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[crubfrush]

It's hard to imagine even a mediocre LH fighter being unable to knockout Mayweather with body shots given 12 rounds to wear him down and being able to almost completely disregard defending himself. Just charging forward with his arms spread out at 45 degree angles trying to coral Mayweather, corner him, and pound and lean on him inside seems like too much.

I'd definitely pay for this fight before Mayweather/De La Hoya, though =\

[Blarg]

A lot depends on the power of the lighter boxer. Small but powerful boxers can cream bigger ones if their skill level is notably higher. Mayweather's skill is arguably notably higher than everyone's, at this point. But he has never been a powerful hitter.

I would give him better chances if he could take off his gloves and if he didn't have such breakable hands.

He would basically need to try to end it every time he got in range or have no ropes around him, so he could stay out of range until his tremendous timing and reflexes let him choose his play. Getting backed against the ropes and having to absorb heavyweight punches would be murder on him. He just doesn't have the size to absorb it.

[flair1239]

[ QUOTE ]
You're obviously right, I'm just thinking about some of the old Muhammed Ali fights. In some of those the other guy doesn't even manage to land a punch while Ali just plays stick and move until he's done toying with him and goes in for the kill.

[/ QUOTE ]

The reason was Ali could really punch. His opponents knew he could hit hard so they could not just walk him down.

Once a fighter moves up to far in weight he loses the ability to hurt his opponents while, his opponents have more of an ability to hurt him.

IF you loo historically not many Light Heavies have been able to move up to the HEavyweight divison with success. Even devastating punchers like Bob Foster and Archie Moore ended up being merely good heavyweights.

Julio Ceasar Chavez comes to mind, a stone cold killer at 130. Was great at 135.. but once he tried to go past 140, he was not nearly as effective.

Another good example is James Toney. Because the Heavyweight divison is so weak, he is a force to be reckoned with, but still not a top 5 guy. Where at 175 or even 190... he would be a shear terror.

Even 147 pound fighters have had trouble historically moving up to 160. There are a handful that pulled it off. But none was quite the fighter they were at 147. Even Sugar Ray Robinson, of whom you could make a case of being a top 3 middlewight of all time, was not the fighter he was at 147 (which shows just what a monster he was at 147).

Michael Spinks one of the greatest LightHeavies of all time, had all he could do to edge an aging Larry Holmes.

Now to answer the Question. Yes Floyd Mayweather could beat probably beat a light heavy rated 20-25 in the world. But this says more about how weak the Light Heavyweight Divison is, than it does about Floyd Mayweather. If you change the question to top 10... the answer changes. This is of course assuming Floyd does not engage in a training program to add weight.

[jetfish]

This looks like a generaling/strategy question, more than a physical matchup question. If Mayweather adjusted appropriately, he could easily win points decisions.
If he didn't adjust, he could easily get buried while he tries to hurt the Light Heavy.

[jaydub]

David,

Ever hear of a guy by the name of James Toney?

The answer to the general question is certainly yes however that certainty includes the assumption that the lighter fighter can gan weight as he sees fit.

flair,

For reasons I cannot fathom you refer to Toney as if he were originally a light heavyweight.

J

[sandycove]

Floyd Patterson was a wonderful fighter, a piledriver puncher and very hard to hit (but whose style left him vulnerable to a big counter punch). But Patterson was, fundamentally, a beefed-up light heavyweight.

Take a gander at his fights with Sonny Liston, who was not technically adept, although Liston did possess a classic left jab.

All the answer you need is there.

[SlyGuy]

I think there is a bigger difference between a light heavy fighting heavyweight and a 147 fighting at light heavy. I think almost all Light heavies would have one punch knockout power where as most smaller fighters do not. I think the disparity in weight is more of a factor the lighter the fighters get. This is relatively obvious based on the huge range in size in the heavyweight division.

I am not saying all Light Heavies can one punch KO someone in a fight but based on their body size most have the strength to do so. They may not have the technique to pull it off against fighters of their own size.

[Viscant]

Floyd Mayweather is 5'8" and has a reach of 72". This light heavyweight fighter of 175 lbs is around 6'-6'2" tall and would have a reach of between 77" and 80". This means that the taller/longer fighter would have a prohibitive advantage in power, reach and height.

Mayweather does not have the power to knock the larger man out. I know that you're thinking of a hypothetical situation like Roy Jones Jr. vs. John Ruiz, but Mayweather's skill advantage in this fight would be nullified because the larger man doesn't have to fear his punching power. Mayweather's punching power at his own weight class has come into question. At 175 lbs he would have NO power whatsoever. The larger man wouldn't have to worry about getting caught like Ruiz had to.

Because the reach advantage is so great, Mayweather would have to gamble repeatedly trying to get in where his power shots would have little to no effect. He would have to put on the fight of his life to get to a decision and because of the fact that he would be on the defensive for most of the fight, would have an incredibly hard time winning the decision.

Anonymous light heavyweight has to be a 3-to-1 favorite at the least.

[Smasharoo]

In 10 round fight or longer Floyd's probably a 2 to 1 underdog. In a 6 rounder, he's maybe even money.

[Mickey Brausch]

Better edit into the title some roman numerals, to distinguish threads. This seems like

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