HamAndEgger
All Star
[ame="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:9320251"]MTR: Mayweather-Robinson Classic Matchup - ESPN Video - ESPN[/ame]
It's the ultimate boxing "What if?" question. Who would win if, in a parallel universe, Fighter A from the 1950s or '60s fought Fighter B from the 1990s or 2000s? Who would win between Joe Louis and Lennox Lewis, between Muhammad Ali and Vitali Klitschko, or between Willie Pep and Pernell Whitaker?
Today, we consider possibly the most intriguing, permanently hypothetical matchup of all. What would happen if Sugar Ray Robinson, whom most observers regard as the greatest of all time, squared off against Floyd Mayweather Jr., who considers himself to be the greatest of all time and is certainly the best boxer of his generation? Specifically, who would emerge victorious in a clash between a prime welterweight Robinson and the Mayweather who has been at 147 pounds (or higher) since 2006, recently dominated Robert Guerrero and is currently preparing to clash with Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 14?
There is, of course, no definitive determination, no right or wrong answer. But there is plenty of fodder for disagreement and discussion. Below, we provide scouting reports for both men, and our panel of ESPN.com experts picks a winner in this classic matchup.
Ray Robinson
Tall and rangy for a welterweight, he used his physical gifts to his advantage. Excellent footwork allowed him to position himself to launch two-fisted attacks from multiple angles. His stiff jab frequently morphed into a lead left hook that was delivered with exceptional torque. His overhand right, although often launched from distance, covered that distance rapidly and frequently with concussive impact. Threw blistering combinations with bad intentions and deployed a legendary repertoire of punches that he threw with almost balletic fluidity. Won his first 40 fights and lost just one of his first 123. His two-fisted power combinations enabled him to score 108 career knockouts.
Floyd Mayweather Jr
A defensive master, he has perfected the art of the shoulder roll, which enables him to deflect opponents' blows or dodge them entirely with a subtle shift of his upper body. A study in economy of movement, he boxes with a beautiful compactness and is almost never caught off balance or out of position. Exceptionally smart in the ring, he often takes two or three rounds to assess his foe and time his punches before establishing dominance. Fast hands and feet allow him to shift into position, fire a punch and move before his opponent can respond. Skilled at luring his opponents into counterpunches. Undefeated in 44 professional outings.
Classic Matchup: Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - ESPN
It's the ultimate boxing "What if?" question. Who would win if, in a parallel universe, Fighter A from the 1950s or '60s fought Fighter B from the 1990s or 2000s? Who would win between Joe Louis and Lennox Lewis, between Muhammad Ali and Vitali Klitschko, or between Willie Pep and Pernell Whitaker?
Today, we consider possibly the most intriguing, permanently hypothetical matchup of all. What would happen if Sugar Ray Robinson, whom most observers regard as the greatest of all time, squared off against Floyd Mayweather Jr., who considers himself to be the greatest of all time and is certainly the best boxer of his generation? Specifically, who would emerge victorious in a clash between a prime welterweight Robinson and the Mayweather who has been at 147 pounds (or higher) since 2006, recently dominated Robert Guerrero and is currently preparing to clash with Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 14?
There is, of course, no definitive determination, no right or wrong answer. But there is plenty of fodder for disagreement and discussion. Below, we provide scouting reports for both men, and our panel of ESPN.com experts picks a winner in this classic matchup.
Ray Robinson
Floyd Mayweather Jr
Classic Matchup: Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - ESPN
