By Mark Vester

During a recent interview with David Mayo of the Grand Rapids Press , Floyd Mayweather, Jr. rates a few possible opponents on the scale of whether they are on their way up in boxing, or on their way down.


On Paul Williams

"I don't even know him."

On Miguel Cotto

"On his way down. He's starting to get hit with too many big shots, and big shots are wear and tear on your body. That can't go on too much longer."

Antonio Margarito

"I don't really want to talk about this guy, because I see certain things that Bob does that don't make any sense. He says I'm the best fighter in the business, I'm the best fighter since Muhammad Ali, but then he's talking about me ducking and dodging a fighter. He kicks me out of his boxing gym, then wants me to fight his fighter. How can you do talk about doing future business with me if you're conducting yourself with disorderly conduct? He's a grumpy old man."

On Shane Mosley

"Down. He knows what happens if he comes my way. Shane's a fighter who isn't what he was made out to be. He makes too, too many mistakes."

On Winky Wright

"He's getting older, I know his career's coming to an end. It all depends who they put in front of him. He has to go that road (a Jermain Taylor rematch) if he wants that last big payday."

On Jose Luis Castillo

"Up. He'll be more comfortable at 140. I don't think he'll come to 147. He won't come down my road because he already knows."

On Diego Corrales

"On his way up. Of course, he was in a tough fight with Joel Casamayor, because they always have good fights. But Castillo's gone, and there isn't anybody else at 135. What we did, it was a sport, it was business, it was in the past. I can tell he still holds a grudge, but I'm out of his league."

On Ricky Hatton

"I'll say up. They're going to protect him. Business-wise, if he's my fighter, I pick and choose, and milk him, get as much money as I can, until he's all used up. Until somebody lucks up and beats him. He's not a superstar."

On Oscar De La Hoya

"On his way out. If Oscar De La Hoya is going to fight anybody, it would be me. And you can't play mind games with me."

On Carlos Baldomir

 "He's 35. This is his last fight. I don't plan on letting him beat me."