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Height:
Mayweather: 5'8"
Watson:6'2"
Advantage: Watson.
Analysis: Watson is going to be terribly outmatched if he were to step in the ring with any professional boxer, let alone an elite puncher like Mayweather. So he will need to have a few physical edges if he is going to compete. Luckily, he is six inches taller. That should help him a bit, but you've got to figure that Money May is used to looking up at his prey.
Weight:
Mayweather: 147 pounds
Watson:175 pounds
Advantage: Watson.
Analysis: Much more so than the height disparity, Watson gains a huge edge here. 30 pounds is a big deal in this scenario; It's not like a heavyweight fight where one guy weighs 230 and another 200. Considering Mayweather's size, Watson—although he is pretty tiny by NBA standards—can make some hay on this.
Records:
Mayweather: 41-0, 25 knockouts, multiple titles
Watson: 8.7 points per game, 2.4 assists per game, 2.3 rebounds per game (career).
Advantage: Mayweather
Analysis: Money May's trophy case is a whole lot more crowded than Watson's. Not only that, but Watson hasn't even been a regular starter in the NBA and spent time in the D-League and Europe. A real David vs. Goliath here. Watson can only hope he's allowed to have a basketball in the ring as a weapon.
Reach:
Mayweather: 72"
Watson: Unknown
Advantage: Mayweather
Analysis: Floyd definitely has the edge here in terms of "traditional" reach but don't entirely overlook Watson. He played for three seasons under Don Nelson while at Golden State. You can't underestimate what he learned from the 70-year-old; Everyone knows about incredible, inexplicable "old man strength." I'm not so sure Nelson wouldn't last three rounds with Mayweather on that alone.
Conventional wisdom suggests something rubbed off on Watson during that time. And considering that Watson also played one year at Tennessee under Bruce "The Incredible Hulk" Pearl, he boasts some additional strength.
Earnings:
Mayweather: $22.5 million for fighting Mosley in May
Watson: Sign-and-trade with Bulls, three-year, $10.2 million
Advantage: Watson
Analysis: In pure numbers, Mayweather has the edge here, but Watson can do something with his millions that Mayweather can't. He can hire trainers or bodyguards to hang with him in the ring, or he could pay Mike Tyson (doesn't he need the money?) to stand in the ring for him. Mayweather can't do that! The only problem is, I've got to assume that Watson will forfeit a big chunk of that money if he gets in the ring with Mayweather.
There has got to be some kind of standard NBA contract-clause that stipulates you don't get the full amount if you commit suicide.
Management:
Mayweather: (previously) His Father, Floyd; (currently) His Brother, Roger
Watson: Tom Thibodeau, Bulls Head Coach
Advantage: Mayweather
Analysis: The edge here goes to experience and proven records. Mayweather has been one of the greats under his family/trainers. Thibodeau is unproven as a head coach, but was a great assistant under Doc Rivers and the Celtics. Maybe he could convince Kevin Garnett to step in for Watson: KG vs. Mayweather and the 15-inch difference in height would be hilarious.
Endurance:
Mayweather: 45 minutes, 15 three-minute rounds (maximum)
Watson: 48 minutes, four 12-minute quarters (maximum)
Advantage: Draw
Analysis: Running up and down the court for 48 minutes (although, for Watson, more like 18-22) has got to be as exhausting a job as there is in sports. Yes, there are several breaks in the action, but NBA guards are probably among the most well-conditioned athletes around.
But, Mayweather standing toe-to-toe with an opponent for upwards of 15 rounds is just as grueling. Sure, he can tie-up his opponent to catch his breath, and he isn't really "running" anywhere, but there's a reason boxers have to train six months for one fight.
Who Wins?
No offense to Watson—he is a world-class athlete, but he wouldn't stand a chance against Mayweather. Floyd wins in probably 20 seconds. Now, if it was a game of H-O-R-S-E, Money May would be done.
Mayweather: 5'8"
Watson:6'2"
Advantage: Watson.
Analysis: Watson is going to be terribly outmatched if he were to step in the ring with any professional boxer, let alone an elite puncher like Mayweather. So he will need to have a few physical edges if he is going to compete. Luckily, he is six inches taller. That should help him a bit, but you've got to figure that Money May is used to looking up at his prey.
Weight:
Mayweather: 147 pounds
Watson:175 pounds
Advantage: Watson.
Analysis: Much more so than the height disparity, Watson gains a huge edge here. 30 pounds is a big deal in this scenario; It's not like a heavyweight fight where one guy weighs 230 and another 200. Considering Mayweather's size, Watson—although he is pretty tiny by NBA standards—can make some hay on this.
Records:
Mayweather: 41-0, 25 knockouts, multiple titles
Watson: 8.7 points per game, 2.4 assists per game, 2.3 rebounds per game (career).
Advantage: Mayweather
Analysis: Money May's trophy case is a whole lot more crowded than Watson's. Not only that, but Watson hasn't even been a regular starter in the NBA and spent time in the D-League and Europe. A real David vs. Goliath here. Watson can only hope he's allowed to have a basketball in the ring as a weapon.
Reach:
Mayweather: 72"
Watson: Unknown
Advantage: Mayweather
Analysis: Floyd definitely has the edge here in terms of "traditional" reach but don't entirely overlook Watson. He played for three seasons under Don Nelson while at Golden State. You can't underestimate what he learned from the 70-year-old; Everyone knows about incredible, inexplicable "old man strength." I'm not so sure Nelson wouldn't last three rounds with Mayweather on that alone.
Conventional wisdom suggests something rubbed off on Watson during that time. And considering that Watson also played one year at Tennessee under Bruce "The Incredible Hulk" Pearl, he boasts some additional strength.
Earnings:
Mayweather: $22.5 million for fighting Mosley in May
Watson: Sign-and-trade with Bulls, three-year, $10.2 million
Advantage: Watson
Analysis: In pure numbers, Mayweather has the edge here, but Watson can do something with his millions that Mayweather can't. He can hire trainers or bodyguards to hang with him in the ring, or he could pay Mike Tyson (doesn't he need the money?) to stand in the ring for him. Mayweather can't do that! The only problem is, I've got to assume that Watson will forfeit a big chunk of that money if he gets in the ring with Mayweather.
There has got to be some kind of standard NBA contract-clause that stipulates you don't get the full amount if you commit suicide.
Management:
Mayweather: (previously) His Father, Floyd; (currently) His Brother, Roger
Watson: Tom Thibodeau, Bulls Head Coach
Advantage: Mayweather
Analysis: The edge here goes to experience and proven records. Mayweather has been one of the greats under his family/trainers. Thibodeau is unproven as a head coach, but was a great assistant under Doc Rivers and the Celtics. Maybe he could convince Kevin Garnett to step in for Watson: KG vs. Mayweather and the 15-inch difference in height would be hilarious.
Endurance:
Mayweather: 45 minutes, 15 three-minute rounds (maximum)
Watson: 48 minutes, four 12-minute quarters (maximum)
Advantage: Draw
Analysis: Running up and down the court for 48 minutes (although, for Watson, more like 18-22) has got to be as exhausting a job as there is in sports. Yes, there are several breaks in the action, but NBA guards are probably among the most well-conditioned athletes around.
But, Mayweather standing toe-to-toe with an opponent for upwards of 15 rounds is just as grueling. Sure, he can tie-up his opponent to catch his breath, and he isn't really "running" anywhere, but there's a reason boxers have to train six months for one fight.
Who Wins?
No offense to Watson—he is a world-class athlete, but he wouldn't stand a chance against Mayweather. Floyd wins in probably 20 seconds. Now, if it was a game of H-O-R-S-E, Money May would be done.
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