I see Judah as one of three real threats to Mayweather's p4p crown (according to my rankings) at welterweight, the others being Hatton & Margarito. Sure, this matchup lost much of its luster after Judah's loss, but didn't he still decisively beat Chop Chop Corley & Corey Spinks, both of whom are above avg boxers? Is there a dispute that Judah has the physical ability to give Mayweather a better fight than Bruseles, N'Dou, Gatti or Mitchell gave him?

I guess what I don't understand is why the media criticizes Mayweather to such an extent. I agree that he's due for a big fight (which I think we have here), but it also sounds like some of the top competition doesn't want to fight him. You Maxboxing guys are supposed to be boxing experts, and you must know that boxing is not only about the best fighting the best (b/c it really doesn't happen much). Boxing unfortunately involves rival promoters and cable giants, risk/reward considerations (that's what a manager is for), too many weight divisions & titles, etc.

Why didn't Mayweather fight the winner/loser of Freitas-Casamayor at 130? Do you really think he was scared or was it b/c the others fought for Showtime? If he was scared, why did he end up fighting Corrales & Castillo instead? Why didn't Mayweather fight Hatton? Didn't Hatton's reps themselves say that he won't be ready for Mayweather until 2007? These are top fights that Mayweather hasn't fought, but I don't see where he is to blame for these. Each matchup would have been or could be PPV fights that would generate a lot of money for him not to take them.

I realize that the unanswered question is what about Margarito. The answer is that there is a date already reserved for July to stage that fight. I know that I would like to see the Judah match first, and if you look at how this fight is selling, many other fans agree. We've already seen Mayweather fight the monster punchers, I want to see how he handles someone as fast and agile as he is. Still, if he gets by Judah, I'd rather see him fight Hatton before Margarito. It's just unfinished business from 140.

Just a few thoughts, let me know what you think. - Manny Blanco

I’ve never said or written that Mayweather was SCARED of Acelino Freitas or Joel Casamayor. (How could I know what he’s feeling?) All I’ve said is that I would have liked to see those fights. The only people who wouldn’t have cared to see those fights at 130 or 135 are Pretty Boy Nut Huggers. Real fans want to see good fights – period. I know there were network roadblocks to making Mayweather vs. Freitas or Casamayor when they all had 130-pound titles but if PBF knew those fights would never happen then why did he crash their post-fight press conference in January of ’02 and challenge both of them? Did he want to convince the press and public that he was willing to try and make those bouts happen or did he just want to be an annoying little p__ck?

I’m not sure why you bring up Mayweather’s past accomplishments with me. I know he beat Corrales and Castillo. I lauded him as an all-time great at 130 pounds. He was a top 3 pound for pound player by the end of ’02, and stayed in that range on my lists until the start of ’05 (when he selected Henry Bruseles as a dance partner instead of someone with a pulse). By that time, he had gone two full years without facing an elite fighter, and he only entered the ring three times in those 24 months. If a champ is only going to fight once or twice a year, he has to do it vs. the best, not fringe contenders (Victoriano Sosa), over-hyped prospects (Philip Ndou) and former title holders who were coming off of a loss (DeMarcus Corely). Otherwise, he has to expect his status to drop (at least with me); especially if his peers are only taking on challenging fights vs. one another (Corrales-Castillo-Casamayor; Barrera-Morales-Pacquiao; Wright-Mosley/Trinidad). I trust you get the picture, and that you are beginning to understand my rationale for my rankings and criticism. I also hope that one day you will come to understand that criticism and analysis are not the same things as “hate” or “hating”.

You point out yourself: “Sure, this matchup lost much of its luster after Judah's loss, but didn't he still decisively beat Chop Chop Corley & Corey Spinks, both of whom are above avg boxers?”

All the critics of this bout (and I must point out that most of the so-called mainstream media is just hyping the fight up along with Bob Arum, Don King, Floyd Mayweather and HBO PPV) have said or written is that the fight has lost its luster – just like you stated in your email. Gee, does admitting that make you one of the “haters” now? Are you going to be banned from BoxingTalk chats now? I hope not, because in my world, that statement only means that you have a normal-functioning brain.

You mention that Judah beat Corely and Spinks. Yes he did, and I gave him credit for those wins, just like I discredited him for his loss to Baldomir. If you fans are going to make a big deal out of Mayweather’s undefeated record, you can’t discount losses – especially to the likes of Baldomir.

You ask if “there is a dispute that Judah has the physical ability to give Mayweather a better fight than Bruseles, N'Dou, Gatti or Mitchell gave him?”

No, there isn’t; but isn’t that an indictment on the quality of PBF’s opposition over the past three years? And do you think that Judah is the only fighter out there who can give Mayweather better fights than the guys you mentioned? Beyond Hatton (who isn’t ready to fight PBF this year) and Margarito (who was born ready), don’t you think that Joel Casamayor, Julio Diaz, Acelino Freitas, Junior Witter, Vivian Harris, Juan Lazcano, and even Lovemore Ndou ALSO have the physical ability (as well as the experience and skills) to give PBF a better fight than Bruseles, Ndou, Gatti or Mitchell?

F__K FLOYD!

As far as Margarito and Santos, I'm tired of hearing people talk about how Margarito lost. Most of those people didn't even see that fight and it was TD. When I do pound for pound lists my biggest dtermination is whether or not the guy beats the top guys, or is at least fighting them and putting on a good performance. Pacman beat Barerra and Morales two top ten guys (KO'd them), Mayweather has never beaten a top ten pound for pound guy, at least not when he fought them. Gernaro hernandez was coming off a loss when they fought. Basically what I'm saying is boxing fans need to get facts straight...being the best is about fighting the best. If I have to wonder what happens betwen two top fighters if they would have fought, that means either the fighters didn't want to fights or their promoters didn't want them to fight. The fight fans are what matters, and we know what we want to see. I'm sure more people would pay to see Mayweather /Margarito than Floyd vs Mitchell, but for some reason he doesn't deserve a shot. Come on man, it's about heart and respect. Don't lie and say that people don't want to see it. All excuses aside. If you're a great fighter, you'll fight anybody. – Kevin Perry

I think Mayweather falls short of having the balls of recent great ones like Pernell Whitaker and Ray Leonard, however, you're wrong about Hernandez coming off a loss before he fought Mayweather. “Chicanito” was the reigning WBC 130-pound champ when he fought PBF – and he was on a six fight win streak, including the great Azumah Nelson – however, he was getting old and he was beginning to really struggle to make 130 pounds... I remember how tired and worn out he looked in the gym (the L.A. Boxing Club) before that fight.

BUT I do think it's telling that the two best fighters Mayweather has fought since JL Castillo - Zab and Chop Chop - were both coming off losses.

BORGES & MAYWEATHER-JUDAH

Better yet, should I say Judah/Mayweather since Judah's "title" is at stake? Anyway, I enjoyed your analysis of Ron Borges’ HBO.com column in the mail bag, and I'd like to elaborate on a point that you started. How does Borges have the gall to dismiss Baldomir's unflattering record in the same column in which he admonishes "latter-day critics" for putting down Mayweather's choice of opponent? Everyone knows that a lot of top fighters back in the day had 10 or more losses on their records - hell, we've got Glen Johnson and his 10 losses around right now, and just about everyone has him as the number 2 or even tied-for-number 1 light heavyweight in the world. Also, wouldn't Mayweather make more money fighting Margarito than Judah since Antonio would probably fight for a smaller percentage of the purse? I try not to think about the financials too much, so you'll have to help me out with that one.

Honestly, I don't have a problem with Mayweather fighting Judah, but I think that Baldomir or Margarito would be more challenging fights for him because of the whole size/chin/toughness factor. I would probably pick him to beat both guys, but they won't run or start reading the wine list when things get tough in the ring. Thanks and take care. – Wilson
You make a good point about Borges dismissing Baldomir because of the Argentine’s crappy record. If you dismiss the real 147-pound champ, do so because of his lack of skills and talent. I think Mayweather could beat Baldomir blind folded. Margarito is another story.

MAYWEATHER AND THE ‘MIDNIGHT OIL’

Keep up the good work but I think you sniffed too much of the midnight oil writing your pound for pound. Wright over Mayweather as the best Just in 2003 Mitchell was the true #1 contender and earned his rematch with Tzuyu. Gatti has a run going by beating Ward, Leija, Dorin and Branco. Corley is a top ten 140lb fighter who only lost to Judah, Cotto, and Mayweather. True, Mayweather hasn't beat another pound-er in a minute but has decisively beat guys on your list while Wright beat an already beat Trinidad and smaller and somewhat exposed Mosley but lost to Vargas, Vasquez, and Simon. Name a prime fighter he beat or someone who had a significant win after Wright beat them Until Floyd's 0 goes he is #1. Margarito lost twice to Santos who is good but no where near Judah and Mayweather is skill and power so why bother. I agree Judah should have earned the fight by winning a tune-up first. Peace and Hair grease – Derek JacksonMayweather was top 3 P4P from '01 through '03, but then he only fought once in '04 (Chop) and has been bullsh__ting ever since. He's dominance post-135 pounds is an illusion, considering the best guys he'll have faced at 140 and 147 – since fighting Castillo three years ago – is Corley and Judah, BOTH of whom were coming off losses.

The win over Gatti was impressive, but despite Thunder's no. 1 ranking by The Ring, I could name at least five 140-pound fighters who would have wiped their asses with the wanna-be boxer brawler, and another five who would have at least given him hell.

I'd have given PBF a lot of credit if he had whupped Mitchell in '03, but he beat the 35-year-old vet at the end of '05, so no props to Floyd for that waste of time, and of course zero credit for slapping around Henry Bruseles.

At least Wright is fighting guys who are not coming off losses