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by David P. Greisman - He was an acclaimed Olympic medalist, a flashy boxer-puncher who had gone on to capture the welterweight championship. He was a superstar who retired at what should have been the peak of his career, not once, but twice, leaving behind a potential match against an opponent who did most of his talking with his fists.
Marvin Hagler waited more than four years for Sugar Ray Leonard. How long will Miguel Cotto wait for Floyd Mayweather Jr.?
“I need a vacation. I’m not trying to call out no welterweights,” Mayweather said Saturday after scoring a brilliant 10th-round knockout over Ricky Hatton. “I’ve done what I had to do. Now it’s time for me to become a promoter.
“I won’t let the sport of boxing retire me,” he said. “I’ll retire from the sport.”
Undefeated. Thirty-nine wins, no losses. Floyd Mayweather Jr. captured championships at junior lightweight, lightweight and welterweight, and title belts at 140 and 154. He built himself into a pay-per-view attraction, a multimillionaire who could increase his fan base despite his propensity for playing the villain. He out-pointed Oscar De La Hoya in the biggest-ever boxing promotion, announcing his retirement immediately afterward. He soon returned to face Hatton, selling thousands upon thousands of the Mancunian Mauler’s countrymen on the premise that their hometown hero could try to shut the mouth of “Pretty Boy Floyd.” [details]
Marvin Hagler waited more than four years for Sugar Ray Leonard. How long will Miguel Cotto wait for Floyd Mayweather Jr.?
“I need a vacation. I’m not trying to call out no welterweights,” Mayweather said Saturday after scoring a brilliant 10th-round knockout over Ricky Hatton. “I’ve done what I had to do. Now it’s time for me to become a promoter.
“I won’t let the sport of boxing retire me,” he said. “I’ll retire from the sport.”
Undefeated. Thirty-nine wins, no losses. Floyd Mayweather Jr. captured championships at junior lightweight, lightweight and welterweight, and title belts at 140 and 154. He built himself into a pay-per-view attraction, a multimillionaire who could increase his fan base despite his propensity for playing the villain. He out-pointed Oscar De La Hoya in the biggest-ever boxing promotion, announcing his retirement immediately afterward. He soon returned to face Hatton, selling thousands upon thousands of the Mancunian Mauler’s countrymen on the premise that their hometown hero could try to shut the mouth of “Pretty Boy Floyd.” [details]
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