If Mayorga had got through the Spinks fight...

[johnswan1]

December 2003.

30 year old Welterweight WBC/WBA champ Mayorga weighs in at 146 lbs against 31-2 IBF champ Corey Spinks.

A day later and Spinks is the unified champion of the division having won a majority decision.

If the frustrated Mayorga had not been deducted two points for hitting after the bell and holding and hitting, then he would have escaped the Spinks jinx with a split draw to retain his titles.

What happened next was that either Mayorga or Don King seemed to cash in on his career by stepping up to Light Middle for a nothing fight with Eric Mitchell and then to Middleweight as fodder for Trinidad's long awaited return. Mayorga would never be the same fighter again, fighting only once per year from 2005-2011.

For me Mayorga was must see TV. His trash talking and out of the ring antics were often backed up inside the ring with a combination of an unorthodox style and the type of machismo (or foolishness) I have never seen before or after at the elite level. Who else would step up two weight divisions and then drop his hands and invite one of the most devastating punchers (Trinidad) in the sport to tee off on his chin?

Anyway, if Mayorga had escaped the Spinks fight avoid a rematch, and concentrate on his training and staying at Welter for the next few years, how do you think he would have done against the following opponents during 2004-2007?

Antonio Margarito - at the time this was probably the fight that would have produced more action than any in the sport. Margarito was relentless, but Mayorga was the bigger puncher of the two and Margarito was easier to land cleanly on. Mayorga by KO inside 6.
Kermit Cintron - Cintron was far too fragile mentally for somebody like Mayorga. Mayorga by KO inside 6.
Zab Judah - Judah had the hand speed and skills to frustrate the hell out of Mayorga just as Spinks did, but I think he would have engaged more than Spinks, which could have led to his downfall. A tough fight to call but I would probably have backed Mayorga to catch Zab late.
Carlos Baldomir - he may have been able to battle it out over the distance but I would pick Mayorga by decision.
Arturo Gatti - another fight guaranteeing action which would have been fun while it lasted but Arturo wasn't big enough at the weight and Mayorga would have been likely to spark him inside 6.
Floyd Mayweather - Mayweather would have won every round.
Paul Williams - Mayorga wouldn't have brought the intensity Margarito did during his fight with Williams, but I think Mayorga could have hurt Paul who wasn't too hard to find. Williams was tough though and I wouldn't argue with anybody who would have favored him to win.
Miguel Cotto - given how prime Cotto struggled with aged Mayorga I would pick a prime Mayorga to turn the tables.
Shane Mosley - the first fight wasn't very good, the second won't be either, but if these two had met in 2004-2005 I think there would have been more fireworks and I'd have favored Mayorga by decision.

[PredatorHayds]

I'd of favoured Cotto, Judah and Mosley.

I really liked Mayorga he just seemed to always find a way to lose in a big fight under pressure.
He should never of lost to Spinks, this fight sort of summed up his mentality.