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TOP MAN: Mayweather

FLOYD MAYWEATHER’S victory over Juan Manuel Marquez marked the return of the king.

A measured performance from the undefeated six-time world champion exposed little ring-rust and speculation soon intensified on a 2010 bout between Mayweather and Ring magazine’s pound-for-pound world champion Manny Pacquiao.

The American is in no doubt about his position in the grand scheme of things. “I respect what Robinson and Ali did for the sport.

“But I am the greatest and this is my time,” he said prior to his 2007 fight with Ricky Hatton.

“I can quit today and be known as the best fighter that ever lived,” he added for confirmation.

Buried beneath this boasting is his nagging concern that he is unappreciated when compared to his illustrious forebears. And the futility of cross-era comparisons is offset by their ability to make the mouth water – Sugar Ray Leonard vs Mayweather; Mayweather vs Thomas Hearns; Mayweather vs Roberto Duran – each would be box office gold.

Yet boxing fans eulogise about the exploits of Leonard, Hearns and Duran while some dismiss Marquez’s conqueror as safe and boring.

The men who dominated boxing in the 1980s aspired to colourful monikers. ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and Thomas ‘Hit Man’ Hearns were joined by middleweight champion ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler in boxing Valhalla.

For his part Mayweather has assumed the less-edifying sobriquet of ‘Money’ Mayweather: all professionalism and little sparkle. For sheer entertainment value he would lose in comparison with a fighter like Leonard

Leonard and Mayweather both put backsides on seats but the latter is found wanting when encouraging them to get back up again.

Leonard entertained fight fans with his bravery in going for the execution and looked to see his arm lifted by the referee as quickly as possible, whereas Mayweather seems content with his role as a mere jailer.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddy Roach was critical of Mayweather for not building on his domination in the Marquez fight, but he would do well to remember that his man was unable to achieve such mastery in two bouts against the Mexican. Floyd Junior toyed with Marquez and was often phenomenal without delivering a knock-out blow.

Mayweather adopts a safety first approach but his fluid, economical style has brought home six world titles and millions of dollars – all obtained without a mark to his body – and a similar approach has not done much harm to the likes of Bernard Hopkins and Hector Camacho.

To develop the Leonard-Mayweather comparison to a fuller extent one has to consider that, despite Leonard’s ability to entertain, he was never cavalier in his approach and could employ cautious tactics when necessary.

In his 1987 title fight with Marvin Hagler, Leonard stepped back from his opponent and invited Hagler to become the aggressor. The 4/1 underdog successfully recognised that Hagler, for all his style and power, was not such an effective puncher when forced to pursue a wily opponent.

Critics of Mayweather often cite his split decision victory against Oscar de la Hoya in 2007 as evidence of his limitations. They felt he laboured against a 34-year-old opponent whom he should have dispatched easily.

More controversially, some observers felt Mayweather lost his first clash with Jose Luis Castillo in 2002 despite receiving a unanimous verdict in his favour from the judges.

Such evidence is hardly damning when one considers that de la Hoya was a 10-times world champion and that Mayweather stepped up from super featherweight to lightweight for the first time against Castillo.

Superstars are susceptible to off days. Even Sugar Ray publicly conceded that his drawn re-match with Thomas Hearns in 1989 should have been scored in favour of his opponent.

Mayweather’s sublime victories against Diego Corrales, Ricky Hatton and in the re-match with Castillo demonstrate what a skilled, intelligent fighter he is.

The American was considered the pound-for-pound world champion for almost three years between 2005 and 2008 and immediately took second place upon his return. He is now eyeing up the top spot again.

“You have to realise that most of these guys get in there and fight on heart,” he once said. “I fight with smarts. There is no fighter that is smarter than me.”

It is a statement born of arrogance and, more significantly, accuracy. It takes talent to evade an opponent and pick shots at will.

“People fail to realise I came from a small weight class and worked my way up. I’m never going to win. When am I going to get my just due and people say I’m a great fighter?”

He may not be the number one boxer in history and his arrogance may rub people up the wrong way, but with six world titles in five different weight categories, few can argue that the American deserves to dine at boxing’s top table.

Published: 11 October 2009
Issue: 1393

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