Mayweather – Fighting a losing battle [good article]

Mayweather – Fighting a losing battle By Rob Scott He was the best in the sport, but not the best in the welterweight division, a contradiction that only can happen in the sport of boxing. But after watching Floyd Mayweather’s masterful performance against defending champion, Carlos Baldomir, I once again felt a strong sense of boxing déjà vu. I immediately thought back to HBO’s countdown show leading up to the ‘87 showdown with ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler vs. ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard. In that telecast, Hagler, who had been the undisputed middleweight champion for close to seven years, and who had only lost twice in sixty-six fights – the last being eleven years prior but was later avenged, asked the question, “What do I have to do to get credit – kill somebody?” For twelve rounds ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd Mayweather killed the will of the defending champion, Baldomir, by doing what a boxer is suppose to do – hit and don’t get hit. This tactic, while satisfying some boxing pundits, didn’t kill, but rather created just as many negative opinions about the new champion. For sometime now, Floyd Mayweather’s status has been dissected by boxing’s literary scientists, and at the same time being given questionable added votes as if it was a padded election. Standing back and listening to the varied opinions on Mayweather, I can’t help but ask, which side is right in their assessments? Believe it or not, I say all have made their points. With that being said, you may call me a fence straddler if you wish, but if you have read anything from me, you would know that there is a peeve that I have with those who reside on either side of that subliminal fence, only to give undeserved kudos or not give deserved credit when it is rightfully do. Every man is great in his dreams, and Floyd Mayweather definitely feels that he is being slept on when it comes to a certain level of praise. This sense of worth makes Mayweather fight even more in defense of perception than that of anything else. It’s a fight that is proving to be his toughest battle. Instead of some wanting to pull Mayweather back down to earth, some just want to shoot down Mayweather’s status and say his act is all smoke and mirrors. Going into his bout with Baldomir, this was labeled Floyd’s toughest challenge to date by not only HBO, but by a multitude of writers. After Mayweather’s easy performance, there have been those who want to take credit for being the one who thought it would be as easy an affair as it turned out to be, thus taking away deserved credit that is due to Mayweather. The truth of the matter is he is the best in the game right now. He has accumulated a, 37 – 0, (24), record that no one can truly say was padded. He hasn’t ducked anyone, including Antonio Margarito, whose own resume, whether anyone admits it or not, would leave the door open for Mayweather’s detractors to again trivialize his accomplishments if these two happen to meet and Mayweather puts on a dominating performance. With that being said, Mayweather definitely deserves a great deal of credit, but by him coming out and saying he is the best ever, even over the great ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson? Some look at that as proof positive that over the years Mayweather may have been hit more than even the naked eye could see. That was the classic case of too much kudos, even if self said. It’s self-bravado like that, which has brought a certain bit of backlash also from people who take offense similar to when Larry Holmes made the statement that “Rocky Marciano couldn’t carry my jockstrap.” Mayweather is very good, maybe even great at this young age, but the best ever? To that, I can’t be on his defense team. Just that notion makes older followers of the game volunteer to be on the jury, just to give Mayweather a guilty verdict – guilty of blasphemy. It’s blasphemy in their eyes because fighters like the aforementioned named greats like Robinson, Leonard, etc. are considered God-like to many. It’s a fight that Mayweather may never win in his lifetime, as these fighters have reached legendary status, while the book on Mayweather is still being written. He may think that a page in the story of Floyd Mayweather is a good sight, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Historically, fans have been drawn to the blood and guts type of encounters, like Gatti vs. Ward, Graziano vs. Zale, Morales vs. Barrera and many more. People paid to see these fights and were more than happy to pay to see these fighters go at it again and again. This truth is evident when you hear some actually placing Manny Pacquiao on top of their respective P4P lists after his third round destruction over Eric Morales in their third meeting. That in its self is a case of that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, because while these fighters took and still take the blood and guts route, Mayweather takes what he feels is a boxing and brains path. That’s a preference that has been his, but while he may feel he deserves a fifty-fifty share of the purse with Oscar DeLaHoya, Mayweather’s resume isn’t filled with too many of the paying audience’s type of encounters. This is a reason DeLaHoya is set to walk away with a reported $25 million, while Mayweather will pocket $12 million. It will be much more than he has ever earned, but it’s not what the present P4P king feels he is worth. Bottom line, well at least in this case, the customer is right, as they pay to see what they like. But there is a sad reality with these fighters that have staged these wars; in essence, they had to stage these wars. To come up off the floor and make a dramatic comeback is one thing, but Mayweather has been skillful enough that he hasn’t had to face that same adversity. He has been head and shoulders above his competition, an accomplishment that some fail to acknowledge. Even Ali wasn’t truly considered the greatest until the sunset on his career; Mayweather will be no different. When the final chapter is written in the Mayweather saga, then and only then, should he or even his most stern critic, make their final assessment. It’s just the way things are, no matter what he or anyone else may want or believe. Mayweather is learning the hard way that he may be blessed, but even if the All Mighty sent him to earth as another begotten son, he still would never make anyone say “Jesus who?” Mayweather won’t overshadow those that came before him; that’s a fight he should just very well throw in the towel. In the case of Mayweather, it seems that the opinions from both ends don’t give a reflection of the overall picture. The fence that I walk on like a tight rope, says that Mayweather is great, just not as great as he thinks he is. Who knows, Mayweather just may be boxing’s version of Albert Einstein. When I say that, I think of Einstein’s childhood story in which he was thought of as, let’s just say, less than a bright child. We all now know to the contrary, that he in fact was so intelligent that mere childhood teachings were beneath him. Is Mayweather mindless in thinking he is in the class or above a ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson? Or is he as good as he says he is, and we’re just not seeing it? My prediction? We won’t figure it out until he is long gone, and contrary to his retirement announcement, he won’t be going anywhere any time soon. His battle with perception is one that only time will clear up. It’s the one battle in which he really hopes his hand will be raised.