What has happened to Floyd Mayweather? Dare I say maturity? I don?t know, but after his fights lately, it seems like he?s being himself.
Not the villainous character on 24/7. Not the petulant little brat he used to be after some of his wins. The true Mayweather is starting to come out.
It?s easy to be comfortable in his skin when you know in your heart that you are the best person in the world at what you do.
Now that Mayweather has silenced a lot of critics with his toying of Shane Mosley, where does he go from here?
He?s got plenty of options, but the key is you have to acquiesce to what Money May wants because Mayweather has earned that right in the ring and at the box office.
Mayweather answered the only question people have had about him in his career: what would happen when he took a good shot and was hurt? Now we know, he?ll get angry at himself and bounce back.
There are three fighters that I would give the seal of approval for: Manny Pacquiao, Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez.
Williams might be thrown out of the mix if he isn?t able to take care of Kermit Cintron on Saturday on HBO.
Pacquiao, well, it?s in PacMan?s hands. Now that someone has done the Olympic-style testing that Mayweather demanded, any future fighter will also have to do so.
If Pacquiao still relents to it, Floyd will move on, and he?ll do it with a clear conscience because he really believes he?s doing the right thing.
Pacquiao also doesn?t have too many dance partners at this point. A lot of people are clamoring for Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito provided Margarito gets through fine Saturday in his return.
But for me, I get a little excited about a potential Mayweather-Martinez battle. More and more, I believe Floyd and Manny won?t happen, so I?m starting to accept that.
A battle with Martinez would be the opportunity for the middleweight championship. It would give him titles from 130-160 pounds.
Martinez hasn?t been in a bad fight since breaking through to the US last year. He?s a slick southpaw that could give Mayweather something he hasn?t seen.
I no longer believe it would just be a stinker. When was the last time Mayweather was in a stinker because that?s what he CHOSE to do? He has stood his ground in his biggest bouts lately. Against Zab Judah, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and definitely vs. Mosley, Mayweather has been in the pocket. We?ll see.
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As for Mosley, I hope he retires because Floyd took away everything that made Mosley who he is. He took his heart and made him ordinary.
If Mosley continues to fight, battles with Andre Berto and a rematch with Miguel Cotto are very intriguing. But Mosley has earned the right to step down and enjoy life now and watch his son(s) fight.
I couldn?t believe that an 18-year fight veteran looked so nervous and tight as Mosley did Saturday. Maybe he put too much pressure on himself to perform and looked drained and beat.
