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This takes nothing from Mayweather. It's not his fault that he wasn't born 10 years earlier to face Hernandez in his prime or that Corrales killed himself to make 130. Diego was 6'1". There is NO reason he should have been fighting at 130.
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Mayweather's prime is a little more difficult to pin-point. Most fighters have about a three year window where they're at their absolute best. Sadly, many of history's best have had their primes interrupted by outside issues. In the case of Mayweather, his prime is a bit longer due to his strict discipline and his inactive schedule.
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Physically, Mayweather was at his best at 140. That's when he was destroying fighters with speed and still had the power to score knockouts. The problem was that there was no money at 140 so Floyd rose to 147. He only grew naturally into 147 after fighting there for a while. But 140 was his best weight.
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But since your question puts him at 130, it warrants discussion. With due respect, I think Mayweather is just a bit too modern for guys like Saddler, Pep or Benny Leonard. Pep and Leonard were great defensive fighters but both did a bit too much running to be very effective in modern boxing. Between the rules and the fact that fighters, on average, simply know more ways to fight, neither would be very effective today. Mayweather would beat both on points.
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Saddler would prove to be a bit more of a problem. He would fight Floyd in much the same way Maidana fought Broner, except that both are worlds better than Maidana or Broner. Saddler's height, strength, reach and work rate would give Mayweather fits. At 130-135, Floyd was still young and would drop a close decision to Saddler. The fight could go either way but I see Saddler taking it.
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Now it gets more interesting. Mayweather could face Duran or Armstrong at 135 or 147. But your question puts them at 135. In this case, again, I see Mayweather losing both fights. There is a bit of a difference between the two versions of Mayweather. Against Duran, it would be Man vs Boy. Putting Floyd in against The Devil would be almost criminal.
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Floyd would run, in much the way Edwin Viruet did. The fight could go the distance because of this but it's very unlikely that Floyd could win this one. Duran takes it clearly and, depending on which Duran shows up, he might stop him.
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Armstrong would also pose a serious problem for Mayweather at 135. He would reduce the ring to a small battle ground. Floyd would lump Armstrong up a bit but his work rate leaves little room for Floyd to work. Now, I contradict myself in saying that Mayweather is too modern for Leonard or Pep but, given their styles, there are answers for them. There aren't many for Armstrong or Duran. Both would beat Floyd on points. He has the conditioning to survive 15.
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Another fighter you forgot to mention is Ike Williams. He is the one fighter who stands the best chance of beating Mayweather at 135. At 5'9.5", Ike had the size and strength of a welterweight and regularly beat welterweights, spotting them weight many times. Williams would have the work rate and tools to give Mayweather all he can handle. Imagine Thomas Hearns with a stern chin. Williams would beat Mayweather at 135. Even money says he could even stop him. This would be Mayweather's toughest fight, outside of the Duran fight.
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We all know and love Alexis Arguello. However, he would not have a good night against Mayweather. He is perhaps the hardest puncher of this bunch. Yes, that includes even Duran, who would destroy Arguello. Arguello was a textbook boxer. However, his greatest weakness was his lack of speed and porous defense against quick boxers.
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Although he wouldn't fold in the way that Corrales did, Arguello would be picked apart from the outside. Unless Floyd makes some serious tactical error, which is unlikely, Arguello will be in for a long night. Arguello could end the fight with one punch. The problem is that that punch would never land.
Mayweather W 15.
Honestly I believe all of these fighters would have beat Floyd.
1. Sugar Ray Robinson
2. Roberto Duran
3. Sugar Ray Leonard
4. Thomas Hearns
5. Aaron Pryor
6. Julio Ceasar Chavez Sr.
7. Alexis Arguello
8. Henry Armstrong
9. Hector Camacho Sr.
10. Pernell Whitaker
11. Salvador Sanchez
12. Manny Pacquaio
And that is just relatively modern fighters. A lot of old school guys would have mauled Floyd as well. There is no question that Floyd is the best of his era, but it is one of boxing's weakest historical eras and I don't rate Floyd as high historically as a lot of people do.
Bullshit framing of the question lad. Out of all fighters within weightclass that Mayweather was involved in during his career:
Tommy Hearns
Manny Pacquiao
Erislandy Lara
Roberto Duran
Pernell Whitaker
Julio Cesar Chavez
Meldrick Taylor
Erislandy Lara
Henry Armstrong
Willie Pep
Sandy Saddler
There are probably a lot more.
I've said here before that I think Mayweather is the best fighter to ever grace the ring at superfeather. I have also said that I don't think anyone in the history of boxing beats him at that weight. Those statements might seem short-sighted to a lot of people, and that's understandable; but that's just honestly how i feel about it, wholeheartedly, for whatever that's worth. Floyd was a wrecking machine at that weight, knocking guys out, knocking guys out with bodyshots, and just totally and utterly outclassing everyone, including seasoned veterans. His performance against Corrales(RIP) that you mentioned is the single most beautiful display of boxing I have ever seen from an individual in a boxing ring. Diego was an undefeated knockout machine when Floyd stepped to him, and he was knocked down five times and completely outclassed and dominated en rout to a well timed stoppage. Diego, who had advantages in height, weight, and reach, had no chance at all at that point in the fight. It was useless to continue. That fight really opened my eyes to the full capabilities of Floyd Mayweather, as he put everything on display, or as close to his full arsenal as I've seen to date.. That type of ring savvy at such a young age is very very unusual, and thats still an understatement. It's scary is what it is. I remember watching that fight and just being in awe.. I don't know what else to say about it. I don't have enough superlatives. He was flawless.
Everybody pick who you want, I'd put my money on Mayweather against anyone in the superfeatherweight realm, and this is a topic i've put thought to. Remember, accolades and acheivements mean nothing in a hypothetical match-up. I respect the accomplishments of guys like Armstrong, Pep, Attell, Saddler, and Sanchez who was primed to move up to 130 before his untimely death, but at the same time I'm a realist who isn't blinded by nostalgia. Floyd is the best I've ever seen, and at that weight he had real knockout power and strung together nasty combinations that would make Juan Manuel Marquez stop and take notes.
Nobody is unbeatable. Were all human. That said, at 130, Floyd is as close to unbeatable as I've ever seen with my own eyes, including film study of past era fighters.
Old school tough fighters like Carmen Basilo, Emile Griffith, at 147.
Aaron pyror
Prime Hector Camacho
Sugar Ray Leonard.for sure
And maybe Ronald hearns
@super feather ....julio cesar chavez ....ko for chavez round 9.
duran .....points
naz hamed .....close fight
oscar de la hoya wins points @super feather
The Mayweather in the Diego Corrales fight at superfeatherweight.
Note: only mention fighters in that weight division, and pre 1959 fighters [when superfeatherweight division was created] you can mention featherweights or lightweights due to rule changes in weigh-ins [Mayweather weighed in as a lightweight in that fight, back in the day you didn't have a day to re-hydrate].
Mayweather out-classed the bigger more experienced and undefeated champion. Diego wasn't 100% [supposedly he had problems making weight] but the clinic was memorable.
Would prime Roberto Duran, Sandy Saddler, Alexis Arguello, Benny Leonard or Henry Armstrong be able to do the job?
