Floyd Mayweather recently expressed his frustration on a FightHype.com video after someone suggested that Sugar Ray Leonard was a better welterweight than he was.
One of the arguments Mayweather used in pleading his case: “How can you have a guy ranked No. 1 when his first loss was to a lightweight, Roberto Duran?”
Think about that for a second. Mayweather dismissed Duran as “a lightweight.”
Well, first of all, Duran arguably was the greatest lightweight who ever lived. Two, he wasn’t a lightweight when he fought Leonard. That was his ninth fight at welterweight or heavier. And, three, it was Roberto-Freakin-Duran.
I’m shaking my head.
In my opinion, Mayweather was not as good a 147-pounder as Leonard. At the very least, he didn’t prove it if he was.
Mayweather was 12-0 (3 KOs) as a welterweight. His best victories: Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley.
Leonard was 26-1 (18 KOs) as a 147-pounder. His best victories: Thomas Hearns, Duran (in the “no mas” rematch) and Wilfredo Benitez.
All six of those opponents are or will be in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. But there’s a difference. Let’s take a look at each opponent.
Pacquiao (UD 12) – The 2015 victory over the Filipino star carries weight – particularly in light of his recent victory over Keith Thurman – but the fact is Pacquiao, 36, was past his prime when Mayweather outpointed him. That fight should’ve happened five years earlier.
Plus, if you believe Pacquiao, he fought with an injured shoulder. And, if Mayweather is going to call Duran a lightweight, I’ll call Pacquiao a natural 140-pounder. He’s still a small welterweight.
Marquez (UD 12) – Mayweather criticizes those who suggest that Marquez was too small for him given the fact he knocked out Pacquiao at welterweight three years later.
Now I’m scratching my head.
The fact is that Marquez never fought above 135 pounds and was a 126-pounder only six fights earlier when he met Mayweather. Everyone knew at the time that fighting even at a catch weight of 144 was asking too much of the 36-year-old Mexican.
Mosley (UD 12) – Mayweather points out that Mosley was coming off a sensational knockout victory over Antonio Margarito. True. But what Mayweather fails to mention is that Mosley was 38 and had been out of the ring for 16 months when they met.
Also, a quick glance at Mosley’s record indicates he was in decline. He never won another important fight and, including the Mayeather loss, he was 3-5-1 to finish his career.
Now a look at Leonard’s opponents.
Hearns (TKO 14) – The lean, but powerful “Hit Man” was young, not quite 23, but had built a reputation as an unusually dangerous boxer-puncher. He was 32-0, with 30 knockouts, when he met Leonard for the first time. This version of Hearns was an absolute monster.
Duran (TKO 8) – Say what you want about Duran’s natural size. He was one of the best ever to lace up gloves and was only 29 for the rematch with Leonard, who, instead of brawling with Duran as he had in the first fight, boxed circles around him until he quit.
Benitez (TKO 15) – The superb boxer from Puerto Rico made history when he upset the great Antonio Cervantes to win a 140-pound title at 17 years old. He was only 21 and at his peak when Leonard outboxed and then stopped him.
And please note: Leonard not only beat the three legends mentioned above in only a 22-month period, he stopped all three!
I’m not sure if a prime Mayweather would’ve beaten any of the three. Hearns’ style was all wrong for Mayweather. The only way to beat Hearns was to hurt him and that wasn’t Mayweather’s strength. Jose Luis Castillo and Marcos Maidana gave Mayweather problems with aggression. Can you image what Duran would’ve thrown at him? And Benitez was good enough to give anyone in history problems.
This column isn’t meant to demean Mayweather’s accomplishments. Honestly. I believe strongly that he was the best fighter of his era, which means he’s one of the best fighters of all time.
His resume at 147 pounds simply doesn’t stack up against that of Sugar-Freakin-Ray Leonard. There certainly isn’t any shame in that.
