Floyd Mayweather JR Retired
By Geno McGahee
It is hard to believe that the man that sits atop many pound for pound rankings as the best has decided to give up the sport that he has done so well with. With a record of 41-0, 25 KO’s, titles from super featherweight to light middleweight and many notable wins, and at the peak of his popularity, it is hard to imagine him retiring. It is all that more difficult to believe when you add the money that is on the table for a showdown with Manny Pacquiao, but it seems like Money Mayweather has gotten tired of the game.
There are many that question the legacy of Floyd and what it will be if he should never fight Pacquiao, but his legacy is in place. Over the recent years, he was able to pick and choose his opposition and acted like a businessman rather than a fighter. His refusal to do what the public wants him to do have hurt his reputation, but it hasn’t hurt his bank account. People want to see him lose and that is why people are pushing so much for a match with Manny, because he has a chance.
Outside of Pacquiao, there is also Sergio Martinez, the light middleweight star that has risen quickly to the universal third position behind Floyd and Manny in the pound for pound rank. Martinez flattened Paul Williams in two rounds and has a bout coming up against Serhiy Dzinziruk in March. Martinez has expressed interest in a match with either fighter. Pacquiao seems far too small for the battle, but Floyd would be a match.
The frustration from Pacquiao and his team may stem from the fact that he has never beaten an elite opponent in their prime.
When he made his first statement against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003, he was facing a fighter that had 60 fights and was beyond his better years. Erik Morales, another big name had nearly 50 fights and many wars. Pacquiao, to his credit, has beaten most of his opposition with style, but Floyd Mayweather, JR., would be the prize. A victory over Flody is confirmation that he is one of the best of all time, rather than a great fighter feasting on past their prime pugilists.
Floyd has had “the” fight. In 2001, he went head to head with undefeated power-puncher, Diego Corrales with the media split right down the middle as to who they thought would win. It was the Mayweather-Pacquiao of that time, and Floyd showed his superiority, winning clearly by stoppage in 10 rounds.
On paper, Floyd’s list of opponents is equally as impressive as Manny’s but he fought most of the fighters when they were fresher. Of course, Floyd has not been impressing the fans with his choice of opponents, and refusal to face Pacquiao, but the majority of his run as a boxer has been incredibly impressive and he has nothing left to prove…for the most part.
Pacquiao will face another Mayweather leftover in Shane Mosley on May 7th and should he win, and he most likely will rather easily, then Floyd will hopefully be prompted to come back. Floyd has recently made comments that he was done with boxing, but this is not something new, and he is not oblivious to the fans and the Manny supporters that call him out on a regular basis. He has lashed back via video and has had some questionable behavior that shows his mind is not in a good place. The pressure has gotten to him.
Although Sergio Martinez is a great fight for Floyd, the only fight that the public wants is Manny Pacquiao and the fight that Manny needs is Floyd. It is arguably, the fight that boxing needs to once again generate great interest in a game that has been losing fans to the MMA and just losing them in general due to poor pay per views and lack of star power in boxing. A Pacquiao-Mayweather bout is just what the doctor ordered.
Although it appears that the gloves are hanged up at the Mayweather, JR., household, there is so much interest in him and so much money to be made that he may cave in and return to the ring. He did it before with Pacquiao in his crosshairs and backed off. When Pacquiao beats Mosley and especially if he stops him, the public will place the crown on the head of Manny, which will not sit well with Money Mayweather and will hopefully bring him out.
If the stars are aligned at that time and everyone is in a good mood at the negotiations table, perhaps we will finally get the super fight that we want and it will lure the pound for pound great out of his retirement. It may all depend on Pacquiao’s performance against Mosley.