Is Mayweather a bad poster boy for the sport?

deadpan · Post by **deadpan** » 03 May 2015, 19:00

Lots of folk appear to feel short changed by last night's PPV bout.

Imagine if you'd been paying big US bucks for a run of Money fights. Would you feel underwhelmed and ripped off? He delivers controversy in abundance, but when does he provide genuine excitement in the ring? The last truly dominant performance that in anyway justified all the really graceless TBE waffle (yep, proclaiming to be THE BEST EVER, step aside Armstrong/Leonard/Robinson/Moore/Duran/Ali/Pep/Louis/Greb/Hagler et al) was against Corrales. In 2001. Yep, 14 years ago. Sure he has longevity. But it's been a pantheon of pitter-patter matador hugfests since. The Hatton TKO in 2007 was his last inside the distance victory besides his hugely dubious Ortiz stoppage. His last 6 fights amount to 72 rounds. How many of those rounds were out-of-the-seat exciting? Shouldn't we expect more water cooler moments from the highest paid sportsman on the planet?

Then take into account his history of unrepentant (and heinously brushed under the carpet) domestic abuse, his cynical matchmaking, his consistently vulgar and frankly unconscionable consumerism and his evident lack of personal charm.

What's left to nail your mast to?

Is he good for the sport? Will you miss him when he retires?

Nightmare Roy · Post by **Nightmare Roy** » 03 May 2015, 19:24

Great fighter but he's never in great fights,horrid human being. I won't miss him.

Ricky_ · Post by **Ricky_** » 03 May 2015, 20:06

Nightmare Roy wrote:Great fighter but he's never in great fights,horrid human being. I won't miss him.

"Fighter"

boxing's so far removed from it's combatative begginings now that what Mayweather does is rewarded with a 100m cheque. It's amazing he's made himself the draw he is. He certainly no fighter. He's not exciting. He couldn't hurt an opponent with a cricket bat. He stinks the fn joint every fight. There is no glory in his "wins". The Ortiz/Merchant epusode is the most entertainment he's ever given the sport.

magwitch · Post by **magwitch** » 03 May 2015, 20:59

hmmm. well, have read the above posts and frankly....go and take it off him. @deadpan says his last stoppage was Ricky Hatton 7 years ago i.e. eons ago, frankly - that in itself deserves respect. This guy is doing it without taking hidings. I've just watched a British Classic between Liam Walsh and Paul Appleby and both guys got smashed up pretty big over the Commonwealth title. Floyd is taking the WBC and more, without getting beat up....who's calling who names here??

I haven't actually seen the Pacquiao fight yet, due to work, but it sounds like more of the same. Also, let's not pretend that this guy can't fight. I saw him the other week on KOTV having a tear-up with Sharmba Mitchell in which he looked very fast and powerful and game. He has earned the right to be where he is now.

All that aside, I do believe he has an intelligent (how could he not be intelligent??) and charitable side to him - it's perhaps just not his most prominent side. A**hole? Maybe.....Vulgar with his punk-a**ed watch and Hummer collection? Most definitely - but I've read that things used to happen in this man's home when he was a kid that kid's shouldn't have to see, so I'd rather walk a mile in his shoes before I write him off as a human being.

Stuarty · Post by **Stuarty** » 04 May 2015, 04:07

I'm not sure. I can see why people don't like the guy and his rap sheet for domestic abuse alone is disgusting! He is a self made guy and has a charm and charisma about him that draws you in though! As a sportsman and business man he is close to perfection, as a person... not so much!

banjo · Post by **banjo** » 04 May 2015, 04:48

He is an incredible athlete and easily the best example of the "sweet science" around today, yes he's a monumental bellend outside of the ring but then so was Muhammad Ali.