6 years ago the fights that the boxing world were asking Mayweather to take were....

[Vito Corleone]

Danny,

In this internet age, it's pretty hard to just slip lies by anyone with a bit of intelligence.

Please stop making up lies about the past to support your current argument.

[Rockin']

no matter what this guy does he will still have his haters who question every move he makes. with paq and the testing, i say good for floyd. stand up and say hey man, i think that this guy is not rollin' right, test him. as for the 60-40 split i again say good for floyd. paq might be the man in other countries but here, where the fight will take place floyd is the man. you ask people on the street who manny pacquioa is, some might know. ask them who floyd is and many more will answer you.

why hate and disect the guy under a microscope for every choice he makes. the guy can straight out fight and needs not prove anything to anybody. hes undefeated and has made his money. Pac will just be a nice little trophy for him in the end. And after he beats paq the haters will come up with excuses as to why he beat him, same as they always have................Rockin'

[bojangles1987]

Mitchell, Gatti, Hatton, Mosley, De La Hoya, Judah, & Tzuyu were guys that all the boxing 'experts' were saying would cement the legacy of Mayweather...he beat 6 of the 7 guys WHO AT THE TIME were considered his toughest challenges.....now when he beats them they were nobodies and he has ducked the best???

Sharmba Mitchell? Really?

Tszyu didn't happen, so whatever.

Hatton and Judah he gets full credit for.

De La Hoya happened two years later when Oscar wasn't even a full time fighter, but he still gets the proper respect for beating a good, titleholder junior middleweight, with most the respect coming due to how much bigger Oscar is than Floyd.

He fought Mosley SIX years after this. And he did get his credit for it. Come on.

He also didn't fight Margarito or Cotto, and as of now the Pac fight has yet to be made. So there you go.

[Walterson]

Great post TS.

The more I read old articles like this... the more I respect Mayweather Jr.

He puts it best his way... "I'm always in a no-win situation"

No wonder he acts the way he does. People just want him to lose.

[Danny Gunz]

Danny,

In this internet age, it's pretty hard to just slip lies by anyone with a bit of intelligence.

Please stop making up lies about the past to support your current argument.

You really like to pick and choose the predictions you put out huh?

I admit I was wrong saying everyone thought it would be a mismatch, but other then the people wrapped up in the "gatti is such a warrior he will find a way to win" mantra. Most people saw this fight as a mismatch.

Here are a couple predictions you forgot to post.

On paper, this fight is a mismatch. Gatti hasn't fought a quality opponent in his prime since De La Hoya in 2001, and I think Mayweather is the most talented fighter in the sport. Mayweather sounds so confident going into this fight, he reminds me a little of Zab Judah before he fought Kostya Tszyu. You wonder if he's underestimating Gatti, but Mayweather is a boxer, not a puncher, and he knows he has to outmaneuver him to win. People make a big deal about Gatti's improved footwork and better discipline since Buddy took over his training, but what is he going to do, outbox Mayweather? Yes, Mayweather was buzzed pretty good by Chop Chop two fights ago, but I don't think Gatti gets close to him in this fight. Gatti has looked great since Oscar destroyed him, but I chalk that up to smart matchmaking by Main Events more than anything. Mayweather should dominate the fight, and I think something bizarre is going to happen, with McGirt stopping the fight some time late because Gatti is taking such a beating.
Mitch Abramson

Though it’s hard not be impressed by the way Arturo Gatti has turned his career around, good matchmaking has figured strongly in his recent winning streak. In Mayweather, he faces an opponent who is surely the most naturally gifted fighter in the game today. I don’t know why Gatti and trainer Buddy McGirt seemed so eager to make this fight, but clearly they must know something I don’t. As much as I want to pick the man from Montreal, I can’t ignore the obvious: Floyd Mayweather has to make a tactical mistake to lose this fight. I don’t think he will. Mayweather boxes his way to a Unanimous Decision victory.
Chris Gielty

No surprises here: Mayweather cruises to a clear-cut unanimous decision. Would love to be wrong.
Zachary Levin

On paper this should be a rout for Mayweather - an easy TKO 9 due to cuts. But I've got a weird feeling about this one. I'm not brave enough to call for an upset, but something tells me to expect the unexpected. How's that for a definitive prediction?
Marc Lichtenfeld

And if you actually read all of the predictions you have posted without just looking at the highlighting you can see almost all of them are people blindly going for gatti.

[BoxingTech718]

Peep this article from 2004

FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. - A PATH TO IMMORTALITY

By Robert Brown

His crime, the systematic dismemberment of all human beings that he comes in contact with in the ring. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is without question, one of the best in the game. He seems to have mastered the sweet science and at 27 years young he's got plenty of time to make an even deeper impression on the world of boxing. Of the top fighters on everyone's pound for pound list he is the only one still undefeated. He's only been down once and many of the fighters that he's beaten have gone on to win world championships. Mayweather is truly a force to be reckoned with, but many question whether he is actually the top pound for pound fighter in the world, whether he truly is pay per view material, and whether he will be a people's champion.The answers to these questions remain blank. Most are still searching for that career defining fight, the type of fights that endeared mexican legends like Julio Ceasar Chavez to his people. For Floyd Mayweather, fights like the ones we're about to outline could put his name on everyones all time top ten pound for pound list.

First for Floyd is a fight that he definitely wants: Arturo Gatti. Floyd is in position to capture the WBC title at 140 by fighting the most entertaining fighter of our era, the Ultimate Blood and Guts Warrior we call Thunder. At 38-6 (29) and standing 5'8 Gatti is a big junior welterweight and any fight that he's in will be exciting. He possesses one punch knockout ability and has the heart of a lion, this fight could one of those career defining fights for Floyd because even though he has superior boxing ability you can never underestimate heart.

Next on the path is a fight with the winner of Tzuyu-Mitchell. Assuming Floyd beats Gatti for the WBC title this would be a great unification bout. If his opponent is Kostya Tzuyu 30-1(24) this bout could be history in the making. Tzuyu is a legendary warrior in the ring with bone shattering power and the accuracy of a sniper. For Floyd this is truly a career defining fight. The ongoing battle of speed vs. power. if his opponent were Sharmba Mitchell then you have an equally entertaining bout pitting pure boxing and speed against pure boxing and speed. This fight could come down to whoever executes thier game plan to the fullest.

The next bout for Floyd would be at 147 against the undisputed champ Cory Spinks. This fight has history and the future all tied in one event. This is a highly technical matchup that would feature two of the slickest boxers in the boxing world going head to head. Spinks is best known for his disarming of Mayorga and his out boxing of Zab Judah. We got a preview of the press conferences at the Judah-Spinks post fight presser. If both Mayweather and Spinks want this fight and came in highly motivated this fight would be one for the ages, and the winner would clearly be technically the most sound fighter of our era. Spinks would present a big challenge for Mayweather as he would be one of the taller and slicker fighters that Mayweather has faced.

If Mayweather were to get by the fights that have already been listed, then fights against two Latin legends would easily propel him into yet another boxing stratosphere. A fight with Puerto Rican legend Felix Trinidad would be an instant classic. Trinidad 41-1(34) is known for his devestating power and pressure. Mayweather would have to have his defense and ring generalship in tip top shape because one punch from Tito can end a fight quickly. The other legend is Oscar de la Hoya 37-3(29). If Mayweather could somehow lure De la Hoya in the ring this fight could easily do as many or more PPV buys than any in history. The storyline behind this fight is one that would be discussed in the news and shows like 20/20, 48 hours, and dateline would eat this up. The father-son rivalry, to fighters that moved up thru the same weight classes, and though some would argue that this would make boxing seem like somekind of circus this is the type of fight that could help put boxing back in the mainstream. Thses fights would be the ultimate emotional victories for Mayweather and would set him up for the biggest stage of his career....

For over eleven years now Bernard Hopkins 44-2-1(31) hasn't lost a fight. His record 18 defenses and his solid ranking as the number one pound for pound fighter on most list are a testament to the fact that he's ruled the middleweight division with an iron fist. He systematically beats down all who challenge his position and herein lies the biggest challenge and greatest display of championship heart that Mayweather can display. Hopkins would be the biggest foe he would have ever faced at almost 6' 1. Each of the fighters he would have fought previously would have built him up to this point. In short a perfect fight would be what Mayweather would need against the veteran Hopkins who would be physically and skill wise the toughest challenge Floyd could face. A win or a good showing would put Floyd in a class all by himself.This fight would easily be for the undisputed pound for pound fighter of our era. This fight makes him immortal.

If this fight plan were followed in a two to three year period, Floyd would quickly go from the brink of greatness to the top of the mountain. Five to six fights away from immortality and a solid place as one of the greatest fighters ever is a position that most people would kill to be in and Mayweather is there. If he accomplishes this he can add another alias to his growing list, Immortal.


http://**********.com/pag/article.php?aid=135

The only people dis*****g this are nutthuggers and guys who just started watching boxing. Give the man his credit.

[paulf]

Excellent find! Thanks

[Pirao]

It's true, people love to hate on Floyd. Since he usually beats his competition easily they're called bums or washed up after he fights them. He's too good for his own good.

[B.U.R.N.E.R]

Awesome article.............

[ADP02]

Arturo Gatti is my favorite boxer active today. Why? Because he a true warrior. He's a throw back to the days when you boxed to survive. His style would have made him popular and competitive in any era. That is why I was sad when I heard that Arturo signed to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. As tough and talented as Arturo is, I just cannot see him winning the fight. Floyd is the most naturally gifted boxer I've seen since a youthful Roy Jones Jr. Anything Arturo can do, Floyd probably can do as well if not better. I see a pretty one-sided bout with Floyd finally winning by late round KO. I hope that I am wrong.
Jim Amato

My God, I've been flogged almost mercilessly in my predictions for the last month. But — Hallelujah! — I've been given a gift from above: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Arturo Gatti. Gatti gave us all a show when it came to his trilogy with Micky Ward. But he really hasn't proven himself beyond that. Mayweather Jr. is getting a gift in the form of a UD victory. I might relish this victory more than "Pretty Boy" Floyd.
Jesse K. Cox

Yet another pick where I'm going with my heart instead of my head. I've only picked against Floyd once in his entire career - the Corrales fight. I couldn't have been more wrong in that one, and am bracing for a similar letdown here. So, with no logic to support my pick, I'm just gunning for an upset based on a gut feeling. Arturo will be way behind on two cards, yet surprisingly close on a third, when he rallies late in the eleventh to batter him along the ropes. Floyd will not drop, but his head will snap back juuuuuuust enough for the referee to stop the contest - and set off a frenzy from the Mayweather camp. Floyd will immediately recover, and protest to no end that he was the victim of a premature stoppage. He'll be right - but will also be without his undefeated record at the end of the day. Gatti TKO11.
Jake Donovan

Heart and toughness are wonderful things for a fighter to have, but they still take a back seat to overall talent. Unless Gatti lands a good shot early, he has a long night against the superior skills of Mayweather. I'm pulling hard for Gatti, but my head tells me to pick Mayweather. If he comes into this fight focused and takes Gatti seriously, he wins by TKO (cuts) in the tenth round.
Rick Folstad


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Aaron Tallent

You can put as many names and quotes as you want but Floyd was favored over Gatti.

Even if you read those that picked Gatti, you would see that they too were saying it would be an upset!!! Quite a few also admit that they are going with their heart, not their head.

Gatti represents something that makes you cheer for him.....

As for Buddy McGirt, he may have added some boxing skills so Gatti can prolong his career but I have to say that it took away something from Gatti as well ....