Ranking Floyd Mayweather in history

[crold1]

There is no case for Floyd over Greb.

None.

As to the footage, a LOT of old sparring footage looks like that. It was exaggerated for cameras in a different time. Don't take it too serious. Look at who he beat that there is actual fight footage of (and there's plenty). Read the volumes of reports on the man. There's more than enough to make a reasonable judgement of how good he must have been.

And more than enough to write Greb > Mayweather and move on without blinking.

On Williams: Lightweight champion when belts couldn't be cherry picked; beat better fighters than Floyd (Jack, Montogomery, and Gavilan just to start).

Jofre: Technically brilliant but I understand arguments about his resume.

Marciano: Floyd got that...but Rock shouldn't be in the top 30 in the first place.

Tunney: Beat better fighters and would have been champ at Light Heavy with a shot. Winning in less classes than Floyd is irrelevant; he didn't have as many to compete in and started too big anyways. Lacks diversity.

[Barn]

There is no case for Floyd over Greb.

None.

As to the footage, a LOT of old sparring footage looks like that. It was exaggerated for cameras in a different time. Don't take it too serious. Look at who he beat that there is actual fight footage of (and there's plenty). Read the volumes of reports on the man. There's more than enough to make a reasonable judgement of how good he must have been.

And more than enough to write Greb > Mayweather and move on without blinking.

On Williams: Lightweight champion when belts couldn't be cherry picked; beat better fighters than Floyd (Jack, Montogomery, and Gavilan just to start).

Jofre: Technically brilliant but I understand arguments about his resume.

Marciano: Floyd got that...but Rock shouldn't be in the top 30 in the first place.

Tunney: Beat better fighters and would have been champ at Light Heavy with a shot. Winning in less classes than Floyd is irrelevant; he didn't have as many to compete in and started too big anyways. Lacks diversity.

Tunney was the LHW champ he just didn't own the belt.

[kendom]

The only person on that list that I could possibly rank Mayweather over is Marciano, other that.. need to read up on those fighters man

[RajahBell]

Rocky Marciano > Mayweather. Resume' wise he defeated #4, #13, and #14 on the list. However, it is not just the resume' that makes him higher than Floyd. Marciano is truly a transcendent fighter of the sport at a time when boxing was a Major Sport in America and abroad. ESPN ranked him #51 greatest athletes, not just boxing, of the last century. He is a legend, and that's more pervasive than record or skills.

The problem with Floyd is that he isn't a "Transcendent" figure in Sports or outside boxing, yet. He has the skills to be in the top 10 or even GOAT. However, he hasn't done anything to inspire the masses(the public). Maybe after he retires he'll be appreciated more.

[Barn]

Rocky Marciano > Mayweather. Resume' wise he defeated #4, #13, and #14 on the list. However, it is not just the resume' that makes him higher than Floyd. Marciano is truly a transcendent fighter of the sport at a time when boxing was a Major Sport in America and abroad. ESPN ranked him #51 greatest athletes, not just boxing, of the last century. He is a legend, and that's more pervasive than record or skills.

The problem with Floyd is that he isn't a "Transcendent" figure in Sports or outside boxing, yet. He has the skills to be in the top 10 or even GOAT. However, he hasn't done anything to inspire the masses(the public). Maybe after he retires he'll be appreciated more.

Floyd Mayweather is arguably the most known boxer in the world
and Floyd can't help it boxing isn't as popular these days.

Lets not pretend those versions that Rocky beat were prime now. Comeback Joe Louis, tail end Ezzard Charles not in his prime weight. Archie Moore never really doing anything interesting at Heavyweight.

Those are his best wins and although you might say "Oh there are about the same quality as Joe Louis'" Joe Louis had the longelivity and accomplishments that completely *****s Rocky who only made around 4 defences of his title.

Also Head to Head, Mayweather beats more greats than Marciano does IMO.

[RajahBell]

Floyd Mayweather is arguably the most known boxer in the world
and Floyd can't help it boxing isn't as popular these days.

Lets not pretend those versions that Rocky beat were prime now. Comeback Joe Louis, tail end Ezzard Charles not in his prime weight. Archie Moore never really doing anything interesting at Heavyweight.

Those are his best wins and although you might say "Oh there are about the same quality as Joe Louis'" Joe Louis had the longelivity and accomplishments that completely *****s Rocky who only made around 4 defences of his title.

Also Head to Head, Mayweather beats more greats than Marciano does IMO.

You might be right about that. Like, I said Mayweather has the skills to be the GOAT. But, I also said that Resume' isn't the determining factor which make Marciano greater than Floyd. Don't get me wrong, resume' is the most important attribute but second to that is reputation. It is his reputation, ability to Transcend boxing that makes him higher than Floyd.

There have been many kings, but if you want to be amongst the greatest, you have to be more than a king. Likewise, Marciano is more than a boxer, he is a legend. He is so legendary, that quality of resume and wins over past prime greats is eclipsed in the eyes of the public. Bert Sugar keeps mentioning "the Pantheon of Sports", well in his era Marciano belonged in that Pantheon not just boxing. Imagine, ESPN ranked him the 51st greatest athlete of the last century.

It's unfair but this is how it is: As of right now, Floyd is just a great defensive fighter. We'll see after he retires what his legacy will be. Maybe if he dies a tragic death like Marciano, the public will rank him higher. . Heck, many rank Elvis as the greatest of all time and Marilyn Monroe as the hottest chick ever. Only older people from the same generation, have a better view and guage of their true greatness. As the elders fade away, the newer generation ranks the past greats high by mostly on name recognition and legacy alone. Like many when I was a child, I was conditioned to think that Rocky was one of the greatest even though I never saw him fight. That's how much Marciano's legacy/myth has preceded his resume' and the person himself.

[lazy]

Marciano was a undisputed champion, not a "titlest". That is the difference. Marciano fought in a time when you couldn't choose and pick your opponents and fight who you wanted.

[Barn]

Marciano was a undisputed champion, not a "titlest". That is the difference. Marciano fought in a time when you couldn't choose and pick your opponents and fight who you wanted.

Floyd Mayweather has been the lineal champion before...

And hell you could still pick and choose opponents back then, ever heard of Burely?

[Barn]

You might be right about that. Like, I said Mayweather has the skills to be the GOAT. But, I also said that Resume' isn't the determining factor which make Marciano greater than Floyd. Don't get me wrong, resume' is the most important attribute but second to that is reputation. It is his reputation, ability to Transcend boxing that makes him higher than Floyd.

There have been many kings, but if you want to be amongst the greatest, you have to be more than a king. Likewise, Marciano is more than a boxer, he is a legend. He is so legendary, that quality of resume and wins over past prime greats is eclipsed in the eyes of the public. Bert Sugar keeps mentioning "the Pantheon of Sports", well in his era Marciano belonged in that Pantheon not just boxing. Imagine, ESPN ranked him the 51st greatest athlete of the last century.

It's unfair but this is how it is: As of right now, Floyd is just a great defensive fighter. We'll see after he retires what his legacy will be. Maybe if he dies a tragic death like Marciano, the public will rank him higher. . Heck, many rank Elvis as the greatest of all time and Marilyn Monroe as the hottest chick ever. Only older people from the same generation, have a better view and guage of their true greatness. As the elders fade away, the newer generation ranks the past greats high by mostly on name recognition and legacy alone. Like many when I was a child, I was conditioned to think that Rocky was one of the greatest even though I never saw him fight. That's how much Marciano's legacy/myth has preceded his resume' and the person himself.

Being realistic Floyd is one of the greatest defensive fighters of all time, Top 5 for my money.

So does that mean the superstars such as Ali, Louis, Robinson, Leonard etc. All get ranked very high on your list?

I do suppose it is different criteria but, I don't think using popularity or fame is a balanced method to go by.

[project xxx1]

nobody here would rank floyd above Pernell Whitaker ?