Hey Floyd, If You Can’t Read This Article Have One of Your Nut Huggers Read It To YOU!

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By Ian Murphy

As I tear myself away from my altar dedicated to the great A.J Liebling, I begin to think about the legacy of Floyd Mayweather, JR. a little more deeply. Contrary to some of my more vulgar and seemingly unenlightened detractors, I do not hate the man, but have a grudging respect for him. Oh, I still believe him to be among the most overrated of fighters and find his hackneyed self-promotion tiresome, but do not mistake my frustration for hatred.

Mayweather, JR. is far and away the most naturally talented boxer in the past 25 years, and I think few would disagree with this assessment. He is also a brilliant businessman who truly has mastered the art of self-promotion to further his financial interests. Also, at his peak (before he promoted himself) Floyd was a wonder, having exciting and classic matches with the best of his era. In the past 8 years or so, his hand-picking of opponents and insistence on being referred to as “TBE” (The Best Ever) has tarnished a once very bright legacy. Also, many of Mayweather’s most passionate supporters (whose blind faith is maddening) are seemingly beyond rational thought, disregarding any wrong doing on his part as “Floyd being Floyd”. Trying to reason with a fervent Floyd fan is practically impossible. Talk about drinking the Kool-Aid. This all contributes to my frustration with the “Money Man”.

Despite the shenanigans that have made Mayweather, JR. the polarizing figure he is, he does have many admirers. There is nothing wrong with having a favorite athlete and supporting them. That is what drives the sports world and keeps us entertained. Mayweather, JR. may not be 100% smoke and mirrors, as there is some substance to his skills and performances, but it needs to be understood that his recent dominance has (and I quote boxing fan Kevin Kincade) “reeked of Fat Vegas Elvis as opposed to the young man who shook up the music industry in the 1950s”. However, Floyd is just one in a long line of fighters looking to milk fame and stardom for monetary gain. Whenever a buck could be made, promoters and fighters did what needed to be done. This is just part of the business that is boxing and I won’t begrudge the man making his living as best he knows how.

Where I really feel Mayweather, JR. has made a wrong turn is how he has managed his career since his comeback in 2009. Floyd’s fights have become more performance and pageantry oriented. They are expertly promoted spectacles and generate (in some fights) hundreds of millions of dollars. Although marketed as competitive fights, in truth Mayweather, JR. matched himself up favorably to look as good as possible in order to protect and further build his brand. Again, he is not the first to do this, but here are key differences between Mayweather and his superstar forbearers. Sugar Ray Robinson’s comebacks seemed more motivated by pride (and money too, of course) and with a few exceptions, Sugar Ray Leonard would absolutely destroy his picked opponents, giving the fans a real show in the process. Mayweather, JR. seems to care more about the end result (preserving his “0” and banking as much money as possible) than taking much risk in the ring. Floyd has only finished one fighter (Victor Ortiz) in the past 8 years. This is partly due to fighting well above his natural weight (kudos there), perhaps more so to limit his chances of losing. His performance against Manny Pacquiao is a case in point. Floyd was his usual elusive self, made Manny look bad, and deserved the win. But outside of a few hard rights in the first round, he did little damage and coasted. Mayweathe, JR. has always been a hit and move type of fighter, but now has evolved into a “peck and run” fighter trying to keep the risk of a loss to an absolute minimum.

Mayweather, JR. clearly came to a crossroads sometime in his career (most likely following the De la Hoya match in May of 2007), and he chose the money over his legacy. To some degree he owns up to that, and it is his body and mind that is put at risk when he steps into the ring. However, it has been Floyd’s priority since then to build his brand around his undefeated record and unmarked face. This in itself is not wrong, per say, as it is a modern way of accumulating wealth through visibility and reputation. However, it is Floyd’s lack of stepping up to face the best available opposition and protecting his brand at all costs that has not endeared him to many fight fans.

I understand legacy doesn’t keep you safe or pay the bills, but Floyd Mayweather, JR. is trying to have his cake and eat it, too. In his younger days, when he was not his own promoter, he was special, a great fighter beating other great fighters. But upon assuming his own promotion, it all changed. While still bearing enough of a resemblance to the fleet-footed dynamo of his youth, really Floyd is now more like a wizard on a bicycle, weaving magic spells of deception as he pedals away from danger in the ring on a bike covered in “TBE” regalia and dollar signs.

Perhaps he could be the “Running Man” or the “Riding Man” instead of the “Money Man”? Upon closer inspection, you see Mayweather, JR. longs for the respect that many of his predecessors get for their ring triumphs, but he is deluding himself if he thinks he’ll get it. Mayweather, JR. really never had to dig deep to overcome. Some argue he is just that good, and maybe they are right. Or perhaps it is a weaker era he has presided over, a “big fish in a little pond” scenario. However, anyone who isn’t wearing “TBE” sponsored glasses can see that he has sacrificed his credibility for financial reward.

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