After reportedly pricing himself out of a showdown with rival Manny Pacquiao last week, the latest rumor concerning a ring return for Floyd Mayweather is that he could take on Paul ‘The Pittsburgh Kid’ Spadafora this summer.
Spadafora (45-0, 19KOs) was once a good fighter, perhaps with the potential to become a great fighter if not for his out of the ring issues.
Sadly drug and alcohol problems, as well as a conviction for shooting his then girlfriend and a couple of stints in jail, meant that Spadafora never lived up to his potential.
It should come as little surprise then that aside from holding the IBF lightweight title back in 2003 and maintaining his unbeaten record since, the ‘Pittsburgh Kid’ has realistically done very little to warrant a fight with someone on Mayweather’s level.
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In fact the only reason anyone might be remotely interested in seeing Spadafora fight Mayweather is due to a ten year old sparring video in which a clearly out of shape Mayweather is put through the mill by a prime and in fighting shape Spadafora.
Hardly enough to market an entire fight from, or so you would think.
When it comes to Mayweather and his proven selling power though, even against completely outmatched opponents (such as Juan Manuel Marquez leaping two weight classes in a single bound back in 2009) it appears that there are no questions raised by HBO over who he fights.
Compare this to middleweight ruler Sergio Martinez, who for some reason HBO have been very restrictive with. After discounting several opponents prior to his last appearance, HBO were instrumental in making Martinez’s recent fight against Serhiy Dzinzurik happen, despite the latter’s lack of name recognition and reputation as a less than enthralling fighter.
Spadafora though isn’t merely a past his prime star who can still pull in the crowds and hold his own against the best in the world like Shane Mosley. Neither is he a champion from a lower weight class who can still beat the best competition on offer on a routine basis like Juan Manuel Marquez.
Spadafora hasn’t even fought in a 12 round fight since 2003.
To say that he has come out of left-field is an understatement, and until official word from Mayweather himself on the matter we will have to wonder just why Spadafora would be considered.
If Spadafora serves as merely a tune up fight for Mayweather, who has been inactive for the best part of a year now, then few would question it.
Even forgiving the fact that the fight would almost certainly be on pay per view, so long as Mayweather takes another fight this year then taking on Spadafora in the summer would be acceptable
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On the other hand if this turns out to be Mayweather’s only fight this year followed by yet another long layoff, then it appears that those claiming that he is no longer interested in the sport and now cares more about money than his reputation could have a point.
Like all rumors concerning Mayweather though, the truth of the matter isn’t always readily apparent.
Spadafora’s promoter Michael Arci was quoted on Boxingscene recently as saying: “I was approached about the fight. I spoke with Don and a few other people [connected to Mayweather]. Paul is interested in the fight. He’s wanted this fight for a very long time. Paul is ready to finish what he started ten years ago. We’ll see what happens”
The telling part of that quote is the fact that Arci says he spoke to Don King and some other people from Mayweather’s camp. Not with Mayweather himself, nor Leonard Ellerbe or Al Haymon.
Despite promotional flirtations stretching back over the last year though, no word has ever come out of the Mayweather camp claiming any kind of professional relationship with King.
And certainly had he succeeded in signing Floyd, King isn’t the type to keep quiet about it.
Not to mention Golden Boy, Mayweather’s promotional partners of the last several years, have continued to support him in the media. Suggesting that as far as they know, Floyd intends to continue working with them.
So just how much Mayweather himself even knows about these talks isn’t beyond question.
