By Liam Bindle: 19th September 2009, The MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, will play host to a bout between two of boxings mega stars! Floyd Mayweather Jr v Juan Manuel Marquez, even hearing that is enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. My previous article entitled ‘Pacquiao v Cotto: Teaser’ ended with: ‘The list above of the fighters that these two have beaten combined…there is one big name on there that they both want… we all know who that is.
FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR
I think he will punish JMM and then he will punish the winner of this fight.’
I was questioned on this comment several times and having thought about it I replied: ‘I suppose me saying Mayweather will ‘Punish’ the winner is totally based on nostalgia.
I am not taking into account the fact that he is 32…not fought for the best part of 2 years (which for a welter weight is very very difficult)
and the fact that he has already been injured in sparring with a body shot’.
It seems like an age ago since we all saw Ricky Hatton on him back with referee Cortez waving off the contest back in 2007…that was the last time we all saw Mayweather in action, a lot of boxing fans, pundits, journalists etc are discussing the issue of ‘Ring Rust’ which may well become a factor come September 19th when the man in the opposite corner has done battle with: Pacquiao, Casamayor and Diaz since Mayweather last laced up those gloves.
Personally I do not think that ring rust will be an issue simply because, Mayweather tends to keep at his fighting weight and the fact that he has still been going to the gm on a regular basis doing training and sparring. Although I do realise that sparring is no substitute for the real thing but it can maintain sharpness which we all know Mayweather has in spades.
We all know that Mayweather is at an advantage when it comes to the weight issue, in effect he is forcing a smaller man to fight him at his weight…but why not? He was champion for 10 years, the undisputed P4P king and like it or not his BO numbers where incredible even though the people who he was fighting on BO where massive names (Da La Hoya and Ricky Hatton)…so why should he not be able to call the shots? Its only what Manny Pacquiao is doing to Miguel Cotto but in reverse.
In my opinion Mayweathers advantages going into the fight are: Speed (hand speed, foot speed, speed of thought), weight, power, and boxing skill…which are all undoubtedly are all huge advantages, the main one in my opinion is boxing skill, this is the man who first solved the puzzle of Ricky Hatton.
People are writing Mayweather, but my personal view of him is that when he left the sport there is no doubt his hand where in poor condition, which not only physically but psychologically stepping into the ring is a big blow also he said himself that he had fallen out of love with the sport, now his hands are 100% healed and he has developed a love for the sport again I feel that we may well see a vintage Mayweather display.
The one doubt still in my mind is, has Mayweather come back for the money? Are the tax problems true? If any these doubts are true I feel Mayweather may have picked the wrong opponent because the one thing that Marquez has in abundance is ‘heart’.
Now onto Marquez, this man is not your typical ‘Mexican Fighter’, although he does tick most of the boxes: ferocious, relentless, fearless, hard hitting and to top it off a never say die attitude. But on top of all this Marquez has vast experience at the absolute top level, a very intelligent boxing brain and the ability to change his style at any time during a fight…which adds up to a very dangerous come back fight.
Having watched the Marquez v Diaz fight again this demonstrated all of the above to me… in a fight that I think most of the readers will agree Marquez was losing, he changed his style, began counter punching and then began landing huge uppercuts which ultimately stopped hiss opponent.
I honestly think that the extra weight will do Marquez the world of good, he will have quicker foot speed, harder shots, more fitness and I believe it will give him the ability to ‘bully’ Mayweather, because we all know Mayweather likes t box from the outside, where no it will allow Marquez the ability to get on the inside and force himself upon Mayweather.
I have recently been reading an article on Marquez’ training camp, apparently he has been doing a lot of mountain work, where he runs up and then when he is up there he is lifting rocks to increase leg strength and improve maximum fitness.
Also I hear that the Marquez plan is to work the body of Mayweather… Im sure we all know that Mayweather has already been injured with a body shot in sparring.
There will be several people reading this now that will truly believe that Marquez beat Manny Pacquiao in 2008 and I am sure that JMM believes this himself which will give him massive confidence going into the bout because Manny has a lot of the same assets that Mayweather has.
The winner of this fight will undoubtedly take on the winner of Pacquiao v Cotto…
Mayweather v Pacquiao would make the most money and break PPV records… Cotto v Mayweather would be a massive test for Mayweather and would settle a lot of debates where people believe Mayweather ducked Cotto… Pacquiao v Marquez would round off a classic trilogy and Marquez v Cotto… would be a slug fest!!
What ever the outcome of both these fights the real winner has to be us…the fans of the sport we all love Boxing!!
I love Mayweather and have tried my best to remain unbiased throughout… sorry if there is a slight lean in my views…please point them out to me as I am happy to discuss and welcome any opinions on the issues raised.
My opinion of the fight in question is…If Mayweather is back for the right reasons and can find his rhythm he will either 12 round Marquez and win by UD or will stop a tired Marquez in the later rounds but in order to do this Mayweather will have to be 95-100%…If he is back for the wrong reasons Marquez will stop him I the mid rounds of the fight.
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