On the 1st of May boxing fans around the world had the chance to witness the ?Who R U Picking? super fight between to legends of the modern game, Undefeated Floyd ?Money? Mayweather Jr (41-0 25KOs) and a long time rival in ?Sugar? Shane Mosley (46-6 39KOs). The fight was one of the biggest hyped fights of all time, even going as far as having its own webpage with a voting poll.
The predictions were pretty even coming into the fight 51% – 49% in favour of Mayweather. Many people believed Mayweather?s speed, accuracy footwork and defence would be enough to see off the challenge of the 38 year old Mosley. The other half believed the size, power and speed combination of Mosley with which he annihilated the seemingly invincible Antonio Margarito just over a year earlier would be enough to end Mayweather?s undefeated run. Some even being as bold as too predict an early KO for Mosley.
But it wasn?t to be and once again everyone who picked against Mayweather was left to eat their words one more time, cementing his place as the best fighter or second best fighter in the world (Pacquiao) depending on how you see things. Despite being rocked badly from a massive right hand in the second round. From the 3rd onwards Mayweather systematically took apart his opponent with lightening fast hand speed and deadly accurate counter punches, winning every round with ease on route to a 119-109, 118-110, 119-109 unanimous decision.
Before the fight Mosley was touted as one of the only two active fighters at or around the weight who could beat Mayweather, the other being Filipino sensation and pound for pound king Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao. After the Mosley fight it posed the Question; Can Pacquiao beat Mayweather? Just like the Mosley fight and most big fights for that matter, opinions are once again very much divided.
Personally I don?t think so, I know many would disagree with me. I think Floyd will be the faster man and pick Manny off with the same lightening fast counters as he tries to tee off, and will take a wide point?s win. But this is just my take on the fight. Many also think Manny?s high punch output and power while overwhelm Mayweather and could well knock him out. This could well be the case we won?t know until it happens, so for now can only speculate.
Since the Mosley fight people have spoken out and said they think Mayweather is the best fighter on the planet at the moment. Some even boldly claiming he is possibly the greatest of all time. One such person was Oscar De La Hoya, who was boldly quoted as saying ?I honestly think Mayweather is the best boxer right now and maybe of all time.?
After giving it much thought I came to the conclusion that if not then he is right up there at the top. This Prompted me to ask the question, is Floyd the greatest of all time and if any which fighter around his weights throughout history had the best chance of beating him? Looking for an answer to the question I decided to put it to fans and friends via my personal facebook page, here?s just a few of the replies I received.
Chris Wrench ?I am of the firm belief that Mayweather is the most skilful fighter I have ever been privileged to watch.?
Ross Woolgrove ?Mayweather is the pick of the bunch these days, but scraped past an ageing De La Hoya. (Prime) Trinidad, Mosley, Pernell Whittaker, Pryor would all of beaten him never mind Hagler, Hearns, Leonard, Duran and the great Ray Robinson. We get carried away with modern fighters and how good they are.?
Oli Haslam ?Sugar Ray Leonard has the footwork , speed to get in & out , on the other hand so has Floyd , Floyds longer arms and ring generalship it’s hard to say.?
Gary Beattie ?Willie pep. Like Mayweather you can?t beat what you can?t hit.?
Chris Maylett ?Ray Leonard and I bet our own (British) Ted ?Kid? Lewis would have given him a good go! Like Gary, Willie Pep also Henry Armstrong, Pernell Whittaker.?
A lot of various names throughout history were mentioned as potential Mayweather conquerors but the 3 manes that kept cropping up most were ?Sugar? Ray Leonard, ?Will o’ the Wisp? Willie Pep and ?Sweatpea? Pernell Whittaker. Surprisingly hardly anyone named the legendary ?Sugar? Ray Robinson or Manny Pacquiao. The most brought up name suggested as the man to beat Floyd was the great ?Sugar? Ray Leonard. So he will be the chosen opponent, let?s compare the stats and see how they match up.
?Sugar? Ray Leonard
Record: 36-3-1 25KOs
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5′ 10″ / 178cm
Reach: 74″ / 188cm
Achievements: held world titles in 5 divisions from welter to light heavyweight.
Notable opposition faced: Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns x2, Roberto Duran x3, Wilfred Benitez, Terry Norris, Hector Camacho.
Strengths: Speed, defence, accuracy, counter punching, Power, footwork.
Floyd ?Money? Mayweather Jr.
Record: 41-0 25KOs
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5′ 8″ / 173cm
Reach: 72″ / 183cm
Achievements: held world titles in 5 divisions from super feather to light middleweight.
Notable opponents faced: Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Zab Judah, Jose Luis Castillo, Diego Corrales.
Strengths: Speed, defence, accuracy, counter punching, footwork.
As far as the statistics go Leonard and Mayweather are pretty similar, with Leonard holding a 2 inch advantage in the height and reach departments. While his Mayweather started his career at 130lbs and gone as high as 154lbs both he and Leonard would likely have fought at welterweight (147lbs). Both had blistering hand speed and pinpoint accuracy (though I personally believe Floyd?s to be the better of the two). Both are defensive masters and great counter punchers and I think it would be hard to choose between them but again I would give Floyd the slight edge. As for power I feel both are underrated in the power department but I would give the edge to Leonard. This is only my opinion on the matter, I?m sure there are many who would disagree.
As far as opposition faced I think Leonard has the definite edge handing losses to legends like Duran, Hearns, Hagler and Benitez. But I wouldn?t say it?s as simple as that really because Mayweather has beaten great fighters like De La Hoya, Mosley, Castillo but has often been accused of beating smaller fighters from lower divisions like Hatton the lineal 140lbs champion at the time and Marquez his 135lbs counterpart. He has also suffered heavy criticism for avoiding fights with people like Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto and not long ago Shane Mosley. While it it?s true that Mayweather has never faced the same class off opposition as Leonard, in his defence let me ask you this, is there anyone out there rival Hagler, Hearns or Duran?
The conclusion I have come to isn?t a yes Leonard would beat Mayweather and it?s not a no either. My personal opinion is this; Floyd Mayweather if one of the best welterweights of all time, while the vast majority of greats excel at a lot of things they all seem to have a weakness waiting to be exposed. Mayweather seems to be solid in all areas but if he does have a weakness, he has yet to give us a clue as to what it might be. Now I?m not for a second saying He is unbeatable, everyone is beatable and can have a bad night but if anyone could beat him or match him at everything he does I would be putting my money on ?Sugar? Ray Leonard.
If there is one thing I have learned about Floyd Mayweather it?s this, whatever he does or whoever he fights he will never receive the credit he rightfully deserves. Critics said for years he ducked Mosley, when he signed to fight him plenty of the same people said he would get knocked out despite Shanes age. He fought and beat Mosley with ease and suddenly all those people who predicted his first loss were saying ?Mosley?s shot? or ?He?s too old.? With all due respect to Mosley he was made to look like a B-class fighter that night, yet still no credit.
And so it will be with Pacquiao, if they sign to fight the masses will come out again predict a loss for Floyd. And if he once again wins how long will it be before the calls of ?He (Pacquiao) was too small? or some idiotic steroid claims or anything else to discredit the win. I can understand a lot of people dislike his ?Money? persona and brash flashy attitude, I?m not a fan of it myself, but there are two sides to every coin. And while some people are happy to hate, I personally am grateful that I was alive and able to see great fighters like Mayweather, Pacquiao and Mosley and many others do their thing.
