By Gav Duthie: For the last few years we’ve always known that like clockwork Floyd Mayweather Jr (46-0 (26) will fight on the first Saturday in May and the second Saturday in September. This seems to have worked relatively well for him in the past but this time that September date means he is running out of potential opponents for his next showdown.
There have been so many summer blockbusters in and around his divisions most opponents wouldn’t be available for September. When I look through the list of candidates the only fight that seems workable and worthwhile is Keith ‘One Time’ Thurman 23-0 (21). This got me thinking that if Mayweather isn’t going to cement his legacy by beating Manny Pacquiao then he should look to the superstars of the future.
If he was to fight Keith Thurman and win in September and then go on to fight the winner of Shawn Porter v Kell Brook next May, he would have two more victories against previously undefeated fighters. Perhaps at the moment a win over guys like those might not be as sexy as a Marcos Maidana rematch, Amir Khan, Miguel Cotto or Manny Pacquaio, but if any of these prospects go on to dominate their divisions an early win over them would improve Mayweather’s legacy over time.
Other options for September
Obviously Amir Khan being on the undercard of Floyd’s last fight was meant to promote a possible showdown between the two. Amir Khan’s religious beliefs mean that a fight in September is near impossible Ramadan prohibits eating at certain times making a training camp impossible.
Danny Garcia has also been on a few Mayweather undercards but his last performance against Herrera was so poor it is likely that he would need a few wins to establish himself at welterweight before that was a viable option.
The winner of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez v Erislandy Lara would be interesting especially if its Lara, but seeing that they fight in July it is highly unlikely that either would be wanting to fight again in September.
I thought the same for Cotto but seeing as he came out of the Sergio Martinez fight unscathed a September fight may be possible but with him fighting at middleweight, and Mayweather having already beat him makes it doubtful.
We can forget anyone who is working with Bob Arum i.e. Bradley, Ruslan Provodnikov or Manny Pacquiao and seeing as Floyd has condemned Golden Boy for the split with Schaefer this makes practically every opponent out there difficult to negotiate with.
Conclusion
I feel that we need to accept that barring a miracle we will never see Floyd in the same ring as Pacquiao. If Mayweather fights anybody who has already been beaten before than people will just say he’s ducking opponents. This is why he should take on the likes of Thurman, Porter or Brook and retire defeating the new generation.
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