By Tom Drury: Floyd Mayweather Jr, pound for pound best fighter on the planet will step into the ring on September 14 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada against the young Mexican and rising star Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
Mayweather, now 36 years of age, is showing no sign of decline, he is in great health, his fitness has not wavered, and he’s still showing immense hunger to retain his place at the top of a sport he has dominated for 17 years. This in itself is an achievement athletes worldwide can only dream about. This one man has not only dominated but dominated the hardest sport in the world.
Year after year young fighters, technical boxers, knockout artists, rough and ready fighters and experienced veterans have been lined up and promoted as the men that will put an end to Mayweather’s reign. Surprisingly the man who came closest was “Sugar” Shane Mosley when a perfect right landed right on Mayweather’s button in the second round. In my personal opinion, Mayweather got complacent during the early rounds of that fight and did not credit or realize the threat Mosley possessed (no matter how over-matched he was). However, when Mayweather returned to his normal majestic self, it became very clear Mosley posed no threat whatsoever; he was totally dominated and outclassed as have been so many before him and after. That fight for me personally was a defining moment in Mayweather’s career (there has been many). Mayweather came back from adversity and danger to dominate an opponent in a way that’s rarely seen.
A boxer needs three things to achieve greatness: Brains, Heart and a great chin. Mayweather possesses all three in abundance. Until that day comes when a fighter possesses these three attributes at the level Mayweather does, the “Money Man” will remain undefeated. Juan Manuel Marquez is a fighter that has all three attributes. Marquez is a modern day great and without question one of the best boxers Mexico has produced (if not the best). His technical ability is as near perfect as you can get. The way he throws punches, counter punch ability, footwork and possesses every punch in the arsenal. Marquez was dominated by Mayweather back in 2009; not only dominated but schooled in a craft he has dedicated his life to. That fight unearthed the greatness of Floyd Mayweather’s skill-set, (if ever doubted). When a fight of that magnitude between two great technical boxers takes place, and one is clearly a class and league above the other, I have to believe Mayweather has the “God given talent” he regularly refers to.
As said many times before by myself Mayweather stands alone in boxing. That is a fact that cannot be argued otherwise. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is next up in the limelight. I cant see or give an argument as to why Alvarez could win this fight. This is boxing, so yes, the “puncher’s chance” applies, but the “puncher’s chance” is never enough against Mayweather, as 44 opponents know only too well. Alvarez does not possess the skills to defeat Floyd Mayweather. While I don’t believe Alvarez is a technically gifted fighter, he does know how to box and has reasonable ring smarts at his tender age. However, that doesn’t cut it when in the ring with a “great”. He has done nothing spectacular or out of the ordinary for himself to be hyped as the man to take Mayweathers “0”. This fight is been hyped by the way of celebrity “pop culture,” and is not a “great” boxing match (which is great for the ppv numbers and young women ringside). Alvarez has a fan base Oscar De La Hoya couldn’t match when he was in his prime and achieving big things within the sport. Canelo’s fan base is purely based on his unusual “red haired” good looks alone. His personality is flat and his achievements overrated.
Marquez and his technical ability has never gone unnoticed in the boxing world. He has had great fights with world class and elite opposition throughout the bigger part of his career. At the time of Marquez’s fight with Mayweather Jr. in 2009, Mayweather had a self imposed two year mini-retirement. There is no question in my mind that fight deserved the hype as a great boxing match due to both men’s achievements and ability. However, the better man won in spectacular style and produced a majestic shut out performance, which nobody expected.
In 2010, Pacquiao-Mayweather negotiations took place. I have never seen Pacquiao as a threat to Mayweather and never will he is a face first fighter. However, I can agree with fans and was super hyped up in the thought of that fight happening. The reason for that was Pacquiao’s destructive performances with him walking through warriors like Miguel Cotto, and his spectacular left hook KO of Ricky Hatton and demolition job on Antonio Margarito.
Mosley was coming off a career defining win and savage stoppage victory over Margarito. Victor Ortiz, while I admit was no threat and has always had question marks over his fighting heart, had just also come off a career defining win in “fight of the year” with Andre Berto in a savage encounter, and answering any questions regarding his fighting heart in the process.
The Mayweather-Canelo fight has great commercial reach and financial rewards for the fighters, but as a pugilist “great” match up? I think not. Alvarez’s opponents have been weak. Although I give him credit for his victory over Austin Trout, a fight I didn’t think Alvarez could win. Other than that, Saul Alvarez is a pretty ordinary fighter. Mayweather will expose that. Another point is that Alvarez is by no means a welterweight fighter, and in my opinion will struggle to make 154lbs, not to mention the 152lbs catch-weight imposed for the fight. Weight will not be an issue for Mayweather getting the victory. It wouldn’t matter if Alvarez was 158lbs; my point is Golden Boy Promotions and the Alvarez team are giving their all from keeping Alvarez out of the middleweight classes in my opinion with good reason; “Maravilla” Sergio Martinez, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Gennadyb “GGG” Golovkin would destroy Alvarez, and I could see Canelo having serious trouble with the likes of Peter “Kid chocolate” Quillin and Martin Murray (UK).
Mayweather will be crowned “The One” on September 14 after taking Alvarez to school and winning by a landslide. The question is not who is “The One” but who will be the “Next One.”
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