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Talent-wise Floyd Mayweather should have few problems against Carlos Baldomir, but there are a few concerns for him going into this.
The Pretty Boy is undoubtedly the most gifted fighter in the game today and if anyone around is going to win world titles at six different weights, it will be him.
But for the first time in his career, he is going in against a full-blown welterweight. Not Zab Judah or Sharmba Mitchell, who had both moved up.
Baldomir is a solid fighter, nothing special and what you see is what you get. But he has campaigned at 147lbs all his days - and that could be the biggest problem.
You only have to look at how Ricky Hatton struggled against Luis Collazo to see what a difference that can make - and Hatton was only stepping up one division.
Even the great Alexis Aguello found it too much having moved up from featherweight to light-welterweight all those years ago - although he did come a cropper against a world-class fighter in Aaron Pryor.
But Baldomir is just not in that same class.
He sprung a surprise against Judah in January, but Zab spent the build-up talking about a showdown with Mayweather himself, so clearly wasn't totally focused on the job in hand.
Baldomir also beat Arturo Gatti in July. But after what Floyd had done to him, he was a shadow of himself and well past his best.
Although decent, those two wins do not elevate Baldomir into the same echelons as his opponent this weekend.
But they will have given the Argentinean confidence - as will being a world champion - and we do know he has a decent chin.
He also has a head like a rock and we know Mayweather has been dogged by hand injuries. We have already seen a couple of off-key performances because of that and it has been mentioned again in the run up to this one.
If he damages those hands early on, he is faced with the prospect of flicking punches out against a much bigger, naturally stronger guy all night. He could do that, but against a welterweight, it will be much, much tougher.
Luckily for Mayweather, Baldomir is not a big puncher. If he were, that plus the hand problems and weight issues, would make the WBC champion the slight favourite.
If he is going to pull off a major shock, he has to turn this into a war. He has to stay on the Pretty Boy's chest and not give him any room.
You have to try and pin him down. But as we all know with this kid, saying it and actually doing it are two different things!
If this turns out to be a boxing match, there will only be one winner.
Baldomir's strength will be a factor, but Mayweather's speed will be the ace in the hole. Even though he is moving up, I can't see him, or his team, letting him bulk up too much.
I wouldn't be surprised if he climbs in the ring inside the welterweight limit. I expect him to be at a natural weight come fight time, which means he will still have that terrific speed he posseses.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if Mayweather stopped him, but I have a su****ion he might have to settle for out-boxing him all night and winning on points.
credit ----- jim watts sky sports
The Pretty Boy is undoubtedly the most gifted fighter in the game today and if anyone around is going to win world titles at six different weights, it will be him.
But for the first time in his career, he is going in against a full-blown welterweight. Not Zab Judah or Sharmba Mitchell, who had both moved up.
Baldomir is a solid fighter, nothing special and what you see is what you get. But he has campaigned at 147lbs all his days - and that could be the biggest problem.
You only have to look at how Ricky Hatton struggled against Luis Collazo to see what a difference that can make - and Hatton was only stepping up one division.
Even the great Alexis Aguello found it too much having moved up from featherweight to light-welterweight all those years ago - although he did come a cropper against a world-class fighter in Aaron Pryor.
But Baldomir is just not in that same class.
He sprung a surprise against Judah in January, but Zab spent the build-up talking about a showdown with Mayweather himself, so clearly wasn't totally focused on the job in hand.
Baldomir also beat Arturo Gatti in July. But after what Floyd had done to him, he was a shadow of himself and well past his best.
Although decent, those two wins do not elevate Baldomir into the same echelons as his opponent this weekend.
But they will have given the Argentinean confidence - as will being a world champion - and we do know he has a decent chin.
He also has a head like a rock and we know Mayweather has been dogged by hand injuries. We have already seen a couple of off-key performances because of that and it has been mentioned again in the run up to this one.
If he damages those hands early on, he is faced with the prospect of flicking punches out against a much bigger, naturally stronger guy all night. He could do that, but against a welterweight, it will be much, much tougher.
Luckily for Mayweather, Baldomir is not a big puncher. If he were, that plus the hand problems and weight issues, would make the WBC champion the slight favourite.
If he is going to pull off a major shock, he has to turn this into a war. He has to stay on the Pretty Boy's chest and not give him any room.
You have to try and pin him down. But as we all know with this kid, saying it and actually doing it are two different things!
If this turns out to be a boxing match, there will only be one winner.
Baldomir's strength will be a factor, but Mayweather's speed will be the ace in the hole. Even though he is moving up, I can't see him, or his team, letting him bulk up too much.
I wouldn't be surprised if he climbs in the ring inside the welterweight limit. I expect him to be at a natural weight come fight time, which means he will still have that terrific speed he posseses.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if Mayweather stopped him, but I have a su****ion he might have to settle for out-boxing him all night and winning on points.
credit ----- jim watts sky sports
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