Saturday’s welterweight clash in Las Vegas between undefeated American Floyd Mayweather Jr and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez could well be the first leg of three to settle the mythical title of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.
As things stand, most boxing fans would give that tag to either Mayweather, 39-0 (25 KOs), or Filipino southpaw Manny Pacquiao, 49-3-2 (37 KOs).
However Pacquiao’s next bout will be in November when he challenges Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight title.
Only after that, assuming both Mayweather and Pacquiao have lived up to their respective billing as strong favourites and triumphed, will the argument-ending contest between the American and the Filipino be able to unfold.
Mayweather has repeatedly said the notion of regaining the mythical pound-for-pound tag no longer appeals to him, but the idea that he would spurn the chance to take on Pacquiao seems ludicrous.
In an interview with Reuters, Mayweather played down the Filipino’s most recent fight, a stunning second round knockout of Britain’s Ricky Hatton in May to claim the IBO light-welterweight title.
“Pacquiao went out there and did what he had to do,” said Mayweather, who is returning to the ring on Saturday after a 21-month retirement.
“Ricky Hatton didn’t stick to the game plan, and any fighter can get caught cold in the first couple of rounds. So things happened but we move on.
“I don’t fight for bragging rights,” the 32-year-old American added, referring to the pound-for-pound label. “I did that early in my career. This is now a whole new era of fighters. I’m just here to continue to do what I do and that’s to be the best.
“I’ve done what I had to do in this sport of boxing,” said Mayweather, a five-division world champion who is already accepted as one of the greatest boxers of any era. “Whatever fight presents itself, I’m fine with that. I don’t have to go out and chase a fighter.”
Mayweather was unequivocally boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter until he retired from the ring after his 10th round stoppage of Hatton in a WBC welterweight title bout in December 2007.
Since then, the pound-for-pound tag has passed to Pacquiao, largely because of his December 2008 defeat of 10-times world champion Oscar De La Hoya and his demolition of Hatton five months later.
Pacquiao or Mayweather? Who’s your choice for boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter?
