By Peter Wells: In boxing it’s become a sport where fighters seem to run out of opponents or they think they have. Most of the time they don’t want to fight other top fighters, and decide to fight opponents who don’t stand a chance. This is why people say boxing is going downhill, but you still get fighters who fight the best, like Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez and even Ricky Hatton who’s never been scared to go up against the pound for pound best.

Floyd Mayweather is one of those fighters who people criticize to not fighting the top fighters in his division. He hasn’t always fought the top guys, but has been in with some big names like Diego Corrales and Zab Judah and Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya. I would say Juan Manuel Marquez but he was way out his weight class. He doesn’t always bring other fighters up in weight such as when he went up to Light Middleweight to fight De La Hoya and won by split decision. But has been criticized for fighting Marquez and for not fighting the top fighters in their prime like Miguel Cotto. He had been calling Oscar out for quite a while and did call out Mosley.

Now since his fight with Pacquiao has fallen through everyone wants to fight him, and he looks spoilt for choice. The only problem is that apart from Mosley none of the fighters are really of his quality or in his division. Matthew Hatton is at Welterweight but not in his class and the same to Kermit Cintron. While Timothy Bradley and Paulie Malignaggi are both Light Welterweights.

Mayweather-Malignaggi

First there is Malignaggi whom would be moving from 140lbs and really out of his depth. Mayweather would be quicker and neutralize Malignaggi’s speed with his own. Paulie would give Floyd some problems but Mayweather would ultimately be too big and would come back with counters for everything Paulie threw.

Verdict: Mayweather W UD

Mayweather-Bradley

Timothy would be a good challenge for Mayweather and his body work would surely give Mayweather a rough time. Bradley can be countered as Kendall Holt showed and if caught on the chin can be floored. Mayweather is best known for his little counters and would be able to catch Bradley from the outside. Bradley would push Mayweather but wouldn’t have enough to keep it up and would probably be floored late on.

Verdict: Mayweather W UD

Mayweather-Hatton

No this isn’t Ricky, its younger brother and Welterweight Matthew Hatton, who was looking like the likeliest option for Floyd. Matthew isn’t the greatest fighter and is way out of Floyd’s league, and hasn’t got much that would trouble Floyd at all. Mayweather would pick Hatton apart like he did to his brother before getting a late stoppage.

Verdict: Mayweather TKO 11 or 12

Mayweather-Cintron

Kermit is a tough fighter and can scrap, and would give Mayweather a strong challenge being a strong Welterweight. Floyd would struggle to stop Cintron but would outbox him easily. Kermit would do what all fighters do, go forward and try to neutralize Mayweather’s counter punching. But like all of his 40 opponents, it won’t work.

Verdict: Mayweather W UD

Mayweather-Mosley

Finally we come to Mayweather’s hardest challenge and a fight that no one could criticize Floyd for taking, Mosley is fast, strong, rangy and powerful, but also blows hot and cold. When he’s on fire though, he is almost unstoppable, and Margarito learnt how to take a one sided beating off an on form Shane Mosley. Mayweather would struggle to use his counter punching style, but would have his spells. Mosley will be breaking Mayweather down, and won’t wait to long to get Floyd. Once he see’s an opportunity he’ll pounce at it. Mayweather would look good and catch Mosley plenty of times as the fight goes on, but Mosley’s constant attacking style would be too much for Floyd.

Verdict: Mosley W SD