Throughout boxing’s rich history, the greatest fighters of all time have stitched their respective niches in time by taking on and eventually defeating the best fighters of their respective eras. This is traditionally what has been expected of the all time greats.
If any fighter wishes to be considered among boxing’s greatest of all time, he is expected to fight the best fighters of his generation.
So far, the fighter formerly known as “Pretty Boy Floyd” hasn’t even come close.
With Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s legacy largely created at 130 pounds, the self proclaimed “greatest of all time” has never fought and defeated the very best of any weight division in which he has campaigned over the last ten years.
Has Floyd beaten an opponent in his fighting prime or in his strongest respective weight division since 2002? Since defeating Jose Luis Castillo twice, has the “Money Man” taken on the consensus best opposition available?
Absolutely not.
Since being pushed to the brink against Castillo in 2002, Floyd Mayweather has elected to merely “get by” with the fight public’s lesser appreciated opposition.
At 135 pounds, Mayweather elected not to face dangerous southpaw Joel Casamayor or Acelino Freitas at their best. At 140 pounds, Floyd failed to face the longtime Junior Welterweight kingpin and Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu.
At 147 pounds, before supposedly retiring, Floyd Mayweather had the opportunity to cement his legacy by facing a prime Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto. Either fight would have been a huge statement and convincing argument in the face of his ever growing legion of naysayers and critics.
Pictured: Floyd Mayweather, right, and Miguel Cotto engage in battle on May 5, 2012 Courtesy of HBO Sports
Instead, Floyd came out of retirement and faced Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez at a catch-weight of 144 pounds. Of course, Floyd failed to adhere to the previously negotiated catch-weight and fought with a purchased weight advantage. Since then Floyd has fought a faded Sugar Shane Mosley, a Victor Ortiz who was previously knocked out by Marcos Maidana, and a perceived to be mentally and physically damaged Miguel Cotto at 154 pounds who was previously bludgeoned by both Antonio Margacheato and Manny Pacquiao.
While defeating a past his prime version of Oscar De La Hoya and a Welterweight rendition of Ricky Hatton have been some of his greatest ring accomplishments, has Floyd Mayweather Jr’s extensive resume garnered enough consideration for all time great stature?
It’s questionable at best, but it’s not too late to redeem himself to the eyes of the boxing public.
Once Floyd Mayweather is released from incarceration, he has the distinct opportunity to silence every single detractor by facing the perceived greatest fighter of his era, Manny Pacquiao. If Mayweather were to fight and defeat the only boxer to ever win eight world titles in eight different divisions, no other seemingly dodged opponent would ever be mentioned when discussing the legacy of Pretty Boy Floyd.
It would be the purging of every missed accomplishment and each seemingly avoided fighter. A mega fight with the Pac-man would not only be the most lucrative fight in the history of the sport, but simply accepting the challenge would place him among the greatest fighters of all time…win or lose.
So what’s the problem? What is keeping Floyd from participating in a fight that would define an era in boxing?
Pictured: Manny Pacquiao, right, tags Oscar De La Hoya with a right in December 2008. Courtesy of HBO Sports
Mayweather claims that the biggest detriment to this potential pound for pound match-up is Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum. Floyd believes the Hall of Fame promoter is keeping the mega bout from materializing for monetary gain and fear of failure.
Because Pacquiao’s previous decision loss Timothy Bradley hasn’t soured Manny’s reputation as one of the sport’s strongest combatants, I don’t think either Arum or Pacquiao would be worried about the effects of a potential loss to the perceived best fighter in the world.
Floyd has also stated that he truly believes Manny Pacquiao is a product of PEDs and fears for his well being if he were to step in the ring with a “juiced” version of the Pac-monster. While Top Rank founder Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao have agreed to Olympic style drug testing within any window of time, Mayweather continues to beat the drum of foul play.
Floyd Mayweather has also cited the purse split as an issue for not making the dream fight a reality.
Floyd claims he is the biggest monetary draw in boxing and absolutely refuses to face Manny Pacquiao for a seemingly fair 50/50 division in fight proceeds.
The fight public has witnessed excuse after poor excuse for not making the most important bout in recent memory a stark reality. All the while, mainstream demand for the most lucrative match in the history of boxing deflates with each passing day.
Perhaps 90 days in the stony lonesome have given Floyd Mayweather a fresh perspective on the highly anticipated pound for pound match-up. Maybe his time in the hoosegow has generated the demand to prove his harshest critics wrong.
Conceivably a stint in the clink has created a hungrier and more humble version of Mayweather; someone who finally wants to prove that he is the greatest fighter of this era.
The boxing world hopes that it has.
Make the fight, Floyd…and finally recognize your potential as an all-time great.
