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The best of the last 5 years, based on overall performance at or around 147.
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Floyd Mayweather
Manny Pacquiao
Timothy Bradley
Juan Manuel Marquez
Miguel Cotto
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Bradley clearly lost to Pacquiao. Marquez makes the list on the merit of his win over Pacquiao. Pacquiao ranks above both based on his other performances at 147, as opposed to theirs. You could argue Paul Williams or Antonio Margarito over Cotto.
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Ray Leonard would beat all of them, with Mayweather being his toughest challenge. Pacquiao's speed and toughness might take him the distance or Leonard could stop him in the middle rounds. Ray would easily outpoint Bradley and he would destroy Cotto and Marquez.
Leonard 5-0
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Thomas Hearns would stop all of them. Mayweather might go the distance but he'd lose most of the rounds while protecting himself.
Hearns 5-0
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Roberto Duran, the version who beat Leonard, could go either way with Mayweather. Either Mayweather wins on points, close, or Duran smothers him and takes a decision. ... Forget the "No Mas" fight. If anyone thinks that was the real Duran, they don't know Duran. A motivated Duran would stop All the others on the today's list.
Duran 5-0 or 4-1
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Wilfred Benitez would lose to Mayweather in a close tactical fight. It boils down to conditioning and a good possibility that Benitez would not take Mayweather seriously enough. ... Benitez would be a defensive nightmare for Pacquiao. Pacquiao is formidable but Benitez is one of the few who could expose his defensive weaknesses. Benitez wins on points. .... Bradley could outwork Benitez but the pick here is Benitez in a close one. Benitez beats Marquez and Cotto rather easily.
Benitez 4-1
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Cuevas would lose miserably to Mayweather, who would be wise not to share a zip code with him. Cuevas also loses to Pacquiao but he could catch Manny with a good shot. Small chance. Bradley would survive a scare and tough out a decision over Pipino. Marquez loses a close one, suffering two knockdowns in a fight many feels he won. Cotto has never been very durable. Cuevas loses many rounds but stops Cotto late.
Cuevas 2-3
Past 5 years: Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Tim Bradley.
Against the legends, I'd say Floyd and Manny would only beat Benitez and Cuevas.
@Mooned Y!A
The International Boxing Research Organization, ESPN, The Ring & Bleachers along with countless boxing historians and trainers consider Roberto Duran to be the greatest p4p fighter in the last 30 years.
Each and every one of them rank Duran above Leonard.
How is Duran ''not going to be remembered as great''?
Duran was a senior citizen with over 70 pro fights when he beat Leonard. He beat Barklay [who kayod Hearns] he beat Camacho but got robbed [who kayod the much younger Leonard], he gave prime Hagler all he could take, and this all in old age.
In his prime he cleaned out the lightweight division.
You don't know $hit about boxing.
Now to answer the question; the best welterweights in the last 5 years are;
Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley, Miguel Cotto and Paul Williams.
It is hard to say who was best because of all the politics and dodging going on in boxing today. I don't know how they would fare in the 80's.
Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez, Tim Bradley.
Floyd Mayweather
Manny Pacquaio
Miguel Cotto
Shane Mosley(despite his decline during the past 5 years)
Tim Bradley(He's better than most people give him credit for despite his unpleasing fighting style among the casual fans)
Sugar Ray Leonard was considered a great fighter so Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran earned a lot of respect that way. Roberto Duran quit once in the middle of a fight so he won't be remembered as great. I have no idea how any of them would do against Mayweather or anybody like that.
Pacquiao, Mosley, Floyd and Tim Bradley have the best welterweight. Manny has the best resume at welterweight.
George St. Pierre!
Who are the top Five welterweights of the past 5 years? How would they perform against the top Five welterweights of the early 1980s.
Ray Leonard
Thomas Hearns
Roberto Duran
Wilfred Benitez
Pipino Cuevas
