Q2) As the people are trying to solve the Mayweather puzzle today, back then they had the Leonard puzzle. Leonard would be too fast for Mayweather to shoulder roll off, so he would get hit with one, catch off balance and then eventually get KO'd. This fight is not on terms of physical abillity, as every Leonard match uses Leonard manipulating his opponent, getting into his trap. Leonard by KO, not sure which round.
Q3) This is a hard one. Mayweather at his prime would be way too coordinated and too fast with Roberto Duran, but it would definitely by a close win. He would spent the first 2-3 rounds studying Duran's style, then the rest of the match playing it safe, only shooting with the lunging rights to close in distance. Mayweather by UD 12.
Q4) Tommy Hearns without a doubt. The reason I say this is because Floyd has never met a man that can shift such leverage in his punches as Hearns did. He use outbox Floyd with flicker jabs, coming in ocassionally and then throwing combos, and then retreat. Floyd would not be able to get past Hearns' jab because of the reach advantage and power it carried. Hearns by really late TKO Stoppage, or UD.
Q5) This would really just be another Gatti v Mayweather for me. Gatti and Hagler would fight the same way they always do, just keep coming in with constant pressure. Hagler would try to hit and hit, but he would get shoulder roll'd and eventually countered alot. Floyd by UD because by God, Hagler had one of the best chins ever.
Q6) Lmfaoo why did I feel like I knew this question was coming. I have it coming by 2 ways. Either Floyd outpoints Pacquiao by a wide margin, or Pacquiao's speed overcomes Floyds shoulder rolls, and Pacquiao scores a TKO, or KO.
Floyd V De La Hoya- Floyd wins. De La Hoya was great and all but had some losses to guys Mayweather would have, or already had picked apart.
Floyd V Sugar Ray- Floyd wins. It'd be close but they have a similar style except Mayweather does it better.
Floyd V Roberto Duran- Floyd wins for the same reasons Leonard won.
Floyd V Thomas Hearns- Hearns wins. Too tall and aggressive.
Floyd V Marvin Hagler- Hagler wins. Too powerful and ring smart.
Floyd V Pacquiao- Floyd wins. Pacquaio's suspect defense proves to be the difference.
He finishes with a record of 4-2.
To make it short and sweet, the only guy I really don't have any questions about being able to beat Floyd is Tommy Hearns purely because of his reach, whiplash jab, hellish straight, and his ablility to box,brawl and adapt. I think it'd be a tough fight for him.
I'm not blinded by nostalgia and I call things how I see it.
I think Floyd is a better fighter than Ray Leonard and I think Floyd would exploit Leonard's bad habit of bringing his jab back to his chest instead of his chin and catching him over the top with the straight. Ray got caught a lot with that punch and Floyd has a more accurate straight on the counter than anyone I can think of.
Floyd is better than people give him credit for, and I mean in all aspects when I say that. He's not just all defense. His offensive arsenal is something serious.
Q 1 de la hoya wins points . i think floyd is the better fighter but oscar almost beat floyd while past it ,a younger oscar would of won
Q2 ...leonard wins a clear points win @any weight
Q3 ...Duran wins leaving floyd with some very sore ribs
Q4....hearns wins it could be in the 1st it could be points
Q5 ...hagler wins late ko
Q6....who knows it could of gone either way
1. Floyd UD 12 ODLH at 130-140 lbs, the prime best weight classes for both.
2. Floyd Lost by UD 12 to Leonard at 147 and 154 lbs.
3. Floyd lost by UD 12 to Duran at 135-147 lbs.
4. Floyd wins by SD 12 over Hearns at 147 lbs. but losses by TKO/KO at 154 lbs.
5. Floyd loses by UD or late round TKO to Hagler at 160 lbs.
6. Floyd beats Manny at 130-140 lbs.
EXCELLENT QUESTION!!! I like where youre coming from with this one. How does Floyd stand up with thegreats. Ok, in my humble opinion....
1. Floyd VS. a PRIME Oscar De La Hoya: Floyd by a landslide. Placing a younger Floyd and a younger DLH only benefits Floyd. Think of the version of Floyd that debacled Corrales. He was faster, hit much harder, was much more aggressive and moved alot more. DLH has always been suspect down the stretch and he definitely gas out chasing a young Floyd around.
2. Floyd VS. a PRIME Sugar Ray Leonard: Sugar Ray Leonard would hammer Floyd. Ray was too fast, too crafty, hit too hard and would not be impressed with Floyds version of the shell. Ray would crack it the way that Shane did, a right hand over that tucked shoulder...the difference is Ray could keep doing it. Ray was way too fast for Floyd.
3. Floyd VS. a PRIME Roberto Duran: Sadly 'Id have to give this one respectfully to Floyd. Duran is my boy, but his slow feet would be his undoing. He would fall into trap after trap. Aggressive fighters usually end up hypnotized by Floyd, following him around trying to figure out how to get their hands on him, while he steals round after round. Even if it was a 15 round fight.
4. Floyd VS. a PRIME Thomas Hearns: Honestly I would have to give this one to Hearns. Its too much ground for Floyd to have to cover to make this a close fight. Keep in mind, the shell is made under the predication that hooking punches cause more damage than straights, its primary function is to avoid hooks. It has to be mixed in with head movement to avoid straights. The problem is that although Hearns was CONSIDERABLY slower than Floyd, he was also considerably TALLER than Floyd. AND his signature knockout punches were a left right combo that could knock ANYONE silly (including a much larger Marvin Hagler). Hearns could easily fight from distance forcing Floyd to have to close distance to land his own.
5. Floyd VS. a PRIME Marvin Hagler: Technically this shouldnt be on this list...you should probably pick someone like Ray Robinson as a better comparison. Hagler was a true middleweight and is WAY too big for Floyd. He could easily walk Floyd down, Floyd trying to swat him, Hagler eating his punches like Skittles and ripping Floyd up on the inside.
Floyd VS. a PRIME Manny Pacquiao: You have to define the word PRIME here. Are you talking YOUNG Pac, or when Freddie Roach got a hold of him and taught him how to use both his hands for boxing? In either scenario I dont give Manny much of a chance. For all of his aggression, which I love, the basics of boxing have never been taught to him. In either scenario it would be his undoing.
I have Floyd breaking even 3 out of 6.
mayweather would beat all of them except for pacquaio. we're talking about these fighters in their prime right? well, the pacquiao who beat de la hoya and ricky hatton would demolish mayweather. the present day pacquaio doesn't seem to be as accurate as he was, so i think mayweather would beat him. i would love to see sugar ray leonard fight mayweather... 2 technicians playing a game of chess trying to outsmart the other. that would be a joy to watch
Sweet Science fans,
Given the rampant detractors (anti-fans) against Floyd Mayweather Jr., proclaiming his knack for avoiding elite fighters IN THEIR PRIME, ..... .....
....OFFER your opinion**** on:
Q 1. Floyd VS. a PRIME Oscar De La Hoya: ......who wins in 12?
Q 2. Floyd VS. a PRIME Sugar Ray Leonard: ......who wins in 12?
Q 3. Floyd VS. a PRIME Roberto Duran: ......who wins in 12?
Q 4. Floyd VS. a PRIME Thomas Hearns: ......who wins in 12?
Q 5. Floyd VS. a PRIME Marvin Hagler: ......who wins in 12?
Q 6. Floyd VS. a PRIME Manny Pacquiao: ......who wins in 12?
**** ~ presume that Floyd is moving-up or moving-down to meet the weight division, AS many of the aforementioned men did, back-in-the-day.
