By Gav Duthie: It seems as if Floyd Mayweather Jnr has nothing left to achieve after his 12 round unanimous decision win over Manny Pacquiao. Before the bout many said he was nothing, after it he has proved he is everything.
Forget his style for a minute, people said before the fight he was a chicken for not fighting Manny, after it they say he is a chicken for running. Nobody can deny though that he has now fought everyone there is to fight and he has beaten them all.
Mayweather has one opponent left on his Showtime contract and no matter who it is it will not generate the kind of buzz, excitement and money that this one did. Floyd’s final fight will be against the public. Convincing people that he is one of the greatest fighters of all time. In this fight though he won’t need to throw any punches, time will do this for him. Many fighters are only truly appreciated after they have retired and Floyd will definitely be one of them. Who will he fight for his Rocky Marciano equaling 49-0 opponent though?
Floyd Interview post Pacquaio fight
(courtesy of fighthype.com)
http://www.fighthype.com/mayweather-vs-pacquiao/mayweather-post-pacquiao-win13.html
– The media put Pacquiao on a pedestal not me
– Pacquiao needs to adjust/tweak his game no real thoughts on a rematch
– Pacquiao can fight on his undercard in September
– Wants an undercard full of champions
– I will fight a solid competitor
– Media will always have someone for him to fight but I will choose this time
With Manny Pacquaio’s shoulder injury he won’t be ready for a fight in September so that is highly unlikely. Mayweather will be looking to his future career with Mayweather promotions with this event so I would imagine we will see Badou Jack v George Groves on the undercard and possibly Mickey Bey who he also promotes. Reading between the lines on talk of his next opponent I see this more as a goodbye fight than a highly competitive one. He knows he can never re-create the Pacquiao buzz and he isn’t going to try. He says the media will always create someone that he has to fight but to be honest I don’t think there is right now. British fans might suggest Brook or Khan, American fans Keith Thurman and the dreamers think he might face Gennady Golovkin at 154lbs but I don’t see any of these happening. Mayweather isn’t going for another super fight he’s done it. If Floyd went on long enough he would lose maybe bot to Thurman or Brook maybe it would be 2 years after that against Errol Spence Jnr or Eriksen Luben but he can’t go on forever he has done well to get to 38.
Canelo v Kirkland
This fight could hold the key to a potential Mayweather fight especially if James Kirkland wins. Kirkland never takes a backward step and a fight v Mayweather would be competitive at least.
Possible opponents
To be honest from his vibe I think he is going to look at the lower end of A-Level opponents or even B-Level. I think he may look to one of these guys or his final fight.
Brandon Rios
Diego Chaves
Ray Robinson (If for the name only)
Andre Berto
Glen Tapia
Lucas Matthyse
Ruslan Provodnikov
How will he be remembered?
For me anyway a legend. He will always have his haters but these will erode over time. By the next generation of fight fans Floyd will probably be considered the best defensive fighter of all time ahead of Pernell Whitaker and Willie Pep. He will never be considered the most exciting but he still convinced us all to buy his product for one reason or another. I don’t mind who he fights in September I will tune in and miss him when he retires but as always boxing will live on.
(Food for thought:)
(How will you remember Floyd Mayweather)
(Will he fight a top opponent for his last fight, should he?)
(Will he definitely retire after his fight in September?)
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