He promised us a spectacular return. He was as good as his word.
After a full 21 months out of the ring it was as if Floyd Mayweather Jr had never been away as he dominated the game but outgunned Mexican warrior Juan Manuel Marquez.
The brash, outspoken Grand Rapids man is not everyone’s cup of tea and indeed it was clear that Marquez enjoyed the lions share of support inside the plush MGM Grand. But there is no denying ‘Money’ Mayweather is a serious talent and on Saturday night’s evidence it could be a while yet before someone puts a dent in that perfect 40-0 record.
Considering the length of time he had been away and the calibre of opposition he was facing (Marquez is a three-weight, five-time world champion) it was a truly masterful display from Mayweather. A grand exhibition of what the noble art is truly all about, hitting and not getting hit.
The man is almost impossible to catch cleanly and it was scary how sharp he was considering how long he had been away and the fact that he is now 32.
Marquez is a game and classy competitor. One of the best counter punchers of the past 25 years and a ‘pound-for-pound’ elitist in his own right. He fought as he promised he would. Like an Aztec warrior. And he battled to the end but simply couldn’t make any inroads due to Mayweather’s magnificent defence and startling speed and movement.
Mayweather dominated as he pot-shotted from range before mixing it up with leaping left hooks and dangerous counters. His style is all his own and his ability to adapt to an opponent and/or a battle situation is what sets him out from his peers.
A short left hook in round two dropped Marquez and it looked for a moment like the fans could be in for an early night. But Marquez battled on gamely and used his own tactical nous and defensive prowess to limit the damage, which by the end was considerable.
Mayweather won every round and dominated Marquez like no other fighter had in 56 previous attempts. The Mexico City native admitted afterwards that his American opponent was “too fast” but he can take solace that he went the full 12 with a much bigger, faster, more capable pugilist.
Most experts were expecting Mayweather to win the fight but few would have predicted how well he looked. Historically even the very best fighters never come back the same after a lengthy lay-off (Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard were never quite the same after their exiles) but the break seems to have done Mayweather the world of good.
Yes he was the bigger man (he actually had to pay Marquez $600,000 for failing to come in at the agreed weight of 144lbs the day before) but his performance was ultra impressive and he handled Marquez far better than another ‘pound-for-pound’ top dog Manny Pacquiao could manage in two previous attempts.
Inevitably talk will now turn to a possible showdown between Mayweather and Pacquiao. The Filipino firecracker enjoyed some stunning wins while Mayweather was away and with Floyd out of the picture in ‘retirement’ few could begrudge the ‘Pac Man’ his place atop the ‘pound-for-pound’ tree.
However for me he was only ever keeping Mayweather’s throne warm and now he’s back I have no problem in re-crowning him our ‘pound-for-pound’ king.
If Pacquiao dominates Miguel Cotto in their November shoot-out the way he did Oscar De la Hoya then I may have to reconsider but for now he simply has to give up top billing to Mayweather.
Pacquiao is obviously a more exciting fighter than Mayweather but the latter is simply flawless in a boxing ring. He looks more comfortable in there than any fighter I can remember and can do it all. He may not have truly devastating one-punch power but in terms of speed and ability he has to be right up there with the all-time best.
A fight with Shane Mosley has been mooted next for Floyd and if he can win that and then meet and beat Pacquiao even his most ardent critics will struggle to deny him his rightful place in the fistic pantheon.
Mayweather’s re-emergence means Kelly Pavlik drops out of the top 10 but if ‘The Ghost’ does end up fighting Paul Williams in December and wins his absence will be but temporary.
Sportinglife.com pound-for-pound world top 10:
1 – Floyd Mayweather
2 – Manny Pacquiao
3 – Juan Manuel Marquez
4 – Miguel Cotto
5 – Bernard Hopkins
6 – Shane Mosley
7 – Chad Dawson
8 – Israel Vazquez
9 – Paul Williams
10 – Juan Manuel Lopez
Honourable mentions: Kelly Pavlik, Wladimir Klitschko, Juan Diaz, Mikkel Kessler, Joan Guzman and Ivan Calderon.
