07.09.06 – Jeffrey Cabauatan: The Floyd Mayweather vs. Carlos Baldomir press tour for the WBC and Ring Magazine Welterweight Championship of the world got underway today in New York on September 6, 2006. Oddly enough, the $49.95 pay per view bout is titled “Pretty Risky.” Mayweather is arguably the most skilled fighter today in boxing. Whether you like him or hate him, you can never deny his defensive prowess, speed, and boxing IQ. The only criticism of him lately is his choice of opponents lately such as the Bruseles, Mitchell, Gatti, and Judah(after a loss). But that’s another topic and another day..
Carlos Baldomir on the other hand is a blue collar fighter. There is nothing special about his hand speed or his boxing ability. However, he does have an extraordinary chin that can absorb solid blow which allows him to keep on coming forward. Plus add that he always comes in to fight in shape and game makes him a risky opponent. Just ask Zab Judah and Arturo Gatti. Zab Judah came into the fight thinking that Baldomir is just going to stand there while he clowned around. For the first 6 rounds, Zab Judab smirked as he threw his combo to the much slower Baldomir. There was no way Baldomir became flustered or frustrated with Judah’s unsportsmanlike antics. He just kept moving forward and tapping his chin as if he was telling Judah that his punch cannot hurt him. Sure enough in round 7, Baldomir marched Judah down to the rope, tap his chin, and BOOM landed a right hand that turned Judah’s leg into spaghetti. The rest is history after that round, as a discouraged and stunned Judah was out hustled by Baldomir who went on to become the Welterweight Champion. Arturo Gatti would make the same mistake as well as he jumped to fight Baldomir thinking that it is his ticket to third world title. Everything was going to plan for Gatti when he elected to box Baldomir. But ever the true warrior and crowd pleaser that he is, Gatti could not resist to brawl. That was when Baldomir got the opportunity to hurt him and in round 9 backed him off the rope for the knockdown. Gatti would get up only to get pounded again forcing the referee to stop the fight.
“Does he deserve to the fight? Absolutely!” said Floyd Mayweather during the press conference. There’s no argument there. Baldomir paid his dues. He was a 16:1 underdog against Judah and a slight underdog against Gatti. Both fights were televised and he took that opportunity to make a name for himself. Is Baldomir Pretty Risky? To the Judahs and Gattis, he is. But Floyd is no Gatti or Judah. Floyd is a whole new level.
As seen by the Castillo bout, Floyd is susceptible to the rough house pressure fighter. Carlos Baldomir is a pressure fighter alright but he does not possess that quickness that would allow him to catch Mayweather with a punch. Floyd is too slick and too smart. He is not going to lose to a guy who throws one punch at a time. If you want to beat Floyd, you have to put pressure on him while throwing volume punches. Baldomir cannot do that and Floyd is probably well aware of that. But who knows? This is boxing. Nothing is ever written in stone.