I'm waiting for Sly to jump in this thread and defend his boyfriend by pointing out Benitez's inconsistency. In any case, I'd have to give Floyd an edge at 140. Benitez was brilliant, but he was only 17-18 years old. Floyd was 27-28 when he was at 140. It was his optimal weight because he still maintained all his peak athletic gifts he had at 130-135 while being the refined ring professor he was his later years. So basically, I think his experience gives him the edge over Benitez at 140. That, and the fact that he was still EXTREMELY quick at 140... he lost speed at 147-154. At 147-154, I pick Benitez with confidence. His welterweight win over Palomino was far more impressive than Floyd's win over Hatton, and his junior middleweight win over Duran blows away Floyd's performance against Cotto. I think Will's quick and consistent jab would be highly problematic for Floyd, and I think his quick lead right hand would have success in landing over the shoulder roll. OBVIOUSLY, the fight is going the distance at all three weights. I just see El Radar outpointing Floyd at 2-3 of the weights.
Lawd have mercy! Yes X, The one that they call The Sly One must jump in!!!!!! I think it's competitive at all three weights. Floyd wins at 140, edges him at 147 and loses a close one at 154. Again..had Mayweather been fighting in the 80s and Benitez in the 2000s, y'all would see that very differently.
But this is based on nothing but blind hatred. Floyd has taken as many risky fights as any great fighter. I thought he was nuts to fight Castillo in his first fight at lightweight. i thought he was nuts to move up to 140lbs so quickly after than and then to 147lbs so quickly and then all teh way up to 154lbs to face De La Hoya no less who had destroyed Mayorga in his previous fight (and who had destroyed Vargas prior to that). So based on what?
Floyd's legacy would be ENTIRELY different had he fought in the 80s. Would he still be a HOFmer? Yes. Would you be hearing any of this "TBE" bullshit of him being considered in the same class as Leonard and Duran? No.
I'd say Floyd wins at 140, but loses at 147 and 154. With Wil, it's inevitable to have the discussion of which version will show up but if he's trained and focused, I think he beats Floyd more often than not.
Corrales was a risky fight and to fight JL Castillo in your first fight as a lightweight means you have big brass balls. Not to mention going all the way up to 154lbs to face De La Hoya just a few years later......
