Seymour said:Mayweather needs to get credit for being a top 5 fighter of all time
I agree that Mayweather is not even close to top 5 all time. However if He starts taking on bigger and better fighters like Jermain Taylor or even Oscar and handles them... well perhaps people will start paying attention.Matt Rain said:NO. A top 5 fighter of all time would've knocked out Baldomir. Mayweather is a Roy Jones copycat - he's immensely skilled but he's taking no risk at all.
That doesn't take away from Floyd's virtuosity, mind you... he is one of the most *gifted* boxers of all time. But flat out "top 5 fighter of all time"? Hell no, not yet anyway.
Seymour said:Taylor is too big for him - it's just too much of a difference - what does he have to do, knock out Cro Cop?
All good choices but are any of them a career defining match ? Perhaps beating De La Hoya but I feel that De La Hoya is far past his prime. That is why I feel He has to go out on the limb and actually take a big risk like Jermain Taylor if He wants to move into the elite level. Remember that guys like Doran, Leonard, Hagler, Hearns, Ali etc/ etc took on all comers and weren't always big favorites. Kevin Iole and Dave Cokin both discussed this very same topic on Friday and Iole said that Taylor would be his defining fight. He may not win it but He would certainly prove He wasn't afraid to take on a big challenge. Taylor was a 2 time golden gloves winner and a bronze medal winner in the 2000 Olympics. If Mayweather could beat Taylor, then a lot of people would be moving him up in their all time lists. Beating the Baldomir's or Coto's will prove nothing to most experts.JMHOSeymour said:He could fight Wright, De La Hoya, Coto or Ricky Hatton - there are guys to fight other than cans like Gatti and Baldomir.
Very good point. I would lay a decent wager on Mayweather against De La Hoya as I feel Floyd is too fast for an Oscar that is past his prime and really doesn't want to fight anymore. However if Mayweather steps up to fight Wright or Taylor... now that's another story. I would like to point out that both Kevin Iole and Dave Cokin were present at the Winky Wright/Jermain Taylor fight and both had Wright winning the fight. It certainly was a very close fight ending in a draw so Taylor retained his Title.TTinCO said:This was a systematic beatdown by Mayweather. Pretty much a lackluster outclassing where he was never in trouble.
His fragile hands are still an issue....he may have hurt one again last night. I'd be very, very leary of laying heavy wood with him in the future, because he's going to end up pulling out of one of these fights due to injury.
Beating Mosley would mean nothing as He is clearly way past his prime losing twice to both Winky and Forrest. You are probably correct as to size diff. but Mayweather needs a signature fight. Oscar would be his goal but only a slight risk IMHO. Why did they label the Baldomir fiasco as " Pretty Ricky" ?Matt Rain said:kermit, seriously, Taylor and Wright are nearly 6-footers and they have to seriously dehydrate themselves to make 160. Taylor could easily fight at 175. Mayweather is 5'7" and he could still make 135 if he wanted. There is just too much difference.
Hatton, Mosley, Margarito, Oscar. I'm pretty sure that Floyd will fight one of them next, and I think that Mosley has the best chance at 147.