Floyd Mayweather attempting to justify his choice of Marcos Maidana as an opponent is an exercise in futility – and incredibly frustrating to listen to.
In one video doing the rounds on social media, he claims he can effectively do what he wants because: “It’s not bragging but I am boxing. Floyd Mayweather is boxing.”
Well Floyd, yes it is. And Floyd, no you’re not. Oh and Floyd, if this is it now then you might as well retire because there are no challenges left for you.
Mayweather polarises opinion like few others. For some he is the greatest of them all; his fans love his brashness and marvel at his skills. To others he is excessively arrogant, has ducked dangerous opponents, has beaten the big name fighters on his CV once they were past their best and is devaluing the sport with his hand-picking of opponents.
The last part is hard to argue with. It’s difficult to think of any reason to give Maidana a chance. The Argentine is a likeable boxer with heavy hands and a big heart, but he is slow and the huge looping wide hooks he tends to do damage with will pose little threat to the ultra-slick Mayweather.
So why is Floyd fighting him?
Firstly, it’s relatively risk free. It also ticks off another one of his blockbuster six-fight deal with Showtime and it’s an easy fight to make because Maidana is signed with Golden Boy, who supply all of the American’s opponents.
And that is the essence of the problem right there. The cold war that exists in boxing is hurting the sport, and while it suits Floyd just fine, it damages both his integrity and his legacy.
At the moment there are two camps. Promoters Golden Boy and their fighters work with the network Showtime, while rivals Top Rank work together with HBO.
And at the moment no fights are made across the divide. There is a lot of animosity, a lot of history and a lot of hate on both sides. Not least between Mayweather and Bob Arum, boss of Top Rank.
And unfortunately for fight fans, the three guys out there who are the most credible opponents for Mayweather – Manny Pacquiao, Tim Bradley and Gennady Golovkin – are all tied up with either Top Rank or have obligations with HBO.
Of course there is no responsibility on his part to get involved but if Floyd really is the doyen of boxing, the all-powerful one could do a great deal to mend the division.
Will he do it? Of course not. Picking up $30 million for 12 rounds of glorified sparring with Maidana is far easier.
It was funny this week to hear him tout Amir Khan to face Adrien Broner on the undercard just days after spurning him for the main event.
That’s a fight worth watching, but is like saying ‘Amir, I won’t fight you but it would be great if you could save me from a potential horror show on the pay-per-view sales’.
But, hey, Floyd answers to nobody.
FROCH WON'T GET IT WRONG THIS TIME
Wembley Stadium was this week confirmed as the venue for the second instalment of the Carl Froch v George Groves grudge match and it came as a massive boost to the sport in the UK.
What’s most impressive is the ambition of the move. Promoter Eddie Hearn knows he has a dynamite fight which will capture the public’s imagination so he has gone after the biggest venue he could.
It’s bold and refreshing for a sport that seemingly faces a perpetual battle for relevance.
As for the fight itself, it cannot disappoint. There is genuine ill-feeling and lingering controversy from Froch’s stoppage win last year – it’s a big fight and both the buildup and occassion should provide some serious entertainment.
As for the contest itself, it’s hard to look past Froch.
Groves, of course, dominated the first fight but was seriously in trouble when the referee stopped it a fraction early. Froch’s performance was rank. He was undone by his vanity. He looked petrified by the prospect of being made to look bad by an opponent he dismissed.
Now Groves has his respect, credibility as an opponent and is carrying the public’s expectation it is a different scenario.
Groves will again exploit Froch’s weaknesses, but it is hard to see the champion being so poor for a second time and perhaps another late stoppage could be on the cards.
