Mayweather Returning July 11th?

[Poncey]

If this is true, who should he face? Marquez at 140, or a lower quality opponent to get rid of ring rust?

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Either that option or apparently playing as quarter back for the Greenbay Packers

I don't reckon FMJ is coming back for July, we'll get at least 6months worth of hype first. Can't see him fighting someone with the draw of a Marquez, just not big enough. Mosley hasn't got an opponent thats the real fight this generation needs, nevermind Pacquaio

[DavidPayne]

Whats the point in a lower quality opponent?

He wont go below 147...so who are the cheap options at that weight.....?

He'll jump in with JMM I think, and I think he's asked for regular HBO.

Then Pacman or Hatton in November?

If his body holds up.

Personally, I think he could lose to any of them after a two year lay off.

He could fight a guy with name coming up in weight too far, like a Diaz or Campbell or Guzman I suppose.

I think Mosley would beat him.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Actually if he wants a warm up maybe he should relieve Berto of the WBC belt

[Poncey]

Whats the point in a lower quality opponent?

He wont go below 147...so who are the cheap options at that weight.....?

He'll jump in with JMM I think, and I think he's asked for regular HBO.

Then Pacman or Hatton in November?

If his body holds up.

Personally, I think he could lose to any of them after a two year lay off.

He could fight a guy with name coming up in weight too far, like a Diaz or Campbell or Guzman I suppose.

I think Mosley would beat him.

I agree. This had Leonard comback written all over it. Almost a 2 year lay off for a fighter that relies on their reflexes doesn't usually end well.

[stujones]

I disagree, Mayweather doesn't rely on reflexes in the way that Leonard and say Naz did. He has the shoulder defence and parries alot of shots - which isn't so reflex based. James Toney is still very hard to nail at 40.

Also, he is younger than Leonard in his 1991 comeback by around 5 years, Leonard comeback at 30 and he was still pretty damn good.

[DG.]

PBF wins based on brain..

As long as his Motor skills are the same he wont lose.

And do not think for 1 minute that PBF has not been in constant light training the same way SRL was before he fought Hagler.

[Chambers2]

PBF Vs Cotto or Mosley at 147 would do me nicely

The PBF VS JMM fight would be another cracker, ideally it would be at 140, but I can't see Mayweather dropping down

[Carbo]

And he hasn't really had such a huge amount of time out of the ring. He was only fighting twice a year anyway. For him, maybe the total rest has done his body good.

I see Mayweather trying to take the path of least resistance, which means the winner of Paquiao -- Hatton, especially if it's Manny. Mayweather hasn't matched himself bravely since Castillo. He avoided the real top dogs at both 140 and 147, and I don't see him changing his MO now.

This is just a matter of getting his financial house in order. Nothing more. He doesn't like boxing these days, doesn't want to box, and even when he did he wasn't matched challengingly. So do you really see him facing Williams or Cotto?

Nope. It'll be Paquiao or Marquez, I guess.

I also disagree with those who hold out hope that HBO will veto anything but a great fight. Do you really trust HBO, with its track record, to steer boxing away from promoting celebrity boxers in whatever matchup they want and toward competitive matchups? That would be like trusting the Republican Party to steer the Middle East toward peace.

Never underestimate the stupidity of Ross Greenberg. He’ll do what Mayweather wants in the end.

Mayweather might face Mosley – but not until 2010, when Mosley has aged just enough to pose less of a threat. Meantime, it's the excuse of a warm up fight on HBO WCB (ostensibly to gain exposure to a wider audience to build more interest in the big PPV payoff at the end), and then Paquiao, should he get past Hatton.

Forget about him trying to cement a place amonth the all time greats by facing Williams or Cotto or Mosley -- you know, genuinely world class welterweights.

[stujones]

Harsh Carbo

So neither Baldomir or Judah were top dogs? Oh I know it was Margarito - yeah Lujan was such a world class opponent.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

I see Mayweather trying to take the path of least resistance, which means the winner of Paquiao -- Hatton, especially if it's Manny. Mayweather hasn't matched himself bravely since Castillo. He avoided the real top dogs at both 140 and 147, and I don't see him changing his MO now..

Mayweather just like every other fighter wants the biggest money fights. How was he not challenging himself at 140 he fought WBC belt holder and tried to get Tyszu/Hatton in 2004-2005. In 2005 when he couldnt get Hatton/Cotto he tried to fight undisputed champ Judah but Judah wanted more money so he warmed up against Mitchell. Judah lost and messed up a mega-fight, they fought anyway and Judah is a stylistic problem to Floyd being faster and harder hitting. He took the man who beat Judah beating the last 2 linear/undisputed Welter champs back to back before going well above his ideal weight to take on a much larger great in DLH before going back down to fight the 140lb number 1 in Hatton who he was suppesedly ducking

If you said in 2004 FMJ would fight Delahoya, Gatti, Hatton, Judah, Mitchell everyone would see those as the top dogs around his weight, Cotto/Margarito/Williams weren't established and weren't big money fights. Not to mention Bob Arrum would want options on Mayweather if he faced Margarito/Cotto

[Carbo]

Harsh Carbo

So neither Baldomir or Judah were top dogs? Oh I know it was Margarito - yeah Lujan was such a world class opponent.

No, not harsh. Mayweather is a brilliant boxer. The outstanding fighter of our generation, in my view. But he systematically took the path of least resistance once he got past Castillo the second time.

There was Sosa and N'Dou (moving up) at 135 -- hardly world beating -- then a warm up against sub triple A class Chop Chop Corely, then the unforgivable Henery Brussels -- using the excuse of setting up a fight with Cotto -- and then Gatti, by far the weakest of the champions. He showed no interest at all in fighting Tszyu -- clearly the top dog of 140 at the time.

But wait! He's moving up to fight at 147, taking on the more dangerous bigger men. Only he didn't. He fought natural 140 pounder and shot to sh1t Sharmba Mitchell first up, then flawed and just beaten Zab Judah -- good, but not great, and again not a big 147 pounder -- and then the mollasses slow Baldomir, the kind of fighter MAyweather could dance around for 15 rounds even if he weighed 247 pounds. There was no attempt -- none -- to fight the real danger man, the real, natural 147 pounders. MArgarito, Williams, and Mosley. then he fought Hatton, who came up from 147, and Dela Hoya, at 154 -- for which I give him serious credit.

So hardly the kind of resume which justifies mention among the 147 greats. There was no Hearns for his Leonard, and I doubt there'll be a Hagler this time.

I made this point far more eloquently on Payne's cool blog a while back. Follow the link --> http://boxingwriter.co.uk/2008/08/07/gu ... etty-pass/

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

He showed no interest at all in fighting Tszyu -- clearly the top dog of 140 at the time./

Actually he spoke various times about Tyszu, there was an air of 'family revenge' and he called Tyszu a 1armed fighter, they (him and Roger) also talked about Tyszu being easy to hit, which he was. Tyszu was showtime though and FMJ HBO so the fight was near impossible to make. Mayweather did want to fight the winner of Hatton-Tyszu, Hatton retired Tyszu and Hatton turned down the Mayweather fight until 2006

[banjo]

I don't give him much credit at all for beating Oscar, Oscar was at least 5 years past his best and had fought less than 6 rounds in almost 3 years. Hardly an earth-shattering victory.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

There was no attempt -- none -- to fight the real danger man, the real, natural 147 pounders. MArgarito, Williams, and Mosley.

Thats actually a bone faced lie, Mosley was chased several times, first at 135 around 1999-2000, then in 2006, when Mosley said he was holidaying/getting his teeth done. Margarito was also offered a Mayweather date when Judah lost (as was Hatton), but Margarito/Arrum turned it down because they had a far more important date with Manuel Gomez, who could easily be given step aside money.

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

I don't give him much credit at all for beating Oscar, Oscar was at least 5 years past his best and had fought less than 6 rounds in almost 3 years. Hardly an earth-shattering victory.

Oscar was at his best weight, WBC champ fresh of dominating and ko'ing Mayorga who incidently nearly beat Mosley andd DLH probably outweighed FMJ by 20lbs on fight night

[stujones]

Harsh Carbo

So neither Baldomir or Judah were top dogs? Oh I know it was Margarito - yeah Lujan was such a world class opponent.

No, not harsh. Mayweather is a brilliant boxer. The outstanding fighter of our generation, in my view. But he systematically took the path of least resistance once he got past Castillo the second time.

There was Sosa and N'Dou (moving up) at 135 -- hardly world beating -- then a warm up against sub triple A class Chop Chop Corely, then the unforgivable Henery Brussels -- using the excuse of setting up a fight with Cotto -- and then Gatti, by far the weakest of the champions. He showed no interest at all in fighting Tszyu -- clearly the top dog of 140 at the time.

But wait! He's moving up to fight at 147, taking on the more dangerous bigger men. Only he didn't. He fought natural 140 pounder and shot to sh1t Sharmba Mitchell first up, then flawed and just beaten Zab Judah -- good, but not great, and again not a big 147 pounder -- and then the mollasses slow Baldomir, the kind of fighter MAyweather could dance around for 15 rounds even if he weighed 247 pounds. There was no attempt -- none -- to fight the real danger man, the real, natural 147 pounders. MArgarito, Williams, and Mosley. then he fought Hatton, who came up from 147, and Dela Hoya, at 154 -- for which I give him serious credit.

So hardly the kind of resume which justifies mention among the 147 greats. There was no Hearns for his Leonard, and I doubt there'll be a Hagler this time.

I made this point far more eloquently on Payne's cool blog a while back. Follow the link --> http://boxingwriter.co.uk/2008/08/07/gu ... etty-pass/

Real danger men.... Mosley was fighting at 154, Williams wasn't even a champion and Margarito was fighting bums.

Gatti BY FAR the weakest champion? So Harris/Maussa were better?

[Carbo]

There was no attempt -- none -- to fight the real danger man, the real, natural 147 pounders. MArgarito, Williams, and Mosley.

Thats actually a bone faced lie, Mosley was chased several times, first at 135 around 1999-2000, then in 2006, when Mosley said he was holidaying/getting his teeth done. Margarito was also offered a Mayweather date when Judah lost (as was Hatton), but Margarito/Arrum turned it down because they had a far more important date with Manuel Gomez, who could easily be given step aside money.

True. Sorry. I take that back. I've been called on that. I confess.

But then, that wasn't ALL onesided was it? MAyweather was offered money to fight MArgarito -- big money -- and turned it down later.

[Carbo]

I see Mayweather trying to take the path of least resistance, which means the winner of Paquiao -- Hatton, especially if it's Manny. Mayweather hasn't matched himself bravely since Castillo. He avoided the real top dogs at both 140 and 147, and I don't see him changing his MO now..

Mayweather just like every other fighter wants the biggest money fights. How was he not challenging himself at 140 he fought WBC belt holder and tried to get Tyszu/Hatton in 2004-2005. In 2005 when he couldnt get Hatton/Cotto he tried to fight undisputed champ Judah but Judah wanted more money so he warmed up against Mitchell. Judah lost and messed up a mega-fight, they fought anyway and Judah is a stylistic problem to Floyd being faster and harder hitting. He took the man who beat Judah beating the last 2 linear/undisputed Welter champs back to back before going well above his ideal weight to take on a much larger great in DLH before going back down to fight the 140lb number 1 in Hatton who he was suppesedly ducking

If you said in 2004 FMJ would fight Delahoya, Gatti, Hatton, Judah, Mitchell everyone would see those as the top dogs around his weight, Cotto/Margarito/Williams weren't established and weren't big money fights. Not to mention Bob Arrum would want options on Mayweather if he faced Margarito/Cotto

Hang on a second: That's a pretty rose tinted look at matters. Judah had long been outed as a flawed talent. Everyone knew he had the heart and constitution of a pea, and the concentration of an ADD sufferer. That's why he lost to Baldomir, but it was hardly anything new. A fight with Judah would certainly have been bigger had he still been undisputed, but it would not have been a mega fight.

Second, in a later post, you rightly picked me up on twisting things to make my point. However, in doing that, you also seem to imply that Mayweather chased after some of these guys, and they basically ran away. But that's not the case. There were times when the fight didn't make financial sense to both parties, as when Arum offered Mayweather a big ol' wedge to fight Margarito, when he was seen as a big name at 147. And Cotto not a big fight? Mayweather-Cotto at The Garden not a big fight?? Please. Any fight with Cotto in New York is big, and that could and would have been massive.

And even you can't deny that he never really fought the physically imposing men at 147: Mitchell, Judah, and Hatton were all smaller at the weight, and Baldomir was slow and a journeyman made good.

My point is not that Mayweather has a poor resume, because that would be a lie; however, I think there is some justification in questioning his career choice post Castillo. If he wants to be like any other fight -- fine -- but his ability and his mouth justify, in my view, judgement by a higher standard.

[Dioufy]

Mayweather Vs Forrest?

[alexpaterson]

He should fight JMM and the winner of that to fight the winner of Pac Hatton

[hitman_hatton1]

the frustrating thing with floyd is that the fighters are out there for him to really be right up there with the greats.

he's already in the 30's and 40's of most peoples atg list.

beating guys like cotto, pac and mosley would put him right in the top 10.

unfortunately he's too busy hanging out with his homeboys making rap records.

[Quixall]

How about moving up a weight and fighting the winner of Williams - Winky Wright ?

[Carbo]

How about moving up a weight and fighting the winner of Williams - Winky Wright ?

I'd love to see Mayweather against Williams.

[hitman_hatton1]

yeah williams will win that won't he carbo. :)

winky won't be easy though.

williams biggest test so far.

always thought he'd have the measure of margo.