Olympic Medalist Names the Only Boxer He Believes Could Beat Floyd Mayweather in Prime

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is among those rare gems in boxing who remained undefeated besides retaining his world titles as he hung his gloves. In a three-decade-long professional journey, many notable names dropped by to test and outclass the Grand Rapids, Michigan-born boxer. However, the eventual outcome never altered, with Floyd Mayweather Jr. being declared the winner, one bout after the other.

Many have asked and pondered over whether a boxer existed who could have defeated Mayweather Jr. in his prime. There are no easy answers to the thought-provoking question, as opinions vary from person to person. But still, it would be an exciting proposition to consider given Mayweather Jr.’s sheer technical brilliance, high ring IQ, and, most importantly, a rhythm that barely fluttered even in front of an imposing opposition.

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Perhaps the answered lied somewhere closer to home. Only someone who knew Mayweather Jr. like the back of his hand would be able to understand, decipher and confirm the hands that could have, at least in theory, rocked, the pound-for-pound, one of the greatest boxers in the sport’s history.

Nathaniel Henry ‘Nate’Jones is a two-time National Golden Gloves champion who won a Heavyweight bronze medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Launching his professional career a year later, Jones fought till 2002, when medical conditions forced early retirement. His record at the time stood at eighteen wins, two losses, and one draw.

Recently, Jones recommended a boxer that he thought could have bested Floyd Mayweather.

Who could have handed a defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jr.? Jones has an answer…

So yesterday, on his YouTube channel, ‘The Nate Jones Story,’ Jones shared  the name of the boxer who could have beaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. He said, “…if anybody would have beat him it was that m**********r right there… Aaron Pryor, freaking nature.” 

Earlier, he had explained that one of the boxers for whom Mayweather Jr. has always had immense respect was the Nicaraguan Alexis Arguello. However, it was the two-time Light Welterweight champion and the Ring magazine’s thirty-fifth greatest boxer of all time in the last eighty years, Aaron Pryor, who defeated Arguello twice, first on November 12, 1982, and then again on September 9, 1983.

“Aaron Pryor fought in 135 – 140 and was probably the first person to knock out Alexis Arguello. Floyd thinks highly of Arguello, I do too, but Aaron Pryor washed him twice and destroyed him… I mean, um, Alex Arguello was a bad boy, but he wasn’t better than Pryor.” He said. 

After an illustrious amateur career, Aaron Pryor began his professional journey in 1976 and fought till 1990. He participated in forty bouts, out of which he won thirty-nine. Thirty-five of his victories came through knockouts. In 1980, he became the WBA and the Ring Light Welterweight champion and defended it successfully till 1983. Unfortunately, the great boxer, aged sixty, passed away on October 9, 2016.

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What is your take on Nate Jones’s statement? Do you agree with him? Do share your views and opinions with us in the comments below.