There are two undefeated world welterweight champions in the boxing firmament aside from Floyd Mayweather and it would make sense for the man who calls himself The Best Ever to face either one if his claim is to be believed.
Unfortunately, Mayweather couldn’t care less to back up his gab. He’s 38 and a win away from equalling Rocky Marciano’s record of 49-0 when the heavyweight champion walked away from the ring for good. There’s one fight left in Mayweather’s Showtime contract and that’s set at the MGM Grand Garden Arena (where else) in Las Vegas on Sept. 12.
Mayweather has fought his last 11 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena since the Oscar de la Hoya bout in 2007. That’s like his home base. Mayweather has a special arrangement with MGM and presumably, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship. When Mayweather fights, he likes to stack the cards heavily in his favor. He takes no risks. He’ll watch MGM’s back if MGM watches his. They watch and scratch each other’s back.
Mayweather holds the WBC welterweight title. He is also recognized by the WBA as the 147-pound king in the “unified” category. The crass WBA bosses make no bones about recognizing as many as three world welterweight champions under the money-making principle of “the more, the merrier.” The other WBA titlists are regular champion Keith Thurman and interim ruler Andre Berto.
For the record, the WBA currently recognizes 40 world champions in 17 weight categories. The breakdown is 16 regular, 12 interim, six super, three unified, two undisputed and one in recess (lightweight Richar Abril).
Thurman, 26, has a 26-0 record, with 22 KOs. The other unbeaten welterweight champion is the IBF’s Kell Brook of England. Brook, 29, totes a 35-0 mark, with 24 KOs. If Mayweather is truly the best as he insists, why not take on either Thurman or Brook on Sept. 12? Brook is fresh from stopping Frank Gavin last May 30 while Thurman halted Luis Collazo last July 11. No doubt, either will be more than willing to face Mayweather.
But Mayweather’s anointed opponent won’t be either Thurman or Brook. His preferred candidates are Berto and Karim Mayfield. Legendary Mexican fighter Erik Morales said it’s obvious Mayweather has no intention to engage a tough foe. Someone called it a joke for Mayweather to end his Showtime contract and possibly his career with a walk in the park.
Berto, 31, has lost three of his last six outings to Jesus Soto Karass, Robert Guerrero and Victor Ortiz. Thurman has beaten both Karass and Guerrero. The Haiti Olympian has a shaky record of frequent trips to the canvas. He was dropped by Cosme Rivera, twice by Guerrero, twice by Ortiz and once by Karass. Berto is coming off back-to-back wins over Steve Chambers and Josesito Lopez. But Chambers had previously lost to Eddie Gomez and Collazo while Lopez has been knocked out by Marcos Maidana and Saul Alvarez. Berto and Mayweather, by the way, share the same adviser Al Haymon so it’s no surprise why they’re being matched up.
Berto also has a history of withdrawing from tough fights, a sign of reluctance in the face of a challenge. He was once slated to meet Sugar Shane Mosley but backed out of a WBA/WBC unification showdown, citing as reason his concern for Haitian countrymen who were hit by an earthquake. On another occasion, Berto pulled out of a fight against hard-hitting Randall Bailey and even relinquished his IBF welterweight title to avoid the duel.
Of Mayweather’s five fights on Showtime, only his appointments with Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao were blockbusters. Showtime shelled out quite a bit of money, at least $200 Million, for the six-fight contract. The network should at least advise Mayweather that for the last bout, his opponent can’t be a patsy. If the climax is supposed to be a legacy fight, Mayweather should find a more credible opponent than Berto or Mayfield.
If Berto is a joke, Mayfield is a farce. Mayfield has sparred with Pacquiao and isn’t rated in the top 15 by the WBA and the top 40 by the WBC. So what makes him a worthy candidate as Mayweather’s opponent? Mayfield, 34, has lost two of his last three bouts. His record is 19-2-1, with 11 KOs.
There is talk that Showtime wants some kind of assurance that if Mayweather decides to continue fighting beyond their contract, the network will remain a business partner. Mayweather isn’t likely to agree to that. Why tie himself down to Showtime when HBO might make a more attractive offer down the road?
A Mayweather rematch with Pacquiao is definitely in the horizon. Once Mayweather ends his Showtime deal, he’ll be free to negotiate a return bout with Pacquiao. But that will depend on how Mayweather performs on Sept. 12. Maybe, that’s why Mayweather isn’t risking a tough fight. He could be laying the groundwork for another big money battle with Pacquiao. At the moment, Mayweather said the Sept. 12 bout will be his swan song.
“My last fight is in September and then it’s time for me to hang it up,” said Mayweather, quoted by Ron Borges of The Ring Magazine. “Almost 40 years old now. I’ve been in the sport 19 years and have been champion for 18 years. I gotta do things my way. At one time, I loved the sport of boxing. Through the years, I lost the love of the sport. I don’t think I’ll miss the sport. I didn’t come into this boxing business, this boxing game, to outdo anyone. I just wanted to be me. It’s no different from Ali. He called himself the Greatest and you know, this is my era and in my era, I’m The Best Ever.” Mayweather may not miss the sport but the lure of big bucks is what will bring him back to fight Pacquiao.