Willie Pep, left, and Bobby Singleton (AP Photo)
Floyd Mayweather has already proclaimed himself the greatest boxer of all time, based on his undefeated record. There are some serious flaws in his ideology.
He's naming himself as the greatest ever, but he has yet to even prove that he's the greatest of his own era.
That doesn't add up.
"But Mayweather's undefeated," Floyd fans will say.
So what?
George Foreman was 40-0 when he was defeated by Muhammad Ali. Not bad.
Larry Holmes went 48-0 before losing to Michael Spinks. Even better.
Rocky Marciano retired at 49-0, with 43 knockouts.
Julio Cesar Chavez won his first 88 fights (yes, 88) before he finally suffered a draw against Pernell Whitaker.
Packy McFarland lost his first fight. He decided he didn't dig that so he went ahead and won his next 98.
The officially awarded greatest of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson, was 128-1 in the prime of his career. He finished his career at 173-19 with 108 KOs.
Willie Pep won his first 62 fights, lost one, then won his next 72 bouts. That put him at 134-1, at that point.
Which record would you prefer? 40-0 or 134-1?
Here's the real deal:
Not only did these guys have outstanding records, they built their tremendous stacks of stats without cherry-picking their opponents. The afore-mentioned pugilists fought everybody that was willing to step into the ring with them.
Who was that other guy again? Oh yeah, Floyd Mayweather, the greatest boxer ever.
If Mayweather beats Mosley he'll be 41-0.
Wow
Perhaps he needs to start with proving he's the best of his time before proclaiming himself as the best ever.
In order to do that he needs to defeat Mosley. That's no easy task, but he'll probably succeed.
Long-time boxing fan, Jason Harris of Garfield, thinks he'll get the job done.
"I think the fight will go the distance. I'm just interested in seeing how Mayweather plans on fighting Mosley," Harris said. "Mosley is an excellent boxer who posesses speed and power. It's going to be fun to watch. Ultimately, I think Mayweather will win the fight."
Wladimir, left, and Vitali Klitschko (AP Photo / Efren Lukatsky)
Even if Mayweather were to beat Mosley and then Pacquiao by first punch KOs, he still couldn't be compared to the old-school greats mentioned above.
He doesn't have enough time left to fight another 100 bouts, so he will have to do something truly extraordinary to establish himself as the greatest ever, and I do mean truly extraordinary.
If he takes on Nikolai Valuev and the Klitschko brothers simultaneously and knocks all three of them over the top rope in the first round while yelling "What's my name?!", he might be worthy of being mentioned in the same (run-on) sentence as Chavez, McFarley, Robinson and Pep.
Greatest ever?
No
Greatest of this era?
Manny Pacquiao is the fighter of the decade and the No. 1 Pound for Pound king.
He's the guy that Mayweather has to fight next if he really cares about his legacy.
Send questions and comments to lscoggins@8countnews.com
Comments
Great read as usual Lorne, you left out the best of all time though! Sugar Ray Robinson 128-1 in his prime.
Thanks Scott. You're right. I gotta add Sugar Ray...
Maybe it's worth asking Floyd where does he sincerely think he is good at. The way I look at it, save for RJ the Ruggedman, Floyd's previous and current crop of scribe-interviewers were so soft in pressing hard nose questions that will totally surface what's playing in floyd's mind everytime he opens up his mouth. Well, Floyd's another game is to "cherry pick" journalist whom he wants to talk with.
What is really more shocking than Floyd boasting are the Floyd fans who actually buy that Floyd being undefeated is legitimately the best ever. They completely ignore the fact there are other fighters in the past that have accomplished way more than Floyd could ever scratch.
40-0, 41-0, 42-1, 43-1, funny it's more of just bingo numbers for the educated, nothing special, 134-1 of Pep? That's all time great!
MONGOFLOYD MAYWEATHER, JR IS THE GREATEST COWARD OF ALL TIME!!! He's hiding on his shell, traitor that's it. BIG BIG MOUTH COWARD!!! Fight Pacquiao and prove yourself you ass hole
Floyd most probably is right, no body in his race ever accomplish his feat. His father and uncle Roger comes a bit closer but still short.
Floyd Monkey Mayweather - All time great boxer among the race of Monkey
nice article (once again!) Lorne..... keep us posted! thanks!
Nice article Lorne. You're 100% correct. Floyd is not even close to the great fighters you mentioned. I think even Manny Pacquiao could not match the incredible record of these boxing legends. What separates Manny from them is his championship record in 7 divisions. But still 134-1 or 128-1 is really mind boggling. Now Floyd boasts his 40-0? What a shame. His is not even comparable to the 49-0 43 KO of Rocky Marciano.
I think Joe Calzaghe, who is not even considered by many boxing enthusiasts as one of the greatest ever, has a perfect record of 46-0 with KO 32, way ahead of Mayweather. The truth is Mayweather is the GREATEST PRETENDER OF ALL TIME.
if floyd beats shane, he will be the undisputed P4P number 2. he said he's the best due to hardwork and dedication. yet he can't even make the weight. so how much over the weight will he come this time. he doesn't fight for the belt anymore but the truth is he just don't want the belts mandatory title defense that comes with it and pay the sanction fee. but he won't think twice paying the penalty for not making the weight.
Mayweather is the GREATESSSSTTT!!!A sk his monkey father.
I LOVE PAC.. I HATE FLOYD... I DONT WANT MAYWEATHER TO LOSE UNTIL HE FACES PACQUIAO BUT I ALSO DONT WANT HIM TO WIN BECAUSE HE ALWAYS TALK SHIIT...
HERES A FACT..
IF IT GOES THE DISTANCE MAYWEATHER WILL WIN IT ...
BUT IF ITS A KO IM PRETTY SURE IT WOULD BE MAYWEATHER WHO IS LYING IN THE CANVAS
DUDE I HAVE MANNY PACQUIAO 300-0-0 AT FIGHTNIGHT 4...MAYWEATHER IS HARD TO CONTROL I CAN ONLY MANAGE HIM 18-0-0
TRUE,NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!but he is a legend & he is on top of the tops in terms of being a CHICKEN & TRASH TALKS is concern...GAYWEATHER is SOSO bORING AND a waste of time & money...How could someone like his own kind could actually EVOLVE in this particular sports??why???He could be or become a HAIR DRESSER,Fashion Designer or even Somebody who sells drugs,pirated movies or sell meats, chicken & ducks in the open market!He should be that somebody,Maybe Soon!,^_^..
This is 2 defeats in row for GAYWEATHER..dis one & the other one is if he ever fights PACQUIAO...then ADIOS,GOODBYE,HASTA LAVISTA "pUtAnGiNaMo Ka" CHICKEN§hit Gayweather!!!Were tired of you & all your bull§hit!!!
You have expose the mayweathers realy if ever they read this , they will burst in anger.Thank you Sir.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. greatest boxer of all time? Only in Floyd's mind and dreams. Floyd's mind knows and belives no one else but himself as the greatest fighter and he's been living in a dream for quite some time now as being the lone star shining bright in the boxing galaxy. Keep thinking ang dreaming like that Floyd but the whole universe is not with you.
gayweather,the greatest monkey of all time.
nice men nice.....lol
he's the greatest coward...that should be his title
Mayweather already said belts only collects dust and legacy won't pay the bills. Why would he fight Manny for? When Manny cracks his 0 he cannot proclaim himself as an ATG. So to keep him saying that he is the best he will avoid Manny. His next fight, Matthew Hatton!
he's better off selling stuff mate. he's just bloody good at it. do mlm business perhaps. Id bet hed be making billions with it. boxing doesnt need this kind of behaviour. but he's definitely got skills and if he beats Mosley then people should definitely start giving him respects that he so much desires.
Where are the Mayweather'flocks ,Let them answer.Are they gone deaf ,blind and dead shame?These are real records for the GREAT one's.They fought whoever is in front of them ,without those silly absurd,harebrained,nonsensical and stupid demands.
...but he will not fight pacquiao, he's afraid and makes a lot of excuses although, he is trying hard to take pacquiao's fame outside the ring without a fight by flapping his two thick lips. "floyd, you're almost successful in making it, just keep on accusing pacquiao of PED and there are lot of idiots over there to believe you!" you see, floyd is the face of boxing and there are some mafia groups that are supporting him! bravo floyd you are indeed smart!
FOOLoyd Mayweather. Boxing's greatest coward of all time.
Mayweather Who???? Is he a footbal player?? OOhhhhh he's the son of a drug addict and pusher who got prison,,,now i know him, he who ducks Manny Pacquiao because he is afraid of Pacquiao.
Floyd is a good boxer, with quick reflexes and good defense. He's more of a coward, a runner (should be nike runing shoes endorser). He's a shame, a criminal, and likely & suspiciously a steroid user for repeatedly bringing up the topic. His fans are simply racists and crazy like him.
Li'l Fungus Jr and #1floydfan are both great in my bed.
no artificial lubricants needed.
they bend over and I Bang! Bang! Bang! them
Very nice article! Floyd is just a self-proclaimed best boxer. 40-0 means nothing for a ducker like him.
Wait wait wait wait.....How many world tittles did these guys have hmm? How many did George have? 1? 2? What about Larry Holmes and Rocky Marciano? 2? 3? between them? And How long did it take? 1 year? 2 Years or 10 years? In how many weight classes hmm? There you go that ansewer the question Floyd is better than Ali...Yup!
@#1floydfan... there you are again.. :D
mayweather is so ugly to become the greatest he looks like my ass
Big John dud! Get the f ck away from me you queer!!!
floydis the best fighter nman a
Mayweather who? How is he related to the ass of pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao?
maluya man si floyd, kaalnop san payo kaya karalbo na. kabata san ungaw kaya kaibog san ngabil. maliksi si floyd kaya lang maiksi dumulag har har har. paruton man ngani
Rocky Marciano = 49 stiffs
Julio Chavez = 88 stiffs
Floyd Mayweather 6 time world champ! sup?
yes, you hit a bull's eye in your very well-said article...floyd should keep up his mouth shut, for sure he could be beaten to the max with the great sugar shane mosley on saturday, may 1st. he has nothing to prove with his greatness in the ring; he keeps on running around on the four cornered canvass. what's best for him? to be part of the united states athletics squad, there he could be the greatest...
I will consider him great if he will fight Pacman without any alibi. He's a greatest trash talker of this era among the present day boxers but as greatest boxer of all time...he must be dreaming. He's just insane.
Wow not even close enough to be seen. This is a big slap to the face of the supporters and believers of Mayweather who thought that he is the greatest boxer of all time. What a shame.
I hope, those hard core Floyd fans slowly awakened by your enlightening article. Please write more.
Wow. Impressive article based on facts!!! Real Examiner.
Floyd Mayweather pro/amature record = 124-6! Yup! Floyds better than Ray Robinson!
mayweather has some really white teeth
George Forman = 40 stiffs
Honestly look at Willie Pep ^ Does he look like he could take Floyd Mayweather? I mean look at the scrawny guy ^ Yup!!! Floyds better than Willie Pep!
Ya'll just jelous thats all!!!Yet Manny is the 2 best of all time? Are you kidding me right now?
#1floydfan.., you are much better than your idol.
Your comparing a VW to a Ferrari....Yup Floyds better than all these old fools!!!
How many tittles did these guys have? How many did George have? 1? 2? What about Larry Holmes and Rocky Marciano? 2? 3? between them? And how long did it take 1 year? 2 years? or 10 years? In how many weight classes? There you go!!!Yup Floyds better than all of them!!!
filipinos are foolishh people
SI RYAN AGONCILLO ANG HOST NG TALENTADONG PINOY AT SI #1FLOYDFAN ANG PINAKA TARANTADONG PINOY!
Pages
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!