Earlier today, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
(41-0, 25 KOs) posted the following to friends and fans on his Facebook page.
(41-0, 25 KOs) posted the following to friends and fans on his Facebook page.“Back in the RING soon!”
Should the undefeated former five-division world champion mean what he posted, fans just may see the 34 year-old native of Grand Rapids, MI, ply his craft in the ring sometime again later in 2011. It would be his first match since dominating “Sugar” Shane Mosley via a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision on May 1, 2010.The web post is significant in that Mayweather has given little hint as to when or if he would fight again over the last year, and has primarily used Facebook as a means for uploading party and vacation photos as well as announcing gambling winnings.
In terms of a possible opponent, there was widespread speculation all over the Internet not too long ago that undefeated former lightweight champion Paul Spadafora (45-0, 19 KOs) was in the sweepstakes. Should that match-up materialize, it would be considered nothing more than a tune-up fight despite Spadafora’s impressive record, due to a stint in jail and weak level of recent opposition for “The Pittsburgh Kid.”
Of course other possible opponents include Timothy Bradley, Victor Ortiz, Marcos Maidana and Miguel Cotto.
Then there is Manny Pacquiao who is scheduled to fight Shane Mosley next weekend in Las Vegas, NV. Should Pacquiao defeat Mosley as expected, the demand for a fall/winter showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. later in the year would be greater than ever.
Of course anyone who follows boxing knows the bad blood between the two and their multiple failed negotiations for a fight in the past, but as has always been speculated, perhaps enough money will be thrown their way to overcome their differences. Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum claimed Mayweather’s asking price to get him in the ring with the pound-for-pound great was an astounding $100 million in the most recent round of talks between the two camps.
A much easier fight to be made would be a rematch with Shane Mosley should he overcome steep odds and manage to defeat Manny Pacquiao next Saturday night. Also on the short list and possibly a much more lucrative fight than a Mosley rematch would be an encounter with British boxing star Amir Khan.
Although Khan does not appear to be ready for such a test as Mayweather, a combination of his vulnerability and mass marketing appeal could compel a match to be made. Also, the fact Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach also trains Khan would be a nice subplot and serve as a further build-up to an ultimate fight with the Filipino. Additionally, Mayweather has done good business in recent years with Golden Boy Promotions, which also happens to promote Amir Khan.
Like him or not, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is good for the sport of boxing, and any promotion including him is a huge event. His options in the ring are certainly plenty, so stay tuned for further details as they may develop.
Source: examiner.com
