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Before the “Golden Boy”, Oscar De la Hoya , 38-4 (30) returned to boxing after a 16 month lay off on May 6, 2006, he said he was only interested in “big fights” and he would only fight twice. He defeated the tough Ricardo Mayorga in 6 rounds showing the boxing world he is still an elite fighter. After considering a list of potential opponents such as Winky Wright, Ricky Hatton, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. for his farewell fight, he settled on IBF Welterweight Champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., 36-0 (24).
All signs strongly pointed to a PPV super fight next September. Reports had Mayweather earning somewhere in the neighborhood of $10-12 million dollars fighting Del a Hoya plus a percentage of the pay per view revenue. So Floyd paid Bob Arum, his promoter, a reported $750,000 buyout fee to terminate their contract and turned down a reported $8 million dollar offer, from Arum, to face feared WBO Welterweight King Antonio Margarito, 33-4 (38), in pursuit of the “Golden Boy.” On June 21, 2006, “The Golden Boy” announced he was not ready to retire from boxing, but would not fight for the remainder of 2006. According to my sources, this announcement came as a major disappointment and shock to Mayweather.
Who does Mayweather face next? Floyd always maintained he faced the best competition. That can be said of the past, but not the present. There is talk he will face newly crowned WBA Welterweight Champion Ricky Hatton. Hatton would be a good opponent, buy who really wants to see that fight? Hatton was severely exposed in his last fight against Louis Collazo. There is also talk he will face the winner of the Baldomir-Gatti fight. Again, who really wants to see that?
During Mayweather’s last fight he soundly defeated Zab Judah. Before defeating Judah, he fought faded former champion Sharmba Mitchell. Having not defeated the best fighters in or near his weight division for a long time, how can other boxing writers continue to label him “pound for pound” the best fighter in boxing?
Before Mayweather earned the title of “pound for pound”, Roy Jones Jr. had it. Say whatever you want about Jones, but he fought the best competition of his day. When James Toney was viewed as “pound for pound” best fighter in the world he faced the toughest competition as well. Toney eventually lost the title to Roy Jones Jr. and the weight scales.
According to reports out of boxing promotional company Top Rank, for a long time Mayweather flat out refused to even negotiate a fight against Margarito when he was under contract. Regarding Mayweather’s refusal to face Margarito, Bob Arum has been quoted recently as saying, “He (Mayweather) can say whatever he wants, but he’s terrified of Margarito. That’s the only explanation.”
Regarding the $8 million dollar offer, Arum said that would be Mayweather’s biggest purse to date. If Mayweather were to defeat Margarito, he would have that much more bargaining power as one superstar negotiating with another superstar for a potential De la Hoya fight. If Margarito defeats Mayweather, which is a strong possibility, a fight between him and De la Hoya would be as big as when Oscar fought Trinidad.
Who is Margarito that Arum should say Mayweather is “terrified” of him? Mayweather himself has said Margarito hasn’t fought anyone. Then why not pocket an easy $8 million? Rumor has it Floyd views Margarito as a bigger better version of Jose Luis Castillo. Boxing fans remember Floyd fighting Castillo and struggling to win a controversial 12 round decision on April 20, 2004, then defeating Castillo in a rematch seven months later, but Castillo was a handful for Mayweather.
During the rematch, Mayweather was so concerned about his performance, he was overheard asking his corner, “did I win that round?” and “Am I winning?”. Margarito is one tough SOB who throws punches in bunches! He will take two punches from his opponent and retaliate with seven or eight punches. His conditioning is excellent. In a rematch with Daniel Santos for the WBO 154lb title on September 11, 2004, both fighters made the weight limit. By fight time Santos weighed a little more than 170lbs. Margarito hurt Santos with punches before he would lose a controversial technical decision after nine rounds from a cut due to a headbutt. Margarito hasn’t’t truly lost a fight in 10 years.
Fighting De la Hoya would be a much easier fight for Mayweather. Mayweather should prove he deserves that big payday against De la Hoya by defeating Margarito. Margarito should also show why he is deserving of the media exposure he has not gotten this past year by defeating Mayweather if the two meet. Who ever wins this fight should be De la Hoya’s farewell opponent.
Floyd has been backed into a corner because at 147lbs Margarito is the best opponent for him to fight, as well as the most money besides fighting De la Hoya. Boxing purist want to see Mayweather-Margarito. Because of his refusal to face Margarito thus far, many fight fans our now calling him “Fraud Mayweather Jr.” If he continues to refuse this fight it will be hard to disagree with fight fans. If Floyd does takes this fight he will fall at the hands of Margarito by ninth round TKO.
Contact Richmann: Richmann05@aol.com
