Boxing Preview: Baldomir – Mayweather

By Simon Jackson

Come On, Everyone Knows This

Any horse trainer will tell you the best form is recent form. It doesn’t matter what his stable star did last year, the key is how he’s doing today. Boxing trainers are the same and know a fighter who has won his last five of ten is a much more formidable proposition than a talented out-of-form fighter.

Recent successes tell the story as confidence is the key. On its own, mind frame doesn’t win horse races or fights – but combined with ability and a good run of wins it says plenty – and if these victories have been against the odds and at the highest level then you have one very happy trainer.

If each of these recent successes have been a significant step up in class from the previous outing – well come on, everyone knows this – the trainer is over the moon and the horse or fighter is in form.

As the next step up is targeted there are many things to be feared. Realistically, a fighter can only improve so much in a certain period of time but tell me this: should Carlos ‘Tata’ Baldomir be 11/2 with Betsport to beat Floyd Mayweather on Saturday?

Of course he shouldn’t. Mayweather 36-0 (24 KO’s) is a 1/10 shot to remain unbeaten on Saturday when they meet to decide the WBC, IBO and IBA welterweight titles at Las Vegas’ Thomas and Mack Center.

Though Mayweather is pound-for-pound one of the best in the business, he is ridiculously underpriced for his bout against in form Baldomir.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Baldomir reiterated his recent bullish predictions, saying: “I am confident that if it goes the full rounds that I can win a decision. Basically I do think he is the best fighter out there as far as talent” he continued “but I think once we get there I am going to come out with the victory.”

Mayweather, known as ‘Pretty Boy’, last fought in April of this year when he beat talented Zab Judah on points for the IBF and IBO welterweight titles – as did Baldomir for the WBC welterweight title three months earlier.

Baldomir, a proud Argentinian, met Judah at New York’s Madison Square Garden in January in what was by far his toughest fight to date. Baldomir put in an outstanding performance to gain a unanimous points decision to ignite the touch paper of his explosive ascent.

Baldomir, previously unbeaten in 19 fights at a significantly lower level, again confounded the sceptics in July when beating Arturo Gatti for the WBC and IBA welterweight titles. An impressive career record of 43- 9-6 (13 KO’s) was transformed to 21 fights undefeated and two world titles.

Baldomir remains very down to earth when speaking of his meteoric rise.

“I came from a very humble family,” he said on a recent conference call. “My background means I had to fight hard and train very hard to get where I’m at.

“The hardest thing of course was waiting for the opportunity. I mean after I [had to] fight everyone and beat everyone. But I knew it was a matter of time. The hardest thing was waiting. But I knew it would get there. I knew I would take advantage of it and I did.”

Family focussed Baldomir lives with his wife and four children in Los Angeles but takes great pride in his South American roots and is delighted to be recognised in his home country.

“I have gone back home and they have truly welcomed me like a true hero and a legend” he said proudly.

And proud he is too of what he believes to be the reasons for being virtually undefeated in the latter half of his career.

He said: “Basically it is because from 1999 to 2006 I just trained much harder. I dedicated myself much more and I took it more seriously. That’s all there was.”

But that’s not all there is.

This time there is a small, but undeniable chink in the Mayweather armour. For the first time he must fight without the assistance of the ever present Roger Mayweather, his uncle and trainer, who is serving a brief jail term for assault.

The absence of Mayweather senior – already banned for 12 months and fined $200,000 for starting a mass brawl after ‘Pretty Boy’s” victory over Zab Judah in April – will be a real loss to his talented nephew.

Of course corner-men alone don’t win fights but everyone knows how vital an athlete’s mind frame is. As Baldomir enjoys the ride of his life, Mayweather will be missing something from his.

Courtesy www.frankmaloney.com