Who had the better legacy; Mayweather or Pacquiao?

Question

& why?

Manny Pacquiao is a record 8 division paper champion & the first fighter to ever be lineal champion in 4 weight classes.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a 5 division paper champion & a lineal champion in 3 weight classes.

Pacquiao is The Ring fighter of the year 3x.
Mayweather is The Ring fighter of the year 2x.

Pacquiao's record so far is 55 wins 38 ko 5 losses [the same record Muhammad Ali has].
Mayweather's record so far is 45 wins 26 ko 0 losses [almost the same as Joe Calzaghes record].

Don't be bias. Superstars rise and fade, give me a constructive argument on who will be regarded as greater in 30 years when both men are out of the spotlight, like Joe Calzaghe & Roy Jones today. Don't talk about who is more humble, or who makes more money, just talk boxing legacy. No nuthugging please

Answer 1

This is a tricky question mainly due to the fact they are both still active and performing at the top level. Floyd will fight at least until september 2015 barring any freakish injury and Manny will fight at least until his contract expires at the end of 2014 but he will probably fight on. This question would be much easier to answer when they have both retired because say for instance Pacquiao beats Bradley, Marquez and then Mayweather then he will retire on top of the world after being doubted as a fighter who no longer had the same 'killer instinct' he did in 2009, most people don't think he can beat Mayweather now compared to 2009 but if he actually beat Mayweather that would do wonders for his legacy at this stage of his career compared to if Mayweather beat Pacquiao now. Mayweather could go on to have a dramatic rivalry with a future opponent or he could dramatically be knocked out and lose his 0 then people will say he was protected all along and finally picked the wrong opponent.



Assuming you are talking about if they both retired tommorow well, like you said Pacquiao has the record 8 division titles so he is always going to be remembered in history until someone breaks it which will likely be a long time. Another thing he will be remembered for is the trilogy he had with Morales and the 4 fights with Marquez. As for Mayweather i think he would be remembered like Roy Jones had he retired after beating Ruiz or Tarver, a great fighter who didn't have a big enough test during his career even though that may not be the case because of how good they are in comparison to their opponents, for Roy Jones he was the underdog vs top p4p James Toney and dominated and for Mayweather it was virtually a 50-50 split on who would win between him and Corralles and he dominated whereas had he lost a battle against Corrales and then beat him twice after it probably would have helped him more in the long run. Leonard loses a great fight to Duran in Montreal but then won the rematch by frustrating Duran, had he done that in the first fight their rivalry could hardly be the rivalry it turned out to be.



Conclusion: I think that Pacquiao will be remembered more in terms of the 'roller coaster ride effect' e.g. 'wow what a great rivalry he had with Marquez' or ' what a great achievement to start as a flyweight and the n move up to stop welterweights like Cotto' whereas Mayweather will be remembered as the better boxer of the era, the most skilled and the question of 'how would he do if he was in the fabulous 4 era?'

Answer 2

Legacy? What legacy Floyd Jr. have, being an author of unending alibis? Whatever legacy he had, unless he fight Manny Pacquiao will not be on boxing. He will be remembered as a fighter who claimed greatness by avoiding competitions. That undefeated record will be questioned as attained by fighting lesser tier fighters and not by fighting the best competition available like fighters of different era. If these fighters like Rocky Marciano, Muhammad Ali. Robinson, Hearns, Leonard, Hagler and Duran, who fought and seek the greatest competition available to them, whose achievements were being questioned, much more Floyd Mayweather Jr. who was very selective on his opponents. Rocky Marciano;s record o was being questioned and yet he campaigned at a different time and what gives Floyd the pass not to when there so much fights to be made but avoided.



Pacquiao although with losses in his resume fought his way to unprecedented heights in boxing that was never been done before. An eight division title and that alone speaks volumes. What substance does a records have if a fighter carefully chooses his opponent. There are fighters with remarkable undefeated record but never fought a real competition and didn't go anywhere in their chosen career.

Answer 3

Tells us not to be bias all while listing Manny Pacqauio's record next to Muhammad Ali a man who's almost universally recognized as the Greatest Heavyweight Champion and then he precedes to list Floyd Mayweather's record next to Joe Calzaghe who very few hardcore fight fans recognize as anything special.



You've directly or indirectly created a bias just in the way you've positioned the question because the need to list a numeral comparison when Manny didn't fight Ali's resume and when Floyd didn't fight Joe's resume is unnecessary.



To answer your question; I think Floyd Mayweather will be remembered as the better fighter technically and Manny Pacqauio will be remembered as the more dynamic fighter. I think the accomplishment perspective is really dependent on whomever you ask. Its extremely hard to argue in favor of either guy when they have very similar resume's, they have five common opponents.

Answer 4

Floyd Mayweather jr boxing career is similar to Rocky Marciano and Joe Calzaghe his Career is managed just like the boxers i mention they all ducked fighters that could beat them to remain undefeated to keep the 0 atleast Michael Spinks had guts and put his undefeated record on the line against Mike Tyson. Manny Pacquiao is more in the spirit of a throw back fighter yea he has loses on his record so do a lot of all time great boxers yes he has been knocked out so was joe louis and larry holmes there still greats its who you fight and beat in the ring is what makes Greats and Legends anybody can go undefeated alot of boxers have but they decided to put there 0 on the line against the best i can respect that more than ducking fighters

Answer 5

The thing for me is that Floyd has always been the better boxer, he just hasnt mixed it up as much as Pacquiao has.Pac has only been fighting one year more than Floyd but has fought 15 more times, for me that speaks volumes.Mayweathers resume does lack a few fighters who were the top contenders/champs in the divisions he was fighting in wheras Pac has faced them all but lost some in the process and Mayweather is unbeaten. Pacquiao is more of an international icon and has brought much attention to boxing in countries outwith the US etc.Floyds only flaw is that he has not been very active at times and could be argued tohave ducked many boxers in his divisions whilst in their prime or just not even fought them at all.I go with Pacquiao all the way.

Answer 6

Floyd Mayweather. Undefeated, champion for 18 years

Answer 7

Pacquiao hands down... I don't fkng hug nuts.lol



@Primali: Look at Rays explanation and try to be logical in your pick between Pacquiao & your boy Fraud. Pac is far better than that coward azz who only pick lesser opponent. If there's anyone nuthugging here its the floydiots. That Fraud doesn't deserve any praise IMO. But no. Not only that you floydiots are praising him. You all have been hanging on Floyd's nutsack like fkng forever.lol



Floyd's supporters are declining. Macehualli Moqeixquitzahuiani one hard core Floyd fan finally realize how coward Floyd is.

https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20140321193250AAm7ud9

Answer 8

lets see what floyd has to offer besides his precious zero...



we all know being undefeated doesnt matter...

we also know because of pac, floyd was exposed as a coward and a cherrypicker...



floyd is a great boxer but the choices he makes today will affect how he will be remembered 30 years from now...

he;s the one who put the question mark on his skill as a boxer by picking low risk fights and not fighting the best...



regarding pac, I wana hear 1st what floyd fans say about pacs legacy

Answer 9

@Kalambre, you don't hug nuts???? LMAO!!! Biggest joke I've heard all week. One could travel the world and would struggle to find a bigger nuthugger than yourself. You've literally taken nuthuggery to a whole new level.

Answer 10

MAYWEATHER