By Mr. Pennington: I am shocked, just days ago, many who are on this very site were writing articles of how P4P champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be dethroned by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Some even went as far to say that Mayweather Jr. would be knocked out by Alvarez. Predictions are fun, and with sport, it comes with the territory. I don’t hold anyone accountable for making a prediction and being wrong, that doesn’t disqualify you being a knowledgeable fan.
We seen Teddy Atlas who I have always held in high regard as a boxing analyst make a wrong prediction this past weekend, and I completely understand the premise in which he made his prediction. Predictions are what makes fight night so fun, the back and forth between fans, the hope of the guy your pulling for being victorious, I see nothing wrong with that. The bone I have to pick happens to be with those who refuse to give credit where it’s due, and continue to make excuses.
The recurring theme with Mayweather and his opponents in the eyes of many has been hand- picked fighters who pose no threat. But coming into the Saturday’s bout, I think the consensus feeling from fans was that Mayweather had finally fought the best available opponent. Hindsight is 20/20, many who said Canelo would knock Mayweather out on the 14th, now on the 16th say Mayweather picked a fighter that was too green.
Those who aren’t using experience as an excuse seem to choose another route to discredit Mayweather by saying his style of fighting is boring. To those who say Floyd runs, I do encourage you to watch the Ray Leonard versus Marvin Hagler fight, if you think Mayweather moves a lot, what would you call what Ray did in that fight. I asked those who claim to be fans, have you ever seen Cassius Clay fight.
Muhammad Ali was a total different fighter than pre three year suspension Cassius Clay. Clay circled the ring almost effortlessly, giving the “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” mantra real life consequence to opposing fighters. But enough of the history lesson, I think there are writers and fans that owe Mayweather his just due for putting on the best night of boxing I can remember in a long time.
Another detail I would like to add is Mayweather is giving these guys a chance just by staying in the middle of the ring with them. It’s like we are saying to Mayweather “hey, just fight them without using your legs’ and what’s crazy is that May accommodates that request. It’s clear that if Mayweather would have used even half the movement he has Canelo would have never been able to even graze Mayweather.
What’s next, will we ask Mayweather to fight a guy with one arm tied around his back. Even then I hear people saying “oh, why did he tie the left arm, everyone knows he always uses the right”. It’s just ridiculous at this point, and I’m serious, I’m not one for semantics but I can’t understand the logic.
I ask, did Mayweather not fight the best possible fight available giving up numerous tangible advantages to Alvarez? Size, youth, power, all in Canelo’s favor, I ask, what more do you want from the man. Even the catch weight was made at a weight that Mayweather has yet to enter a ring in to the date. It was once a joke made among Mayweather fans asking if the public wants him to fight one of the Klitschko’s, now I worry that it may be a reality. And speaking of predictions, every single Mayweather fan predicted what would be said after Mayweather schooled his opponent “he was too green”.
Now I hear Pacquiao being thrown into the mix once again. What fan wouldn’t want to see that fight, there are still fans that clamor for that fight to be made. But let’s be honest, ask yourself, even then would you give Mayweather his credit in victory. My guess says many fans will say Mayweather waited until Pacquiao was washed up to fight him. So what’s in it for Mayweather?
Luckily his priorities are straight and he’s driven by money, just like every other human in the world I might add. But if not for the drive for more money, what would he have? I have come to the conclusion that admiration from some fans in regards to Mayweather will never be given no matter what. In my estimation it is not a trait of a man to not except defeat in a sport like boxing where it is man against man.
Fighters as you can see never make excuses in the ring because they know when the better man has won. Fans on the other hand seem to have a hard time accepting defeat. As I said, I’m shocked that people actually have the audacity to discredit this weekend’s main event instead of manning up and giving credit where it’s due. But I should have known, were talking about Money Mayweather so silly me
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