A Brief Tutorial On Floyd Mayweather’s Dominance

The last time Floyd Mayweather lost a fight the ink on Shaquille O’Neal’s newly minted contract with the Los Angeles Lakers had not yet dried. That was against Bulgaria’s Serafim Todorov at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and even then the referee was shocked.

With it being the weekend, chances are none of us are knocking down doors for thought provoking material or anything we’d really have to sit down and clear the schedule for. So, for your viewing pleasure, taking this compilation of Mayweather fights against Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and more and go about your day.

A few weeks ago, someone asked me the question who was the best boxer of my lifetime. Having began this thing called “life” in the early months of 1986, the answer was undeniably Floyd. At 45-0, not much can be said to sway otherwise either.

Tyson was in a totally different weight class and the obvious better power puncher – arguably the best ever in such regard (R.I.P. Ken Norton) – but in no shape, form or fashion the better skill boxer. Pernell Whitaker was a marvelous defensive fighter, as my guy Paul Navarro detailed, but was by no means in the same league in terms of accuracy as Mayweather. Canelo was a highly talented power swinger and billed as Mayweather’s toughest fight in years. The only problem was by the end of the fight Canelo and his camp confessed to being outclassed, outmatched and out-skilled in a contest where, in the later rounds, Canelo was landing more punches on the ropes than on Floyd. Pacquiao would’ve fell in line, too, had Bob Arum not attempted to make himself bigger than what would’ve been a $100M fight.

And if we’re bringing up Roy Jones, Jr. in his prime,* consider that the battle of the century and the one I’d spend a pretty penny on to be in Vegas on fight night for. In terms of hype, confidence and freak athleticism, Jones was Mayweather before Mayweather in many ways and was equally as poetic in the ring when he had everything clicking. With that admission, still give me Floyd off the strength his quickness, hand speed and agility could go step for step with Roy, but Floyd’s ability measure distance and get inside are part of his unique, all-time great mystique.

But that’s water under the bridge and a debate for another day. Watch the video, judge for yourself and come to the conclusion if I’m 100% on-point, terribly off base while regurgitating the always uber-comical “he runs in all of his fights” narrative or somewhere in between.

Do realize, however, the answer comes by clicking play and in one Jim Lampley quote, “Fighting Floyd Mayweather is a dose of cold reality.” The truth is undefeated. Just like, well, nevermind.

* – If we’re always going to debate Jordan vs. LeBron, throw Floyd vs. Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd vs. Sugar Ray Robinson (both in the Welterweight division) into the discussion. Despite whether you think he’d win, he’s at least earned that distinction of being mentioned with the greatest ever. Speaking of Leonard, set those DVR’s for the 30 For 30 on he and Roberto Duran’s “No Mas” fight Tuesday night.

Photo: Getty

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