes, would outbox a complacent and sluggish Hamed even back then. Mayweather pts.

Morales - I actually think Naz would have beaten him. Yes, Morales was Barrera's equal at the time, but it's all about the styles. Barrera beat Hamed thanks largely to changing his style to that of boxer/counter-puncher. I'm not sure Morales could have done the same. Naz pts.

Tapia - Would have been very competitive early one but would walk into enough sledgehammers to take the steam away. Naz pts or late stoppage.

Norwood - hard to call because we never really saw his best. Perhaps styles clash and Naz wins an ugly UD.

Corrales - dream fight! On paper would be a real up and downer, with Naz's better recuperatove powers proving the difference. Naz mid-rounds KO.

I would favour Tapia & Corrales only. I actually agree with Buzz in that I suspect Mayweather wouldn't quite've been prepped at this time, though had he taken a fight with Hamed or, say, Casamayor, it'd would've looked real nice on his resume in retrospect.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. - No brainer. Of course.
Eric Morales - In 2001? Nope. Morales had a lot of trouble adjusting to 126, and his style's all wrong for Hamed, at least the way he was fighting in that year.
Johnny Tapia - Is this some sort of joke? Who the fuck voted "yes" on this one? Tapia was NEVER a featherweight. Sure, he won a title there, but only with some completely incompetent judging. By 2001, Tapia was past his best. At 115 and 118, he was a very good fighter, but once he wasn't able to make that weight, he simply didn't make the cut.
Freddie Norwood - Norwood basically retired after his controversial kayo loss to Derrick Gainer in 2000. 'Don't see how this fight gets made.
Diego Corrales - It makes no sense to me that people voted for Morales, who was fighting at 122 and not looking his best, and not Corrales, who was fighting at 130 and absofuckinglutely KILLING people. Corrales would be a fucking head taller than Hamed. Even though he didn't have as big a range as a guy his height should, he would absolutely control Hamed and stop him.

BoxBuzz wrote:Even in early 2001?

Mayweather was never slicker than he was against Genaro Hernandez in 1998, easily launching right-hand leads faster than Hernandez could land the jab. And back then, his footwork and defensive timing were at their all-time best. Sure, he's gotten better at other things since then, but Mayweather wins this one going away.