Welterweights Mayweather Jnr should have fought & when:

[S.G.]

Margarito
When: In between Floyd beating Baldomir and Margarito losing to Williams
Why it didn't happen: Floyd moved up in weight and fought Oscar De La Hoya instead

OR

When: After Margarito beat Cotto
Why it didn't happen: Floyd took a one and a half year break from boxing altogether

Cotto
When: 2005-2006 at junior welterweight?
Why it didn't happen: Cotto didn't want none

OR

When: Instead of Ricky Hatton?
Why it didn't happen: Hatton's career was in a much better position than Cotto's at the time, brought more to the table and was considered as dangerous a opponent as anyone anyway. Also to settle the score being as they didn't meet each other during Mayweather's tenure at junior welter. Oh, and Cotto didn't even chase the fight

OR

When: Now!
Why it didn't happen: It could do yet / frying bigger fish (Pacquiao)

Mosley
When: 2006-2007
Why it didn't happen: Mosley's "toothache" and vacation and Mayweather frying bigger fish (De La Hoya)

OR

When: Now!
Why it didn't happen: It could do yet / frying bigger fish (Pacquiao & Cotto) / Golden Boy lowballing Mosley's offer to Floyd while offering a far more substantial amount with Marquez's challenge

OR

When: 2005?
Why it didn't happen: Mosley was still campaigning at junior middleweight and didn't respond to the 140lb Mayweather's challenge

OR

When: 1998-1999?
Why it didn't happen: Mosley turned down the still up-n-coming Mayweather Jnr then shortly moved up to 147lbs (Mosley was the one frying bigger fish this time? With De La Hoya in his sights)


Conclusion:

Mayweather's ducking antics are largely myth. The biggest claim would come from Margarito after beating Cotto, but what can you do? Mayweather felt he needed a break from boxing I think it would be harsh to begrudge him that considering how demanding the sport is and his well documented injury problems.

People assume Mayweather has no intention of fighting a welterweight now he's back but these claims are clearly unfounded and only exist because of the bull**** propagated by the large anti-Mayweather culture in the boxing world. It's still early days and I'm fairly confident he will fight at least one of Mosley or Cotto before re-retiring.

Do people expect Mayweather to fight the likes of De La Hoya and Mosley within a couple months of each other? Because that's what it seems like... Most of these ducking claims are just ridiculously unrealistic and have no basis in reality. If he went back in time and fought each fighter he supposedly ducked we'd be sitting here complaining about the lack of names like De La Hoya, Hatton, Baldomir and Judah on his resume.

[MANGLER]

He shoulda fought Marg last yr after he beat Cotto

He shoulda fought Cotto in fall 07, but the Hatton payday is a reasonable excuse. Should he beat Pac, Cotto is in line now also.

He can fight SSM anytime now. He's entitled to a tuneup rather than goin str8 after the top 2 WW's. But he shoulda tuned up wit a lesser WW instead of the fuckin LW champ.

[savorduhflavor]

He should have fought Cotto after he beat Hatton and Cotto beat Mosley. That's what should have happened, and it's more of a shame that didn't happen than anything else.

That being said, I don't think he "ducked" anyone. But he should have fought Cotto then. No doubt about it.

[MANGLER]

He should have fought Cotto after he beat Hatton and Cotto beat Mosley. That's what should have happened, and it's more of a shame that didn't happen than anything else.

That being said, I don't think he "ducked" anyone. But he should have fought Cotto then. No doubt about it.

Good way to phrase it bro. Can't call the man a coward cuz he's a pro fighter. But he is a cherrypicker.

[catalinul]

He should have fought or fight now a couple of guys at welterweight.But that is not my disapointment.

I have a problem he didn't fight Casamayor,Tszyu,Hatton,Johnston at the lower weights.

[FloydsEra]

The TS is right

[savorduhflavor]

Good way to phrase it bro. Can't call the man a coward cuz he's a pro fighter. But he is a cherrypicker.

Exactly. He's a pro fighter, he aint scared of anyone. He just simply doesn't give a **** about the fights the fans want to see, he just wants to make the most money he can. Can't totally fault him for that.

[Ray*]

Timing in boxing essential, But some people dont seem to understand that, When a fight happens it happens because both boxers timing are at the same level.

I really dont and cant blame him for the Mosley and cotto fight not happening but i also feel he could have fought or found time or space to fight Margarito.

[Doctor_Tenma]

I fail to understand what beating Margarito would have done for Mayweather's legacy. Margarito is simply taylor made, slow, open for counter rights, pretty much anything. An opponent Mayweather would win a so called "Boring U.D against". An opponent who was worth Mayweather's time was Cotto but then Cotto ended up losing to Margarito. It ain't like Mayweather didn't contemplate his retirement during the DLH build up, yet to give it another go against Hatton, then turning down 35m for a DLH rematch. It was clear Mayweather's love for the sport either died out or he wanted his body to rest.

He's back now, after JMM he is gonna do serious business. Mayweather will start off by leaving Marquez's lifeless body infront of Pacquiao's front door, indeed he has returned to send Pacquiao a a message, it isn't a "Decisively beat Marquez" sorta message, its a "You'd destroyed my last two opponents, I'll destroy someone most say you didn't beat" sorta message. You people continue to say he is a "Ducker" a "*****" and so on, but none of you have the nerve to put up 1mill, in that Mayweather WILL face Pacquiao, Cotto or SSM after Marquez.

[S.G.]

He should have fought Cotto after he beat Hatton and Cotto beat Mosley. That's what should have happened, and it's more of a shame that didn't happen than anything else.

That being said, I don't think he "ducked" anyone. But he should have fought Cotto then. No doubt about it.

You're right it is a great shame, but I don't think all this finger pointing is necessary. Fights don't get made in boxing from time to time (hell, all the damn time actually); such is the nature of the beast. People seem to expect Mayweather to literally defy time in order to make fights.

For the Cotto fight to have happened after Mayweather beat Hatton / Miguel beat Mosley Floyd would have had to postpone his (obviously long planned) "retirement" for a further 6 months or so. While this would have been great for us I just personally find it difficult classing this as a dodge