Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Bad Boxing or Good Business?

Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Bad Boxing or Good Business? By Ryan Songalia, Photo courtesy ********boxing.com 5-3-2006 http://images.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/_photos/mayweather.jpg Floyd Mayweather Jr. is universally recognized as the pound for pound best in the game. With a record of 36-0 (24 KO), and title belts in 4 divisions, alot is expected of him. In his fight, he took a competitive, but clear decision over Zab "Super" Judah, acquiring a silly IBF belt that Judah was able to retain during his loss to Carlos Baldomir. According to former promoter Bob Arum, Mayweather paid Top Rank $750,000 to release him from his promotional contract. It was also reported that Arum had offered Mayweather $8 million to fight welterweight powerhouse Antonio Margarito. Mayweather has expressed his desire to fight a mega-fight with Oscar De La Hoya instead, and this may be the reason Mayweather bought out his contract with Top Rank promotions. From first glance, it would appear that Mayweather was simply afraid to risk his undefeated record against a dangerous, go-for-broke monster like Antonio Margarito. But lets examine the situation. On the one hand, you have Margarito and a guaranteed 8 million dollar purse to fight a guy who he' be a 4-1 favorite to beat. Margarito is certainly his biggest threat at 147, and if Mayweather wants to solidify his bogus belt as more than just a souvenir, he needs to fight Margarito. Margarito presents all types of problems for Mayweather. He's a big, tall, go for broke never say die warrior who will be in his chest all day. Hes got an excellent chin and above average power. Mayweather would have to hide and potshot all night like he did in the rematch with Castillo to have a shot at pulling this off. Arturo Gatti was a different scenario. Gatti went out there and tried to box with Mayweather and got what he had coming to him as a result. To beat Mayweather, you have to smother him and make it into a dog fight. That is Margarito's forte. A win over Margarito will solidify him as the legitimate man at 147. On the other hand, Oscar De La Hoya is the more attractive fight. Of course, them metting up is contingent on De La Hoya outgunning Nicaraguan flash Ricardo Mayorga on Saturday. De La Hoya presents an ideal scenario for "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather: A) A fight with Oscar De La Hoya could generate 15-20 million, money that no other fighter could produce. B) Oscar De La Hoya is still the biggest attraction in boxing, and the biggest non-heavyweight attraction of the last 15 years. A victory over De La Hoya would validate Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the biggest star in the sport. C) Oscar De La Hoya has noticeably aged and is not the fighter he was in the late 1990's. He is extremely vulnerable and an almost certain victory for Mayweather . While it makes sense from a competitive stance to challenge Margarito, De La Hoya is the easier fight by leaps and bounds. Let us not forget that the welterweight division in changing by the minute. Ricky Hatton has just emerged into the division, and he will be challenging Luis Collazo for the WBA belt in 2 weeks. Arturo Gatti has reincarnated himself, and will be facing the recognized champ Carlos Baldomir later in the summer. Floyd also has a rematch with Judah scheduled to take place later in the year. Why would Mayweather want to commit to a plan if he doesn't know what the division will look like by fight time? If Mayweather wishes to be recognized as the champion at 147, he will eventually need to clear up alot of business. A win over Margarito would certainly give him alot of credability as a champion, given that Gatti is a clear favorite to unseat Baldomir as WBC champion. With what occurred last June when Mayweather annhilated the Jersey-based Gatti, no one will dispute Mayweather's dominance in the division. In boxing, as in life, money talks, bullshit walks. Ryan Songalia is a weekly syndicated columnist. If you wish to contact him, his e-mail is mc_rson@yahoo.com .