By Robbie Bannatyne: Ever since it was announced that Floyd Mayweather Jr. sealed a lucrative 6 fight contract with Showtime and its parent network, CBS, all the cream fighters from the current vintage crop of Welterweights have been falling over themselves to land one of the Golden tickets left to face the former multi-weight World Champion, and current holder of the WBC welterweight and WBA light middleweight straps.
And although there have been a few long term hiatus’ and a false dawn in the form of a brief retirement from the sport in 2008, Floyd Mayweather Jnr will be 38 years old upon the conclusion of the 30 month contract he signed in February. So this series of fights will almost certainly be followed by a full stop to mark the end of a career punctuated by greatness.
The impending retirement of the self confessed ‘Face of Boxing’ represents a nightmare scenario for the sport. But it has made all the top Ring technicians acutely conscious that they cannot let procrastination steal their time if they want to live the dream with Money Mayweather. It seems the clamour to get into contention for a fight with Mayweather has sparked an epidemic of ‘Fight of the Year’ candidates in the 140-147lb divisions in 2013.
Lucas Matthysse is the latest man who will aim to use his fists of destruction as weapons of seduction when he faces current WBA/WBC light welterweight champion Danny Garcia on September 14th on the undercard of the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight. He knows a knockout victory and the capture of Garcia’s titles will be the perfect honey trap to lure the watching Mayweather.
The ‘Machine’ one of hottest properties in the sport right now told ESPN Deportes,
“This is a very important fight. It will open doors for bigger fights. Hopefully, I can fight Mayweather”.
These same sentiments have been echoed by a long list of young, hungry warriors such as Danny Garcia, Marco’s Maidana and Amir Khan, to name but a few. They must know there are no margins for error in the pursuit of Floyd Mayweather. And if these aforementioned fighters dare treat their forthcoming contests as mere dress rehearsals for their big day then the prospect of a dream marriage with Mayweather will be ruined by an opponent who has no intentions of being the bridesmaid.
But a scalp like Mayweather would put them firmly onto the beaten track of boxing super stardom.
So, all the contenders, pretenders and current Champions from 140-154lb who have thrown their hats into the ring in hope that it earns them a shot at Mayweathers much shinier crown, must prove beyond doubt that they deserve to be one of the chosen ones’ by destroying their upcoming opponents so Mayweather is seduced enough to set up a P-P-V date.
Regardless of who those opponents might be we can be rest assured that the Welterweight Divisions will be a gift that keeps giving to boxing at least until Mayweather’s final four opponents have been confirmed by way of cast iron guarantee.
This can only be good news for fights fans that have been enthralled by this brutal but beautiful year in boxing.
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