QUESTION: Why was Arum willing to have young Floyd move up 2 divs to fight Shane?

[And Still]

In 1999, 22 year old Mayweather and Arum offered Shane a fight at 137. At the time, Floyd was at 130 pounds, and Shane was moving up in weight from 135, since SM was having trouble making weight at LW.

Shane declined and took a fight with Wilfredo Rivera at 147.

You have a young fighter who seems to have the skills/characteristics for greatness, but he is still pretty young. Why would you have the guy move up two divisions to fight a bigger guy who looks like a killer at the time?

That would be the equivalent of asking Tim Bradley to go from 140 to fight Paul Williams at JMW.

[Bogig]

That's what Pac did many years ago when he moved up 3 weight divisions (from Flyweight 112 to Superbantam 122) to challenge directly for the title held by Ledwaba. He was only 23 years old, and eventually won his 2nd divisional title.

But then that's just a chapter in Pac's amazing career.

[flyest1]

The fight to be made was Mosley vs Stevie Johnston at that time. After Mosley beat Golden Johnson in January 09. The next month Johnston got his belt back from Cesar Bezan. Merchant asked Johnston was he going to talk to his promoter Bob Arum to make with Mosley. Johnston said " I would love to fight Mosley, but want to fight in Denver first". He never fought in Denver. He was on the undercard of Tapia vs Ayala in Vegas

Mosley fought John Brown around that time. Sruggled to make weight and weight 152 on fight Night. He moved up after to WW. Johnston fought Manfredy after Mosley moved up.

**** I want to know why Arum would offer Floyd a fight with Mosley. But wouldn't make Johsnton vs Mosley