By Gary E G: The one and only controversial win in Floyd Mayweather’s 40 fight unbeaten career was his bout against Jose Luis Castillo in 2002. Many who saw the fight thought that Castillo was robbed and the few minutes leading up to the official announcement is the only time I have seen Mayweather look truly worried in a boxing ring. But inexplicably he scored a wide unanimous decision and after he won the rematch fair and square all was forgiven and largely forgotten. But how would the man and more importantly the boxer have changed if Castillo had gotten his just desserts?
Boxing is the only sport we have were being undefeated comes into the equation. All of our other modern greats Woods, Federer et al have failed at the moment that counts somewhere along the line. If the same had happened Mayweather all those years ago might it have humbled him, loosened him up, made him less tentative as a fighter and more of a crowd pleaser. It must weigh heavy on your mind every time your about to step in the ring knowing tonight might be night that people find out your only human. Could this be the reason Mayweather seems reluctant to go for the kill, like in his last match with Marquez.
It is so late in his career now and he has built his whole persona around the fact that none could conquer him, that at this stage defeat could possibly destroy Mayweather’s confidence as a boxer but his fight with Castillo was long before he became a superstar and if he had of lossed that night might he have become a true fighter, loved by the people purely for his skills and not despised for his attitude, like a certain Filipino who knows what it’s like to get knocked on his ass.
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