Hatton and Mayweather Aim for the Sole Crown, or is it?

Floyd Mayweather backed all the trash talk up, predicted the outcome of this victory of Arturo Gatti and did it in amazing style. Yeah, the critics of Mayweather will have to retort, “He is so talented but he has a big mouth.” Grant the new WBC champion a private parade and let’s prepare for him to bask in his new championship glory. It’s boxing and with that being said, we cannot toss Arturo Gatti and his battling legacy out the window and into the dumpster. He showed up, apparently misread the referee’s intentions, was knocked down in the first round, made it back to his feet, walked to his corner and realized Mayweather was in the mood of backing up all his publicity speeches. What can you do? This is boxing, you don’t have to admire the man’s personal flaws, bravado, bulk of self-confidence, which all contribute into major factors on inspiring you to turn the channel when you see him on your local sports channel.

Floyd’s bragging is not that bad, in comparison to the great Ali, who was a poet in his own right and Roy Jones Jr. who was a microphone controller during his fighting days and now a microphone correspondent and when he speaks, you can still hear his cockiness in hidden tones. Call Mayweather a bully, a flashy fighter; he is a combination of a boxer and a fighter with a master’s degree in the sweet science. Now, what is going on in the junior welterweight division? Fans, take a pause and admire the brainchild of talent, understand the whole process of crowning a top fighter in a crowded division.

We have Ricky Hatton who I am sure is studying some footage of Mayweather, as I write, Miguel Cotto is in the gym with an ear to the mat, wondering where he will stand in a division that seems to have high levels of upsets and advancements. Vivian Harris, where did the wind from Carlos Maussa’s knockout punch in the seventh round come from? You have to give SaddoBoxing’s Jonny Townsend credit for believing in a fighter with a lot to lose but who received little media respect for his determination to come out the winner. Now the pieces are falling together, another cycle of great fights in this division will be prepared, at least I am wishing, since we have this magnificent output of entertaining fights, we must keep the boxing gloves laced and punches in bunches.

Mayweather pushed the movement of gaining a little world fame by beating Gatti and the potential for him to fight Hatton is high. Could we have the makings of a rematch here? Cotto is in the position to fight Carlos Maussa again; title it, “Revenge with a Belt,” as a Cotto vs. Harris would be too dangerous for Harris and Maussa vs. Harris might not sell well. I still believe in Harris, but somewhere, it seems that Mayweather got under his skin during their mini argument at Gatti’s press conference. It could be emotions that pushed Harris into fighting wrecklessly, or it could his underestimation of Maussa, whatever the verdict, he came out of the ring without his belt. A few tune-up fights are required. Please consider that advice Team Harris.

Hopefully, Kostya Tszyu will contemplate on the best decision concerning his return on retirement, either way, the man will receive major respect. We still have the less active Francisco Bojado, Mohamad Abdulaev who still has a lot of competitive fighting within his heart, the ever growing Kendall Holt and a list of other mediocre fighters who could step up with hard work and training like Maussa and earn a title shot and title win. It seems as if the warrior Diego Corrales will relax in the lightweight division and share a rematch with Acelino Freitas, leaving us to postpone his junior welterweight welcoming party.

So with this whirlwind of upsets, boxer’s self-prophecies on becoming a world champion, and the power of potential matchmaking, we are right back at the same excitement and persistence positions as we were when we first heard the announcements ofRicky Hatton vs. Kostya Tszyu and Floyd Mayweather vs. Arturo Gatti. I guess the only way to stop this is to have one major champion with all three major belts. After that, we will be a little satisfied, for a day or two.

Shaun Rico LaWhorn can be reached at filmmaking_mentality@msn.com