By Jake Donovan
“Number One/Numero Uno” has been talked about for months, basically ever since it was announced that Floyd Mayweather’s comeback opponent of choice would be current lineal lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
We’ve discussed the potential sales that will accompany the event, and whether or not Mayweather can still produce superstar numbers in an economic climate vastly different to when he last punched for pay.
Golden Boy Promotions, co-promoter for the September 19 show, has made repeated references to the all-star roster of sponsors lined up, insisting that it exceeds even that of the greatest boxing money maker of all time when Mayweather fought and beat Oscar de la Hoya more than two years ago.
Boxing fans have discussed the stellar undercard, a status that sadly is the exception these days rather than the rule. Nevertheless, a supporting cast that includes a featherweight title fight rematch between Chris John and Rocky Juarez, as well as a lightweight crossroads bout between Vicente Escobedo and Michael Katsidis, rightfully merits cause for celebration, even if only for a weekend.
Thanks to HBO’s groundbreaking “24/7” series, we’ve also discussed at great length – to the point of running it to the ground – Marquez’ curious diet, which includes raw quail eggs and his own bodily fluids.
It seems like we’ve discussed everything there is to talk about regarding September 19.
Everything that is, except the actual main event fight between Floyd Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez.
With Manny Pacquiao moving up to welterweight (well, almost) to face Miguel Cotto in two months, great debate has already been generated as to who will win and why.
The “why” is what’s missing from this weekend’s headliner at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (Saturday, HBO PPV, 9PM ET/6PM PT) – except to being the question, “Why are they fighting?”
Short of an out-and-out tune up, there’s almost no excuse for discussion surrounding any major main event to not include an X’s and O’s breakdown. If it’s worthy of a headliner, then it has to be competitive. For a $50 surcharge, it also better be damn entertaining.
We won’t know until the opening bell whether or not the Mayweather-Marquez will be either of those things, never mind both. It’s almost as if the boxing world has accepted the event for what it is – yet another money grab by the sport’s elite.
After all, the only real concern regarding Saturday’s outcome is if it can post a buy rate worthy enough to set the bar for Cotto-Pacquiao to match or exceed.
It’s not unlike a major motion picture featuring an A-list actor, where there is less concern over feedback on the movie itself and more attention paid to the opening weekend gross. Award-winning acting, directing and writing makes for nice comments on the DVD package, but it’s the number of zeroes in the first run that truly determine the asking price for those involved in the movie’s success (or lack thereof).
For this event to reach such status, we have Floyd Mayweather to thank – or blame, depending on your viewpoint.
Regardless of whether or not you agreed with yesterday’s lead column on this very website, award-winning writer Lyle Fitzsimmons touched on at least one absolute truth – when Mayweather’s name appears on the marquee, it’s no longer “just” a fight, but an event.
It’s the difference between this weekend and November 14. When Cotto and Pacquiao collide in two months, anything but a Fight of the Year contender will be considered a huge disappointment, with far less emphasis placed on the number of total pay-per-view buys.
When it comes to Floyd, the expectations of an entertaining fight are rarely discussed. The fighter speaks of the many double standards to which he’s subjected (and is correct on most of them, for what it’s worth) but this one actually works in his favor.
Or at least until he stops putting asses in his seats.
His last two fights were sold out moments after tickets went on sale, and combined for more than 3 million pay-per-view buys. On both occasions, he had help on the other side of the promotion, with a large majority of the fans on hand in support of his opponents, Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton.
The last time he truly had to carry a promotion on his own was his welterweight-title winning effort against Carlos Baldomir nearly three years ago, which produced modest returns (325,000 buys, less than 10,000 in attendance) and a mediocre main event in which much of the disinterested crowd began filing out as early as the 10th round, confident that Mayweather was way ahead and that a dramatic ending wasn’t in store.
To say he’s forced to carry this show would be a slight disservice to Juan Manuel Marquez, although the Mexican has never been regarded as a box office blockbuster. In the ring, he’s as good as they get – no worse than the second best in the world, with some arguing he should not only be regarded as the very best, but also undefeated. All three of his losses – narrow decisions against Freddie Norwood, Chris John and Manny Pacquiao – come with large droves of supporters who insist the wrong guy won in each fight.
Beyond the ropes, he hasn’t always been the easiest sell. A sentimental favorite in recent years? Sure. But a superstar? Not on his own.
But what Marquez lacks in drawing power, he makes up for with his in-ring end product. It’s been a while since he’s been in a stinker and is fact coming off of a knockout performance in the year’s leading candidate for Fight of the Year, his breathless 9th round starching of Juan Diaz on HBO this past February.
It’s not the first time Marquez’ name has been attached to one of the year’s best fights. Both matches with Pacquiao (D12, May 2004; L12 March 2008) and his junior lightweight title win over Marco Antonio Barrera (March 2007) were found on most year-end lists, and has also found a way to provide excitement even in one-sided performances , such as his drubbings of Joel Casamayor and Terdsak Jandaeng.
So if Marquez has been in so many top shelf fights, then why shouldn’t we expect to see him bring out the absolute best in Mayweather, from an entertainment standpoint?
Perhaps that’s the problem – the fear that the very best version of Mayweather easily handles the challenge of Marquez, fighting above the lightweight (and junior welterweight) limit for the first time in his long, legendary career.
Size was a concern in Pacquiao’s challenge of Oscar de la Hoya last year, though there was also the other side of the coin, where more than a few wondered how much Oscar had left in the tank.
Few seem to believe that Floyd would’ve accepted this assignment unless he felt 100% confident that he’s all the way back, save for whatever ring rust naturally accompanies a 21-month layoff. A lesser version of Floyd struggles with Marquez just enough to where things are very interesting. The trick is trying to get people to envision such a scenario, or one where Marquez coming in upwards of nine pounds heavier than he’s ever weighed in for a prize fight is stronger than ever and that such power will be the difference in the fight.
But even as the fight draws closer, there still remains little discussion as to how exactly Marquez can and will win the fight.
We’re instead talking about how ticket sales are hardly lighting the strip on fire.
We’re also talking about the possibility of Mayweather pulling in more than 500,000 buys, even with innovative marketing methods including advertisements on the big screen during the coming attractions.
We’re wondering where he and Marquez go from here, not from a career status standpoint, but in regards to who makes the most where.
We’re discussing everything about the even on top of which this main event sits.
What we’re not talking about – now, and possibly even after September 19 is over – is the fight itself.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .
