OnThEGRiND BoXiNG

Wednesday May 6th, 2009
by K.M. Stansen

Floyd Mayweather Jr is a living legend who has been slanderously labeled multiple times, in polarizing fashion, and in volumes significantly greater than all of his elite P4P contemporaries and Hall of Fame bound brethren. The most common of course dealt to Floyd these days fall in line with the terms ‘cherry picker’ and ‘opportunist’, even though for a good while he was simultaneously recognized as the very best of this decade. Manny Pacquaio’s acute destructions of both Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton, the fighters that Mayweather had semi-competitive bouts with preceding his retirement has led to Pacquaio’s ascension into the upper echelon of boxing greatness This has certainly given Pacman the edge in all time standing when combined with earlier accomplishments. Some would assert that this study is only academic and subjective, but the fact remains that Floyd bugged out prematurely with unfinished business and did cherry pick his way around 140-147 a bit while Manny Pacquaio has cleaned up and has established a refurbished ‘aura of invincibility’. All of which is prompting Floyd to come back to boxing with sights set on the smaller, but now proven light welterweight Manny Pacquaio to decide who is truly the greatest of this era in the eyes of the majority.

The fight between Floyd and Manny is going to bring record shattering viewers, so it’s great for boxing and I am happy it is at least on the horizon to occur. Aside from the potential staple mark bout as described above, many fans feel that Floyd’s Welterweight run of slight cherry picking has removed his amazing accomplishments prior to moving up to his 4th division, which is absurdly erroneous by nature. This is the sort of shameless tripe where favoritism and tastes unfairly brand a fighter and do not pay proper heed to 80% of a mans marvelous career. So, I am going to spell out exactly what Floyd Mayweather Jr has established legacy wise just for his entrenched, erroneous, thick skulled haters piece by piece:

In skipping his amateur accomplishments and the very early showings, as everyone should know what a prodigy the early Mayweather was before the limelight, let’s jump right into Mayweather’s very first title fight against seasoned vet and respectable champion himself, Genero Hernandez. Mayweather faced off against Hernandez, a top class 130 pounder in just his 18th fight and at the inexperienced age of 21, which happens to be very uncommon, if you recquire a comparison however, Amir Khan is being given a big fat golden pass for having never fought a legitimate top 5 opponent at a year older than where Floyd was at when he won the WBC 130 pound title in beautifully dominative, extravagent fashion. This is quite an achievement for a green Mayweather, whom had jumped up in class rapidly. His follow up bouts include a quick destruction over solid B level fighter Angel Manfredy and a pretty good performance against a game, prime Emmanuel Augustus.

Next up happened to be the late Diego Corrales, a then P4P rated big bomber and certified worthy elite fighter in his own right. We all know the wrap on that, it was one of Floyd’s signature performances, Corrales hadn’t a single chance once the bell rang and Floyd put on a boxing masterclass for the ages. Now, for a young fighter, it seems like Little Floyd is cleaning house in executive style and taking on the big challenges while delivering legendary technical boxing displays. Who can complain?