Is Mayweather the Reason the Marquez Event isn’t Selling Well?
August 21st, 2009
By Chris Williams: I’ve been wondering why the September 19th fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd Mayweather Jr. hasn’t been selling well with boxing fans. At first, I thought it was the crummy undercard that Golden Boy had put together which has Michael Katsidis vs. Vicente Escobedo, Zab Judah vs. Antonio Diaz, and Chris John vs. Rocky Juarez, but I’m starting to think that it may be that Mayweather isn’t a big enough attraction to create interest in this fight card.
Judah is losing about as much as he is winning nowadays and is mostly a gatekeeper type fighter in the welterweight division. Diaz? Does anyone aside from diehard boxing fans know who he is? Katsidis has been beaten in two out of his last four fights and is starting to look a little shot to me.
John, a fighter from Indonesia, is only now starting to make a name for himself in the U.S., but he’s a featherweight and a pure boxer, not exactly the most exciting fighter you’ll ever see. Juarez was an interesting fighter to watch a several years ago, but after loses to Humberto Soto, Marco Antonio Barrera (two of them) and Juan Manuel Marquez, he doesn’t appear to be the same fighter anymore. Juarez looked good in only one round against John, the rest of them Juarez stood on the outside as if he was a statue, throwing few punches. Very boring.
Back to Mayweather. He’s been the classical definition of a boring, safety-first fighter most of his career, tending to hit and run and basically frustrate his opponents. Some boxing fans like this kind of thing likening it to the purest form of boxing, but I’m not one of them. To me, it’s painful to watch most of Mayweather’s fights because he’s so dull with his movement and pot shots.
Mayweather looks good in some fights, like against a limited Ricky Hatton and Arturo Gatti, but against fighters with boxing skills or power, Mayweather often stinks up the joint. Mayweather’s tendency to seek out smaller fighters than him since the Hatton fight, is even more off putting.
I think boxing fans would really go for a fight with Mayweather taking on a fighter two divisions bigger than him like middleweight Kelly Pavlik or super middleweight Mikkel Kessler, but to be fighting an opponent two divisions smaller than him in Marquez, it’s not interesting. You know Mayweather is probably going to win because of his size advantage and the fact that Marquez just recently moved up to the lightweight division not too long ago.
Marquez was a super featherweight last year, which means that Mayweather is really fighting an older 35-year-old fighter that is three divisions smaller than him. That’s not exactly a fair fight in my mind. I would be happy if Mayweather would just fight someone his own size at welterweight, like Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto, but I doubt he ever will.
But I can’t even begin to imagine Mayweather growing the balls to fight a fighter three divisions bigger than him like super middleweight Andre Ward, Kessler, Jermain Taylor, Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch, or Andre Dirrell, could you? That’s the whole problem.
Mayweather is hand picking fighters much smaller than him, yet is still thinking that the boxing public is dumb enough to ignore that and see it as a relevant fight instead of the mismatch that it appears to be. Throw in a crappy undercard of faded fighters and ones that probably never will be champions in a million years, and you have the equivalent of box office poison.
Tags: 20 Responses to “Is Mayweather the Reason the Marquez Event isn’t Selling Well?”
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Chris, I hear you on Floyd’s fighting style, sometimes his style does lack the punishing gladiator like matches of a Gatti and such. But I will bet that once Floyd turn 50 or 60 he will not wind up punch drunk or debilitated to the point where we have to look on him with more pity than adoration or respect. You, Larry Merchant and probably a large majority of the boxing fans out there love to see these guys pummel each other until someone can no longer continue. But boxers like Floyd realize that neither of you nor the boxing public will be there to feed them or pick up the pieces when all the exhilarating fun of their exhibition is over. Therefore unless you are willing to step in the ring and mix up the way you ask the boxers to, gimmie a break. You remind me of a woman who wants a picture hung in the house. All of the ideas of what you want to see, but no idea of what it really takes to do it.
TDOGG,you hit the nail right on the head.Marquez is suppossly to small,but Manny’s gonna knock him out.After he beats Marquez,Manny,Mosley and Cotto then you all will appreciate real skills when you see them.
Well, is this you guys called news, Chris? We called this “salted-fish” as if in food category; it ain’t worth the “news” category cos the WHOLE WORLD knows THAT! maywither can’t sell his, at least as of PRESENT, period. But then again, i’d love clap my big hands for his fight and self-bragging being the #1 P4P king, only to see it free in youtube….just like his self-advertisement of cd, t-shirts and whatnots….. Kip it up maywither cheerleaders….all is not lost yet, i heard good seats are available, maybe i could ask somebody to buy one and sell it in a lottery….kah!kah!kah!
is chris and manuel the same person????
chris you are to mayweather what Manuel Perez is to pacman!!!!
you both are funny as hell; neither has a clue about what each of you are saying- the cheap seats sold out for cotto vs pacman and all of a sudden its a sell out? dude- everyone who knows anything BOUT BOXING knows the brokers get first crack at those tickets more so when did we start deciding what fights sell out or dont sell out before the actually fight happened????? you think the pacman vs hatton fight did really well, yet arum never released the numbers but he said it did so i guess we can take his word on that– your comments about the undercard was straight stupid but what else are we suppose to expect from you-
Stop crying over how small JMM is would you?? People (meaning “diehard” boxing fans) think that Mayweather is just going to steamroll Marquez… really? The fight didn’t sell well, not because it’s some sort of “lopsided” mismatch, it didn’t sell well because neither fight is a giant ppv attraction such as the Tyson’s, DLH’s, and Hatton’s. DLH had the Mexican crowd and American crowd behind him since the Olympics. Tyson was a dominating heavyweight. Hatton brought the UK with him (soccer fans included) across the pond, even though he’d always been hype. It also doesn’t help that both competitors here are counter-punchers and yes, even Marquez will pick and choose his spots for offense, it’s not just Mayweather.
Bottom line, stop whining and complaining about size, you sound like Roach.
If this card doesn’t do well, it is because of articles and reports like this one by Mayweather haters. Floyd is the best fighter in the business period. Defense is the biggest attribute of a great fighter (Ali’s rope-a-dope). Marquez is also a very good fighter, and this is a good undercard. Mayweather’s past fights sold well because Mayweather haters wanted to see him get beaten, and to no one’s suprise, he’s still undefeated. Boxing is a craft, and Mayweather is the most well-rounded skillful fighter in the game, hands down. Mayweather is not a big draw because the majority of fight fans are causual fans who just want to see two people swing for the fences in every outing, and thats the truth.
This is not going to be a big PPV event & thats not saying it won’t be a good fight! Mayweather has never been a PPV draw! Everyone knows Oscar & Hatton carried the PPV buys against Floyd! He trys to use that to his advantage by saying is was all because of him! Mayweather has great skills but this fight will show he is not a big draw! If he was facing Mosley, it would have been close to sold out by now! Thats not putting down JMM but Mosley is a bigger name than JMM plus boxing fans would see that fight as a better match up! All you hear now is JMM is to small, Mayweather is to big, there both counter punchers, JMM is too slow, Mayweather is to fast, etc. Talk like that is not helping sell the fight but If he was facing Mosley, you wouldn’t here none of that talk! Numbers don’t lie & it will show Mayweather is not a big draw! I hope it does just for boxing sake!
Professional Boxing is not a sport anymore its entertainment. Mayweather is good at the sport( Lets say olympics) but he is not a good entertainer. To be a good entertainer you need to take risks like, go for a ko in the first round,Trade shots in the center of the ring,fight the exciting and toughest fighters out there. Floyd does not do none of this and thats why he is not a cash cow like somebody had the nerve to mention. Only when Floyd faces a fighter who actually has even a minimum chance of beating him is when fans want to see it. WOMANIZER i would vote for that. LOL
they should have put the main event as undercard. Sad to say, this fight has been scheduled a couple of months ago however, it seemed that its not getting any buzz at all from fans in all sorts of life. Any dumb person can immediately tell that this fight will not and never sell. See how the Pacquiao and Cotto fight gets the the buzz and ticket sales, after only two weeks of announcing the fight, all tickets were already nearly sold out. While this stinking fight between Mayweather and Marquez, is still having a hard time to get the fans attention and sell the tickets.
They should just have this fight on the undercard of Pac-Cotto.
I’m not sure about the reasons the card isn’t doing well but I don’t see the undercard as crummy at all – I think it look awesome!
The reason why Money Floyd jr. retire early cause he is afraid to fight Cotto,Shane,and margarito and he even signed a contract one day before pacman and hatton fight. If really he is not afraid of pacman he should have waited after the fight of hatton and pacman and fight the winner.
Floyd Jr. keeps telling everyone he is the premier “draw” in boxing but the facts and reality tell differently. JM Marquez is an excellent fighter who adjusts well to any opponent so he will bring it all on 9/19 to vanquish Pretty Boy’s image and bravado; frankly I will give him even odds or better to actually win given Floyd’s long absence from the ring and probable ring rust. Either way I hope he gets put to the test in that fight if only to bring him down a few notches and show him that he is no longer the “best” fighter until he can beat JM Marquez, Manny P, Miguel Cotto, and Sugar Shane and Antonio Margarito who he’s been ducking for years.
What can u expect. Two counter-punchers and with other guy picking a smaller guy to fight. What a waste. I’d rather watch UFC 103
chris williams , do they employe anyone these days? u dont know anythnig about boxing do u? fight pavlik , taylor are you stupid? crummy undercard , they have recently said its one of the best undercards ever. mayweather isnt a big attraction, tbh i know people got different views but ive never heard anyone be so stupid to say all the thnigs u just have.
Everyone is entitled to an opinion… but really a crummy undercard? There are 2 world title bouts on the card along with Zab Judah…
I think (and again only my opinion)the fight will sell out, although everyone recons they aren’t excited about it of course they will watch it! Mayweather is a brilliant fighter, a tool, but a brilliant undefeated fighter all the same, JMM is out to prove that he is the man so it will be on for young and old.
This will be the second highest watched fight this year, behind pacman v cotto.
Oh and Katsidis is the man, if you have ever actually watched him fight you know that all of his fights are pure entertainment.
Fighting shane? No way, Mayweather clearly rejected that because Shane is old, less PPV potential and it’s too late.
Why try to fight with other fighters not so popular? He is money cash cow king and everyone implores him about the sharing revenue and match up. Being a king, he can choose whatever he wants to fight with.
For now, JMM is a just a tune up fight for better bigger fight whoever comes in his path.
Chris, your comment is right on target. Mayweather is such a gifted boxer and his defense is 2nd to none.
Now lets watch at least his last 5 fights and you will see how he cheated. Wrapping his opponents hands while hiding his face at the backside of the opponents tricep area. He will also clip their hands, hide his face then hit you with an uppercut.
He did all of this while the referee is on his blind side.
Floyd should be fighting shane that would have sold alot better.