By John F. McKenna (McJack): It would be a huge understatement to say that Floyd Mayweather Jr (41-0, 25 KO’s) is complex and a difficult character to figure out. On the one hand when surrounded by his adoring fans, he will patiently sign autographs until every fan is gone, sometime taking an hour or more to do so. Then you hear the flip side of the coin where he allegedly assaults and threatens a security guard for doing his job at the gated community where he lives.
Floyd was recently photographed burning a one hundred dollar bill in front of people during difficult economic times. On the flip side of that it was reported in the Glendale Boxing Examiner that “Money” Mayweather anonymously paid for the funeral of fellow boxer Genaro Hernandez. When asked about it last month in Los Angeles Floyd responded by saying “I had to do it.”
The fans of “Chicanito” Hernandez in Southern California are appreciative of Floyd’s generosity. When asked who was his most memorable opponent Floyd’s answer was somewhat surprising.
“The main one is Genaro Hernandez, because that’s where it all started for me.” Mayweather stopped Hernandez in 1998 to win his first WBC super featherweight title.
“Genaro Hernandez did not have to give me my opportunity. I was number eight in the super featherweight division.”
Many boxing fans are critical of Mayweather and make the claim that he has his “41-0” record simply because he chooses to handpick his opponents. In my view nothing could be further from the truth. Floyd agreed to fight the rejuvenated WBC Weltertweight title holder Victor “Vicious” Ortiz on September 17 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. While Floyd is heavily favored in the fight, Ortiz is a dangerous opponent. At 24 years old he is a decade younger than Mayweather who will have been inactive for sixteen months by the time he steps into the ring with “Vicious”. Prior to his fight with Mosley in May 2010
Floyd had been inactive for another extended period of time. For a fighter who is approaching his mid 30’s, it is a dangerous scenario to remain inactive for long periods of time between fights even if you are Floyd Mayweather.
Ortiz is a young, extremely strong opponent who looked impressive in his win over Andre Berto. While it is my opinion that Floyd will dominate, frustrate and confuse Ortiz, Mayweather will have to take his “A” game with him to Las Vegas on September 17 to do it.
Floyd Mayweather should not be condemned for fighting Victor Ortiz. “Vicious” is no soft touch.
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