Floyd Mayweather, Jr – Thank You

By Boxing News - 05/06/2014 - Comments

floyd002244By Marc Livitz: It may have taken many years to materialize and such behavior exhibited by the world’s top fighter may have even beckoned calls for a boycott here and there. Shame (shame) on those who turned their collective backs on the bout. Was “The Moment” a classic of any kind? Some have suggested that Marcos Maidana may have indeed gotten the best of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. last Saturday evening and gave the Las Vegas native all he could possibly handle. “The Moment” was indeed a bit more momentous than just about every “Money” Mayweather bout in recent memory, yet such a tag would likely be so for different reasons, however.

The fight was in no way a replay of the April 2002 contest between Floyd and a certain Jose Luis Castillo, so let’s not as they say, go there. What we got instead was something special, but it took oh so very agonizingly long to emerge. Maidana (35-4, 31 KO’s) saw his staggering knockout ratio take a hit by way of forcing the hand (or gloves) of the world’s number one pugilist to go to work. It was a ton of work, to be sure.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr., thank you. A personal show of gratitude should be shown for what many of us thought we’d never see. No, not a bout with Manny Pacquiao, but rather giving the shoulder rolls and speed traps the night off. What was not to love? He fought as well as fought back. He promised us, the “Pete and repeat” paying public that we’d see a different kind of Mayweather, Jr. performance.

Now that the bout is a few days in our periphery, should we ask for a second fight with Maidana to take place this September? Before you answer, please remember that Floyd has guaranteed that his brief flash as an absolute fighter was limited to all but one night. Just as he indicated that he could have easily won last Saturday’s bout with his trademark style in the ring (but per Mayweather, “it would have been boring”), he’s also allowed no confusion: there will be no repeat performance should he and “El Chino” Maidana square off for a second time.

The defensive genius originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan may want to enjoy the likely record payday he’s set to receive from thirty six minutes of ring work. The payout should be more than enough to buy a new Bugatti Veyron for each day of even the longest months on the calendar. The happiness could indeed turn to dissatisfaction and bewilderment at the cable bill if we don’t see “Fighting Floyd” again. Most agree that Mayweather, Jr. (46-0, 26 KO’s) won Saturday night’s bout by a slim but noticeable margin, so the post fight comments by Maidana won’t likely push Floyd to fight him again.

However, let’s hope it does. We should never expect any sort of copper-bottomed guarantee from not only the sport’s but the sporting world’s top moneymaker, but for a small snippet of last Saturday, we may have actually had a fight which would make a pleasant conversation for change. Thanks, Floyd for showing us what you’re made of. Don’t stop here.



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