“How can he call himself the best if he hasn’t conquered anyone significant yet?”.
Tungod, Inabanga, Bohol – Fresh from his relatively and expectedly easy conquest of Mexican lightweight champ Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KOs), Ring Magazine #2 rated pound for pound “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather, Jr.(40-0-0, 25 KOs) remains untried, unproven, and untested in the welterweight ranks. Time and again, staying true to his fighting style of keeping it safe, the flamboyant American continues to traverse the easy route, staying clear of legitimate threats to his unbeaten status.
While the rest of the boxing world are dumbfounded by the surprisingly high Mayweather-Marquez pay-per-view output of about 1 million buys, one can’t help but wonder whether or not the self-proclaimed best fighter will ever get out of his shell and take on someone who poses a legitimate challenge. It might seem like decades ago when Mayweather last fought someone who falls under that category. He was still a lightweight then and his opponent was Jose Luis Castillo, who, by the way, happens to be reportedly designated as pound-for-pound best Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s (49-3-2, 37 KOs) chief sparring mate in preparation for his welterweight clash with Miguel Angel Cotto (34-1-0, 27 KOs) of Puerto Rico this November. As a lightweight, Mayweather was a warrior, a beast, and was rarely criticized with his choice of opponents. The same cannot be said of him north of the 135-lb weight limit.
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One might argue that Mayweather’s gifted physical attributes and uncanny skill set, coupled with superb conditioning and ring smarts, in comparison to his past opponents as the primary basis of all this prejudice. Is he really that good or is he merely just a product of careful matchmaking? Unless proven otherwise, I’m more quite inclined to believe the latter.
Floyd is listed at 5 feet and 8 inches (5’8”) with a 72-inch reach. Why am I mentioning these stats? Try to check Floyd’s list of previous opponents and see if you can find any of them, apart from Oscar De La Hoya, who has both advantages in size and reach over him. If you are successful, then you can stop reading and I will certainly rest my case. If you can’t, then read on and know the facts.
Let’s talk about “effective reach”, which is a factor of both height and reach. It’s not only the reach that determines how far a fist can travel. Effective reach is also directly proportional to height. Throughout his career, Mayweather has enjoyed the effective reach advantage in all but one of his foes.
Now going back to the untried, unproven, and untested argument, let’s try to dissect each of the fighters that Floyd has fought at welterweight, namely; Mitchell, Judah, Baldomir, De La Hoya, Hatton, and just recently, Marquez. No disrespect, but I could care less about Mitchell. Judah gave Floyd fits in the early goings of the fight, but as expected, once again fell prey to his own impatience and undoing. Baldomir became significant only after his shocking upset of Zab Judah, making the erstwhile welterweight champ do the “chicken dance”. Then again, he was tad slow and taylor-made for Mayweather. De La Hoya couldn’t pull the trigger in the later rounds… oh by the way, that fight was at light middleweight so technically, De La Hoya doesn’t count among them. Hatton was undefeated, but unfortunately, it was at 140 lbs and Floyd was just too big, too strong, and too fast for him. In his return after about a two-year hiatus from the sport, Floyd came back and cherry picked a lightweight in Marquez.
An encounter against at least two legitimate threats at welterweight, probably and hopefully against the winner of the Sugar Shane Mosley – Andre Berto and Miguel Angel Cotto – Manny Pacquiao faceoffs could most likely change my impression about Floyd. Well, he can also add Antonio Margarito in the list if he likes. He’ll perhaps take Pacquiao, not just because he’s the most lucrative fight out there for him, but also since the Pinoy idol is literally the smallest among the names mentioned. Well, we might one day see Money Mayweather man up and fight any of these guys. I hope he does… but until he finally steps on the gas and faces someone his size and/or caliber, Mayweather will remain just as he is in my eyes – merely a prospect at welterweight.
Commentary: I believe that even if Floyd Mayweather will fight Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, Margarito, etc. he has a big chance of winning. The only problem is that Mayweather is more of a very smart businessman than a legendary boxer. As long as his strategy works, meaning he will earn a lot of money, never expect Floyd to change. So it's up to us fans whether to patronize his fights or look the other way...If you will keep on watching his fight to wait for him to loss then you will have to wait for a long time because as a businessman Floyd will always calculates the risk vs. reward factor to his favor every time...
Source: Mayweather: Untried, Unproven and Untested at Welterweight
To get more boxing news, fight updates and commentary between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. click on Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Boxing News.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Manny Pacquiao will beat Floyd Mayweather on speed says Amir Khan
Amir Khan returns to Los Angeles in October where he has been training under Freddie Roach, sparring with Manny Pacquiao, and improving his all-round game. Revealing on Monday that there are definite talks ongoing for him to defend the WBA 140lb gong against Dmitry Salita in December, sometime, somewhere…Khan also spoke out in favour of his gym mate Pacquiao.
The prospect of Pacquiao facing Floyd Mayweather Jr, who returned to the ring after a 21-month absence last week to score a unanimous points victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, is the talk of boxing. Many believe it will happen but Pacquiao must first go through Miguel Cotto. Arguably, it is the toughest fight of Pacquiao’s career. Cotto is a dangerous fighter who bides his time in championship fights, and sets traps like an old fox. Pacquiao will have to have his head on…for 36 minutes.
Khan admits he was impressed by Mayweather’s comeback, but believes Pacquiao would emerge the victor if they were to meet (he would also like to fight both of them himself down the line).
Khan said: “[Mayweather's comeback] was brilliant, Floyd is a great fighter. Coming back and having the pressure of not being in the ring for a year and a half - I think he looked better than before he retired. Boxing is exciting, with these champions coming forward and back in the ring. It’s an addiction that boxing gives you.”
“Floyd Mayweather called it a day and never wanted to look at boxing again, and a year and a half later he’s back in the ring again and is still classed as one of the very best in the world. I train alongside Manny Pacquiao who is also classed as one of the best in the world - what a fight that would be. It’s all brewing up for one big fight.
“But I’m the same weight as well and one day in the future maybe there could be a fight down the line for me. At the moment we’re taking our time and Salita is hopefully the next man for me. But from there the tougher fights and the bigger names will start coming. In a year’s time I think I’ll be in the same mix as them with the likes of Marquez, Mayweather and Manny.”
Khan believes Pacquiao’s speed would be the decisive factor in any contest with Mayweather. “I’ve trained with both of them, and I have to back my guy - my guy is Manny Pacquiao and I think Manny might take the fight with his speed.”
“A lot of people forget that speed is power. You can’t take it away from Mayweather, who is a fast fighter. But when you take speed, with amount of punches you throw - Manny throws a lot of punches with speed, whereas Mayweather is more a single-shot fighter. He’s still quick, but I don’t think single shots will keep Manny Pacquiao away from Mayweather, whereas I know combinations will push Mayweather back.
“I would say the fight looks 60% towards Manny’s favour, and he’s been more active, in the ring more. Mayweather’s performance coming back from retirement looked great though, and that was one fight - maybe in the second fight he might look even better.”
Agree ? Disagree ? It is simply Khan’s loyalty to Roach and Pacquiao ?
Commentary: It's hard to believe this comment by Amir Khan considering that he hasn't fought Floyd Mayweather in person yet. I think there is a psychological factor behind Khan's comment. Since he went toe-to-toe with Manny Pacquiao several times and maybe he thinks that he can handle Pacquiao ergo he can can handle Mayweather also...
Source: Manny Pacquiao will beat Floyd Mayweather on speed says Amir Khan
To get more boxing news, fight updates and commentary between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. click on Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Boxing News.
The prospect of Pacquiao facing Floyd Mayweather Jr, who returned to the ring after a 21-month absence last week to score a unanimous points victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, is the talk of boxing. Many believe it will happen but Pacquiao must first go through Miguel Cotto. Arguably, it is the toughest fight of Pacquiao’s career. Cotto is a dangerous fighter who bides his time in championship fights, and sets traps like an old fox. Pacquiao will have to have his head on…for 36 minutes.
Khan admits he was impressed by Mayweather’s comeback, but believes Pacquiao would emerge the victor if they were to meet (he would also like to fight both of them himself down the line).
Khan said: “[Mayweather's comeback] was brilliant, Floyd is a great fighter. Coming back and having the pressure of not being in the ring for a year and a half - I think he looked better than before he retired. Boxing is exciting, with these champions coming forward and back in the ring. It’s an addiction that boxing gives you.”
“Floyd Mayweather called it a day and never wanted to look at boxing again, and a year and a half later he’s back in the ring again and is still classed as one of the very best in the world. I train alongside Manny Pacquiao who is also classed as one of the best in the world - what a fight that would be. It’s all brewing up for one big fight.
“But I’m the same weight as well and one day in the future maybe there could be a fight down the line for me. At the moment we’re taking our time and Salita is hopefully the next man for me. But from there the tougher fights and the bigger names will start coming. In a year’s time I think I’ll be in the same mix as them with the likes of Marquez, Mayweather and Manny.”
Khan believes Pacquiao’s speed would be the decisive factor in any contest with Mayweather. “I’ve trained with both of them, and I have to back my guy - my guy is Manny Pacquiao and I think Manny might take the fight with his speed.”
“A lot of people forget that speed is power. You can’t take it away from Mayweather, who is a fast fighter. But when you take speed, with amount of punches you throw - Manny throws a lot of punches with speed, whereas Mayweather is more a single-shot fighter. He’s still quick, but I don’t think single shots will keep Manny Pacquiao away from Mayweather, whereas I know combinations will push Mayweather back.
“I would say the fight looks 60% towards Manny’s favour, and he’s been more active, in the ring more. Mayweather’s performance coming back from retirement looked great though, and that was one fight - maybe in the second fight he might look even better.”
Agree ? Disagree ? It is simply Khan’s loyalty to Roach and Pacquiao ?
Commentary: It's hard to believe this comment by Amir Khan considering that he hasn't fought Floyd Mayweather in person yet. I think there is a psychological factor behind Khan's comment. Since he went toe-to-toe with Manny Pacquiao several times and maybe he thinks that he can handle Pacquiao ergo he can can handle Mayweather also...
Source: Manny Pacquiao will beat Floyd Mayweather on speed says Amir Khan
To get more boxing news, fight updates and commentary between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. click on Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Boxing News.
Mayweather KO's the UFC in PPV can Pacquiao vs Cotto outdo Money Mayweather?
By Sal V - So it was Mayweather vs. the UFC head to head, and Mayweather comes out on top by nearly a 2 to 1 ratio. Can Cotto and Pacquiao follow in his footsteps? We continue to hear the words “boxing is dying” in some boxing experts column while others actually say the sport is already dead. Now that the Click for More...
“Its not a fight that people want to see right now (Mayweather vs. Marquez)…Mayweather is not a superstar…we’re not worried about Floyd Mayweather.” - Dana White UFC
Well, they should be worried as their PPV event on the same day reportedly did half as well as boxing. Ever since Oscars retirement this past December of 2008, there has been plenty to cheer about in the boxing world. Pacquiao vs. Hatton numbers were through the roof, Margarito vs. Mosley had LA pumping and this weekend all the talk is how Mayweather proved the skeptics wrong again. Who needs an Oscar de la Hoya fight to “save” boxing? Boxing has been around for over 100 years it will be around for 100 more.
This bodes well for the showdown for Cotto vs. Pacquiao. Ticket sells have been reported to be brisk and if things work out, this showdown could hit similar or even higher numbers than Mayweather vs. Marquez. On paper fight fans know that this is a huge fight. Styles makes fight and Cotto vs. Pacquiao has "action-packed" written all over it. There are however some things Cotto and Pacquiao could learn from Money Mayweather.
Mayweather does a great job playing the “bad boy” role. People like to watch a good fight but how many more people would like to see him get KO’d? Ali once said:
REPORTER: What percentage of the fans do you feel will be coming to see Sonny Liston, and what percentage do you feel will be coming to see you?
MUHAMMAD ALI: Well, a hundred percent will be coming to see me, but 99 percent will be coming to see me get beat.
It’s a great marketing tactic and Mayweather plays it up like no other. The 24/7 drama, co-starring his uncle and dad definitely make the show much more entertaining. The bling, cars and lifestyle looks more like an episode from MTV Cribs than HBO 24/7. It would be interesting to see how a Cotto vs. Pacquiao 24/7 plays out being that both are not from the USA. Hardcore boxing fans will be sure to tune in, but will the casual fan stick around and watch all 4 episodes? A tip for Manny and Cotto, do something crazy during the show while your training…(chase a chicken around for speed agility training or eat an ostrich egg)….no need to do what Marquez did (drink “bodily fluids” for its vitamins) but hey it DID get casual fans talking everywhere at their water coolers the next day.
Another point that was done well was the promotion of the fight itself. Golden Boy did an excellent job making the fighters accessible and putting on an undercard that looked great on paper. The undercards used to be what fans remembered most but in the past few years had only become marketed “Sparring Sessions” of up and coming fighters. Penny pinching promoters would just put up their rising star vs. some no named guy from Kansas. Put in competitive title fights people want to see vs. named opponents. Since money is tight for the fans, its not enough these days to just put on one superfight. Fans want to see more bang for their buck. Boxing is finally heading back in the right direction putting on fights worth watching from the start.
With the end of 2009 coming up there is plenty more to cheer about. Fans have Pacquiao and Cotto, a super middle weight tournament underway on Showtime and word is even Roy Jones vs. Bernard Hopkins in 2010. Boxing is really a roll if even these two can finally come to terms!
Things are looking up for boxing and if the stars align we may see THE mega showdown in early 2010: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. Who says boxing is on life support?
Commentary: Congratulations Floyd Mayweather! Once again you prove to the world that you are the number one cash cow in boxing...
Source: Mayweather KO's the UFC in PPV can Pacquiao vs Cotto outdo Money Mayweather?
To get more boxing news, fight updates and commentary between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. click on Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Boxing News.
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