By Marquise Bullock: Believe it or not Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0 25 KO’s) was one of the most avoided fighters from 1996 till 2007. When Floyd was hungry, he was calling out everyone under the sun. A lot of ignorant fans, who just started watching boxing in 2007 probably don’t know this, and they probably wouldn’t even know what I’m talking about. But Floyd in a sense was similar to Paul “The Punisher” Williams. No one wants to fight Williams, but if he fought a big fish in the game, and won, the line to fight him would be from his house to around the corner.
But back to “Money” Mayweather. I decided to watch the Corrales-Mayweather fight one more and I never notice this but, Floyd called out Joel Cassamayor and “Prince” Naseem Hamed. After beating the bigger, undefeated Corrales, Floyd wanted yet another dangerous opponent in “Prince” Naseem. Who was also undefeated at the time. Floyd even expressed how he’ll fight “Prince” Naseem at a catch weight of 128 to favor the “Prince.” Larry Merchant went on to say to Floyd after the fight “Now Floyd, you know after this performance “Prince” Naseem Hamed is not going to want to fight you.” And that says a lot coming from Larry Merchant, but the sad part about it he was correct. A “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight with Joel Cassamayor or “Prince” Naseem Hamed fight never happened. In my opinion he would’ve dominated both.
After fighting Jesus Chavez on November 10th 2001, Mayweather explained how he couldn’t make the weight anymore and expressed how wanted to fight Jose Luis Castillo, and Kostya Tszyu. Larry Merchant asked Floyd why not stay in the lightweight division and clean it up and Floyd said “All these guys say they want to fight, but when you challenge them, they never want to fight. Floyd Mayweather would fight anybody from 154 and down. Mark my words.” Floyd said that in his post fight with Phillip Ndou. Kostya Tszyu definitely avoided Mayweather, that would’ve been an amazing fight. Tszyu had a beautiful boxing technique and it would’ve been a chest match to remember. Ad least Castillo took on the challenge, but came up short in both match-ups, one being controversial.
After the Rematch with Castillo Floyd said he’s open to fighting Stevie Johnson, and Juan Lascano two avoided fighters themselves. January 22, 2005 the post Henry Breseles fight, Floyd Mayweather said he just wanted to fight the best they got there. He threw Gatti’s name in the mix, he called out Kostya Tszyu again for a second time, but he called out the two names that stood out to me the most. “Sugar” Shane Mosley and “The Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya. Even though Floyd called out Mosley back in 1998 after Floyd beat Genaro Hernandez. There’s a couple more fighters that Floyd call out to fight also, but their to much to name.
At the time George Forman said “Fighting Floyd is like fighting a Cobra.” Harold Lederman said “Floyd reminds me of Jack Dempsey”, and other reports at the time made many comparisons to Floyd and “Sugar” Ray Leonard. Bob Arum was quoted saying the same things. So why was Floyd so avoided? Was it to much of risk? Was Floyd simply just to skilled for the opposition? And I find it funny how people say in Mosley’s and Oscar’s prime they’ve would’ve beating Mayweather easily. Well if they would’ve fought Mayweather in their prime, obviously Mayweather would’ve been in his prime to. And that’s when Mayweather used to go for the K.O. I believe he would’ve beaten everyone he called out including a prime Mosley and De La Hoya. But that’s just my opinion. You have to see what you think.
To real boxing fans that know, and who aren’t new to the sport, Floyd will always go down as one of the most avoided fighters of this era bar none.
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