By James Slater, Eastside Boxing
There is less than two months to go until pound-for-pound #2 ranked star Floyd Mayweather Junior's March 13th fight takes place, yet we are still in the dark about who it will be that opposes "Money" when the bell rings. It really is about time Team-Mayweather get on with it and announced the opponent. We know who Manny Pacquiao, the pound-for-pound #1 is facing now that the super-fight everyone wanted to see is no more; Joshua Clottey - but what about Floyd?
The names that I keep hearing are Nate Campbell (not excited at all, as Nate is simply too small and doesn't hit hard enough), Paulie Malignaggi (a fraction more interested, but Paulie's lack of pop is a real concern), Timothy Bradley (slightly excited, seeing as how Tim is both undefeated and arguably as fast as Mayweather) Kermit Cintron (a decent choice, considering Kermit's one-punch KO power) and finally, Paul Williams (massively excited, for obvious reasons!)
The Williams fight looks a real long shot, even though "The Punisher" has made it clear he would be willing to take the fight; while the Campbell fight seems to be the most likely to be made for the 40-0 talent. But of course, we won't know for sure who it will be in the other corner in Las Vegas in March until the official announcement comes. What's taking so long?
To my way of thinking, there are two most likely reasons why Mayweather et all are taking so long to announce the opponent. 1: there is a big name being sought and until the potential big fight is a definite nothing can be announced for risk of being premature. 2: Mayweather and his team are keeping it a secret for as long as possible because the fighter Floyd will be meeting is a no-hoper and they know it.
But whoever it is Floyd fights, if the box office "war" with Manny Pacquiao is to be even close, the opponent had better be named fast. Otherwise ticket sales and TV sales are to have a hard time of being good. For unless there is a late demand for tickets when the fight is finally announced, the Vegas show doesn't figure to sell all that well now that there is less than two months to go and fans don't have a clue who the other fighter will be .
It will be depressing if it is apparent favourite Campbell who lands the fight - to everyone but "The Galaxxy Warrior, " that is. Past his best at age 37 and only one fight (a No-Contest) removed from being a lightweight, Campbell would have next to no chance to even win a couple of rounds against Mayweather. And what will happen to Floyd's rep if it's the former ruler at 130 and 135-pounds he does choose? How will it appear to the world if Mayweather opts to fight not even a fully fledged light-welterweight, but a lightweight who reached the point where he was simply unable to make the weight any longer?
Floyd has been given plenty of flak because of his reluctance to want to fight anyone his own size ever since he moved up to welterweight in late 2005, and rightfully so. If he faces a man who did his best stuff as a lightweight, this reputation may never ever fully recover. Fingers crossed Mayweather shocks us all and announces to a receptive audience that it will be tall southpaw Paul Williams for March 13th. (some hope!)
Source: eastsideboxing.com
No comments:
Post a Comment