Why Mayweather had to fight Baldomir-Catch 22

[HaglerSteelChin]

fine, baldo had the lineal title.

but floyd didn't need to retire and let cotto/mosley/margo fight it out and then come back when they are all spent.

I would agree with that. After the hatton fight, if he had fought atleast 2 of those 3 names at WW he would have silenced atlot of his critics and especially since Cotto was undefeated at that time.