By Tom Drury: Floyd Mayweather is back in the ring on May 4th, and it’s looking like Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero will be his challenger. Many fans have criticized this choice of opponent for Mayweather (nothing new there). Guerrero will be entering the ring full of confidence coming off the back of two good wins against genuine welterweight fighters Selcuk Aydin, ranked (3) by the WBC and Andre Berto, ranked (12).
Mayweather, as I’ve detailed in previous articles, has a resume made up with undefeated fighters, (1) ranked fighters and contenders, multiple division world champions and knockout artists. 43-0 and again entering the ring against a double world champion in the form of Guerrero. Guerrero is a tough fight for Mayweather; his style is relentless sometimes dirty, as seen in the Berto fight. Guerrero likes to rough up his opponents and force a fight on the inside.
In my opinion Guerrero is no match for the skills of Mayweather but that does not mean he is an unworthy opponent. Mayweather is in the twilight of his career after the Guerrero fight. I personally believe we will see him fight, maybe twice at most before he leaves the sport for good (a knockout blow for boxing). The majority of fans seem unhappy at Mayweather’s choice of opponents so lets have a look at the current ranked welterweight fighters by the world boxing organizations after all Mayweather is a genuine welterweight fighter something so called boxing followers haven’t come to terms with.
WBC
1. Luis Carlos Abregu
2. Anton Navikov
3. Selcuk Aydin
WBA
1. Diego Chavez
2. Marcos Maidana
3. Ed Peredes
IBF
1. Kell Brook
2. Jan Zaveck
3. Rafael Jackiwicz
WBO
1. Jan Zaveck
2,. Manny Pacquiao
3. Bethel Ushona
The current champions are Robert Guerrero (WBC), Paulie Malignaggi (WBA), Devon Alexander (IBF) and Timothy Bradley (WBO). The question is would you as fans be happy with fights against any of these ranked fighters? Apart from the Filipino Manny Pacquiao (I doubt it). These are the world’s top ranked fighters at welterweight why aren’t fans asking for these fights? I will explain why Mayweather would outclass every single one of these fighters including Pacquiao. So what are fans doing? they are asking for fights against genuine Junior-Middleweights and Middleweights. The majority of fans will not be happy until the “great” Mayweather Jr loses that 0. I have news for you Mayweather Jr will not lose. He fights the best and has done throughout his career. He outclasses opponents time and time again. He doesn’t impose catch weights and hardly ever goes into the ring with an advantage other than possessing the god given talent of boxing. Now we will have a look at the Junior- Middleweight ranked fighters.
WBC
1. Erislandy Lara
2. Vanes Martirosyan
3. Sergey Rabchenko
WBA
1. Vacant
2. Damien Jonak
3. Keith Thurman
IBF
1. Not ranked
2. Not ranked
3. Demetrius Andrade
4. James Kirkland
WBO
1. Vanes Martirosyan
2. Keith Thurman
3. Demetrius Andrade
The current champions are Saul Alvarez (WBC) Austin Trout (WBA) Cornelius Bundrage (IBF) Zaurbek Baysangurov (WBO). I am the first to admit a fight between Trout and Mayweather would be a good one. Saul Alvarez would be a big fight in terms of money generated by ppv and gate sales but Mayweather would totally outclass the inexperienced “Canelo”. Floyd has already moved up to this weight in his most recent outing and beat Miguel Cotto the former WBA champion. Mayweather is a genuine welterweight and does not need these fighters up at Junior-middleweight on his resume he has proved his greatness in the sport of boxing. The point of this article is to challenge those fans that believe they are boxing fanatics and followers.
Why is it you are not calling for fights against fighters that have earned there way to the top of the world rankings? Fighters like Luis Carlos Abregu, Anton Navikov, Diego Chavez, Kell Brook at welterweight, Erislandy Lara, Vanes Martirosyan, Keith Thurman and Demetrius Andrade up at Junior-welterweight? For all of the fans that claim Mayweather fights only for money and big draws. You yourselves only mention the fights with those big draws, Pacquiao, Sergio Martinez, Saul Alvarez. It used to be Oscar De La Hoya, Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez.
The problem is Mayweather beat them all and will continue to do so. Many fans (not all) show a severe lack of true fighting knowledge, and only relate to the fighters that are already superstars and celebrities. The fighters that pose the most threat are the ones that haven’t tasted the big time yet. The hungry fighters who want belts round there waist and financial security for themselves and there families. Some believe the big time can overwhelm young fighters coming through. I agree but it can also bring out the best in them and realise there potential and skills in that moment, Mike Tyson, “Prince” Naseem Hamed, Manny Paquaio just to name a few that relished in the big time.
Austin Trout and Sergio Martinez would be good challengers for Mayweather but nobody can criticize him for not taking those fights. They are in different weight divisions and one is a genuine middleweight. Mayweather the competitor; he will most likely take these fights in the future and once again prove his greatness. It is clear to me those fans driven by hatred and envy over Mayweather’s greatness and success will be left with the sourest of tastes in there mouth. When he leaves the sport we will all watch his induction into the boxing hall of fame and revel in one of the greatest undefeated resumes in recent history while missing his skills with his competitive nature, flash, brash personality and presence within the boxing world.
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