For one to bestow lofty praise such as being “The Best Ever” upon themselves, their greatness should be beyond reproach, which many can agree is certainly the case for Floyd Mayweather Jr. A native of Grand Rapids, MI., Mayweather Jr. was surrounded by boxing since birth, as his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., was a welterweight contender who famously faced off against Sugar Ray Leonard. His uncle, Roger “Black Mamba” Mayweather, also held championship titles at the super featherweight, light welterweight, and welterweight.
A prized amateur, Mayweather Jr. competed at the 1996 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in a controversial loss. The defeat would be the last he would experience for nearly three decades and counting, as he has compiled a flawless 50-0 record, with championships in five different weight-classes ranging from featherweight to super middleweight.
Having retired as the most bankable boxer of all-time and one of a handful of fighters with an unblemished record, the Hall of Famer’s place in the all-time ranking has been debated, with some questioning how he would fare against the top champions from past eras.
In celebration of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s 47th birthday, VIBE came up with 10 mythical boxing matches against iconic opponents that would shake up the boxing world and sports history.
WIllie Pep
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Widely regarded as the best featherweight boxer of all-time, Willie Pep‘s dominance may have preceded modern media, thus robbing current fans to enjoy his ring wizardry in high definition. According to what was captured of Pep’s prime, however, it’s clear he was a force to be reckoned with in his day.
Beginning his own career in the featherweight division, it would be interesting to see how Mayweather Jr.’s more pressing course of attack in his younger years would fare against Pep’s crafty counters.
Sugar Ray Robinson
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Half a century before Mayweather Jr.’s lifestyle captivated fans and ruffled pundits, Sugar Ray Robinson penned his own passages in the playbook of living large and publicly enjoying the fruits of his labor. Considered the best pound for pound boxer to ever live, Robinson was the first fighter to win a title in a singular weight-class five times and was known for his mastery of the sweet science, hence his nickname.
Touting himself as The Best Ever and having collected hardware in multiple divisions himself, a faceoff against Mayweather Jr. and Robinson would be a fight fans dream of, not to mention a determining factor in the all-time rankings.
Aaron Pryor
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During his Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame induction speech, Mayweather Jr. credited Aaron Pryor as one of his favorite boxers to watch while soaking up the intricacies of the sport during his youth. A two-time light welterweight world champion, “The Hawk” was named Fighter of the Year in 1982 and is most known for his relentless style and unmatched grit.
Witnessing the one-time student in Floyd try to outduel and outwit one of the masters he honed his style from would be a marvel for aficionados familiar with Pryor’s effective, yet sometimes overlooked, approach.
Tommy Hearns
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Thomas “The Hitman” Hearns was known to be one of the more devastating punchers in boxing during his era, so much that his brutalism was put on comedic display on an episode of the classic ’90s sitcom Martin. However, the decade prior to that appearance, Hearns was busy winning titles and fighting against some of the greatest boxers of the ’80s. The first boxer in history to win world titles in five weight divisions, the two-time Fighter of the Year’s height and length could prove to be a challenge for Mayweather Jr., who could find himself in deep waters if he fails to neutralize Hearns with his ring IQ.
Roberto Durán
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One of the few chinks in Mayweather Jr.’s armor was his brittle mitts, but for Roberto Durán, his “Hands of Stone” would be his biggest strength, as he brawled his way to championship belts in four different weight divisions.
While he earned titles at welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight, Durán’s greatest exploits were during his tenure in the lightweight division, which would be the most appropriate weight-class for him and Floyd to see if Floyd’s defense could withstand Durán’s offensive output.
Sugar Ray Leonard
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One of the most decorated and popular fighters of all-time, Sugar Ray Leonard was among boxing‘s greatest cash cows and shot callers during his reign in the ’80s. And with good reason, as he defeated many of the decade’s most imposing figures, including multiple champions who would go on to be Hall of Famers.
Having won belts in five weight-classes, including welterweight and light middleweight — both of which Floyd competed at during the latter half of his career — Leonard’s sheer size, bravado, and technical skills would surely make it tough to make Floyd look extraordinary, or himself ordinary.
Julio César Chávez
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The pride of Mexican boxing, Julio César Chávez is a multiple-time world champion, having dominated the featherweight, lightweight, and light welterweight divisions throughout his illustrious career. Once deemed the best pound for pound boxer in the world by The Ring magazine, Chávez’s pressuring style would clash well with Mayweather Jr.’s elusive, yet calculated attack.
It would also bring to mind Money May’s bouts with fellow Mexican monsters Oscar De La Hoya and Canelo Alvarez.
Pernell Whitaker
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When the question as to who is the greatest defensive boxer of all-time is broached, the first two names that are often mentioned are Mayweather Jr. and Pernell Whitaker, as the latter was the previous master of the hit-and-not-get-hit brand of warfare.
A four-weight world champion, with belts at the lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and light middleweight divisions, Whitaker’s resume reigns supreme, even when matched against many Hall of Famers, as he wields an undisputed lightweight title, has the record for most lineal championship defenses and was once named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine.
With similar physical and stylistic attributes, a bout between Mayweather Jr. and Whitaker would be the ultimate chess match and a meeting of the minds that could redefine poetry in motion.
Terence Crawford
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Boxing‘s current pound for pound king, Terence Crawford has been rated as one of the most talented and athletic pugilists to step foot in the ring. He has won world titles in three weight classes, including the undisputed light welterweight and welterweight titles, the latter which he currently holds.
Crawford is currently negotiating to skip two entire weight-classes to fight Canelo Alvarez at super middleweight, a testament to his willingness to take on all comers. “Bud’s” switch-hitting ability, and seeming love for trading in the pocket makes him a formidable foe for any challenger, Mayweather included.
Tank Davis
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Gervonta “Tank” Davis has proved to be one of the most bankable pugilists in the sport, despite having extricated himself from The Money Team’s stable of talent. Still, he will forever be tied to Mayweather Jr. due to having become a multi-time champion under his tutelage.
With Davis’ other-worldly knockout power pitted against Mayweather Jr.’s gridlock defense, this bout would be a Pay-Per-View extravaganza to keep viewers and attendees on the edge of their seat.
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