floyd mayweather

[Goodnight, Irene]

Please define his generation & the other fighters who share it as his contemporaries...

[Goodnight, Irene]

OK, just curious --- why preclude fighters from the same generation if they're markedly bigger or smaller than Mayweather? I mean, for a truly accurate picture, shouldn't you include all the fighters from the specified time, Hopkins, Jones, Lopez etc?

[Goodnight, Irene]

In that case, I would classify him as the best of the men you mentioned, however, it shouldn't be by the leagues people seem to think he is. An on-going struggle with Castillo makes things difficult, & you have to seriously consider the abilities of fighters like a peak De La Hoya (imagine the 140lb. De La Hoya in a fight with the 140lb. Mayweather, or the De La Hoya of late 90's-early 00's against the Welter Mayweather --- those are supremely arguably fights), & also add names such as Marquez, a younger Mosley (Light or Welter, but especially the former), the ever-present Pacquiao...I think Mayweather does qualify as the best of these men, all things considered.

That said, it's closer than most people unthinkingly declare it to be.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I think it would. Perhaps not Pacquiao, given the size difference. However, returning from a long(ish) lay-off to best Williams & then Margarito, or vice-versa? That couldn't hurt anyones legacy.

I, for one, cannot stand Mayweather (was a fan in the early 00's when he was on the way up, but he lost me thereafter), & hope he stays retired, though.

[Poncey]

I'm still undecided between Manny and Floyd. A while ago we had this debate after Floyd retired and I maintain that Manny has fought the better quality of the two.

[banjo]

I think Floyds career has been pretty stale since moving up from 135, and the biggest and best opponent throughout his entire career was DLH(who was way past his prime and had fought less than six rounds in nearly 3 years)

It's a shame he never hung around for fights with Margarito, Cotto and Williams because I think they'd have been good fights and certainly he had a very good chance at beating all 3.

Personally I rate Pacquiao higher going by the last few years.

[Ezzard]

Floyd was/is a top fighter and one of the best of his era. I rate Pac higher though