Jayer said:
Clooney I don't remember you being so high on Mayweather. It's interesting to hear your comments only because I don't think Mayweather performed anywhere near his best against Zab. Zab definitely fought well and was more focused that I've seen him in previous fights. He definitely shouldn't have lost to Baldomir who I see getting knocked out by Arturo Gatti.
But anyway I've had PB Floyd as the top pouind for pound fighter in the world for a while now. Although I think to call him an all-time great is a bit premature. He has beaten 2 Hall of Fame fighters IMHO in Corrales and Castillo but definitely has some more work to do.
Believe it or not, the person I feel can give Floyd some real problems is Ricky Hatton. Hatton is such a great pressure fighter and Floyd has problems with this type of affective offense as we saw when he fought Jose Luis Castillo (Castillo argubally beat Floyd the first time)
Hatton showed how great he really by making the great Kostya Tsyzu submit.
The talks are that Floyd's next mega fight will be later this year against Oscar De La Hoya. If Oscar is able to get through Mayorga and come in tip top shape this could be a very interesting fight.
However I can see it playing out looking identical to De La Hoya vs Mosley I
Your right, I was not too high on Floyd, however, the way he disposed of both Judah and Mitchell (someone he got no credit for), really made me reconsider him as an all-time fighter. If you put him in a list with the greatest lightweights of all-time, he fairs pretty well, as far as divisions, competition and title defences. He is up there with guys like Gans, Canzoneri, Ross, Williams, Whitaker, Chavez, Arguello, Pryor etc. Only guys like Duran, Armstrong and maybe Benny Leonard have accomplished more than he has (so far).
I rewatched and scored his fights with Castillo (first I had a draw, and I still do), second fight, I scored 7-5 to Mayweather. However, after rewatching it again, I think 8-4 is much more fair, Mayweather won comfortably. As far as their first fight, at that time, Castillo had only beaten one top fighter, in Stevie Johnston, so its fair enough Mayweather did not prepare for him like a great fighter. Not to mention, Mayweather claimed rotatorcuff (however you spell it) injuries, and dominated him in the rematch. After that, with wins over Lazcano, Coralles, Casamayor, I think Castillo has prooven he is also an elite lightweight.
As far as Hatton, I think he would also pose Mayweather a LOT of problems, as would larger men than himself in De La Hoya and Mosley, who would represent the most complete boxers Mayweather would have ever been in the ring with. I think either of the 3 will give him a tough tough night, but at this stage, I could not pick against Mayweather.
Although De La Hoya wants the fight to be at 154, a very hard step for Mayweather, who will probably fight at around 150, giving De La Hoya a big weight advantage. (considering DLH will baloon up after the weigh in also).
As far as the Zab fight, I think the glove differences made a big difference, Mayweather wore his boxing gloves padded at the knuckles, Judah had on punchers mits. Hence, the large apparent difference in both speed and power. This is why I think the skill Mayweather showed in breaking him down, was even more imperssive.
