In preparation for his May 5 mega fight with Oscar De La Hoya, welterweight champion, pound for pound king, and boxing?s most hated villain Floyd Mayweather Jr. finds himself if a tricky situation. The four division champion, who wants to be considered the greatest boxer in history after beating De La Hoya, may have picked the worst possible fight to cap off an extraordinary career.
?The World Awaits? may be the most fitting title for any fight in recent memory. ?The world? will truly be watching May 5, especially with HBO?s four episode countdown series hyping up the bout. But as the trite saying goes, ?with great power comes great responsibility,? and for Mayweather, that responsibility could hamper his power.
Writers, fans, and promoters alike have been clamoring for Mayweather to not dance circles around De La Hoya for twelve rounds ? much like he did versus Carlos Baldomir last November ? because this fight is almost an advertisement for the sport of boxing. Countless first time and casual watchers around the world will be viewing the bout, and if we witness a great fight, then boxing would benefit greatly ? the exact reason why Mayweather finds himself in a catch 22 situation.
