Floyd Mayweather JR: The Focus of Manny Pacquiao – Antonio Margarito
By Gina L. Caliboso
First, to paraphrase Apollo Creed from Rocky III, “Ya hear that? It’s too quiet.”
All fighters – all boxers face that same quiet. It’s the sound of the ring of the bell that drives a boxer to show up and take command of a bout. Win titles, yes. Win money, yes. But money and titles aside, fame and fortune aside, out of the boxing ring Floyd “Money” Mayweather has been awfully quiet. Floyd “Money” Mayweather, JR., quite honestly, just doesn’t know what to do with himself. I signed up or “liked” his Facebook page and he’s about as informative as ESPN Sportscenter. He’s had a blast attending major sporting events such as the NBA Championships and maybe twittering his fans on who will win the World Series, but again, he’s too quiet.
And thanks to Floyd, I got a reminder of the first day of the NBA season. Well, not altogether true, I was tuned into the Lakers’ opening game. Most recently, he posted a picture with all the money he won from his football picks.
When the Mayweather – Pacquiao mega-fight fell through this year, I really couldn’t wrap my head around the obvious. As I’ve already stated in previous articles in an homage or even with a somewhat shrug of my shoulders, I just didn’t understand why there were so many obstacles for the fight to take place. I don’t like to assign blame, but since I’m a Pacquiao fan, it was easy to do so. But now, I’ll take a moment and think about Floyd “Money” Mayweather, JR.
While HBO will surely pan out into the audience of Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, we’ll see the familiar faces of Oscar De La Hoya, Mark Wahlberg, Jeremy Piven, George Lopez, and Bernard Hopkins. But there is only one person the camera should focus on, Floyd Mayweather, JR., will be given more than a happen chance glance. He’ll look up and everyone will just ask, “Are you next?”
But I decided to take a closer look at the potential matchups should two things occur on Saturday.
First scenario (written with a gulp and shake of my head): Pacquiao loses against Margarito in a 12 round split decision. I shall not imagine a KO! But seriously, if Pacquiao loses against Margarito, it puts a lot on Pacquiao the champ himself. He has to decide if his commitment to boxing is tried and true – his dedication has to be all in because that’s what boxers have to do in order to win a bout. If he should lose, I see Pacquiao taking a rematch against Margarito. It’s great billing actually. Pacquiao’s best bouts and rematches have been against Mexican fighters. He’s had to fight them at least twice to prove he can beat them.
Sorry, let me get back to Mayweather. Mayweather should fight Pacquiao. There, I said it. If Pacquiao loses, Mayweather, JR., should fight Pacquiao. If Pacquiao wins, he should fight Mayweather, JR.
But, I wouldn’t put it past Mayweather to look beyond Pacquiao and give Margarito a shot as well. In this second scenario, Margarito wins against Pacquiao, he will have his pick of opponents and he chooses Mayweather, JR. Margarito has been saying he’s been thankful for his second chance against Pacquiao. I see him giving Mayweather a chance too.
Simply put, Mayweather, JR needs to just box again and show proof to his own praises. Mayweather, JR needs to fight and the welterweight division is filled with possibility. So, regardless of the winner or loser of the weekend bout, Mayweather, JR., needs to fight someone because he knows deep down inside, it should have been him in that ring. He needs to make a decision and soon.
This now brings me to the light welterweight division. I only mention the light welterweights because when you look at the welterweight division, there’s room for some boxers to consider moving up in weight. At the top of the division, Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley is currently ranked #1.
As I recall in his last bout against Luis Abregu where he pulled out the 12 round UD, Bradley called out both Pacquiao and Mayweather. I shudder to think about this possibility. Bradley is good for now, but he needs to fight more. I don’t quite see Bradley going up against Pacquiao or Mayweather. He’s good, but not that good – not yet anyway. Before Abregu, he defeated Lamont Peterson with a 12 round UD. Bradley now faces the formidable Devon Alexander in January 2011.
But there is someone slowly making his way back as a contender in the light welterweight division. Veteran contender Zab Judah is on the verge of a major comeback and he looks good. It would be a rematch. In 2006, Mayweather, JR defeated Judah over 12 rounds for the IBF Welterweight title and then vacant IBO Welterweight title.
As I previously wrote, Judah is slowly making his way back into the boxing ring, but he’s got work to do. He fought against Matthyse this past weekend and emerged the winner, but he’s not quite there yet. At 33, Judah does need to make sure the bouts are financially awarding as well as assuring he can make his way back into the light welterweight ranks.
As I’ve observed, it has never been a question of whether or not Mayweather, JR wants to box. When Mayweather, JR, isn’t talking trash or throwing bills everywhere or hanging out with other celebs, he is, as his record and key victories have shown, an excellent fighter with an undefeated record. Any boxer would fight Mayweather, JR., simply for the opportunity and also for the prestige.
So, Floyd “Money” Mayweather, JR, I hope you decide to answer. Because if you are as good as you claim, you should be saying YES to every offer. And, really, he shouldn’t wait around too long, because soon enough, no one will care.