By Kelsey McCarson: If rumors of Floyd Mayweather’s return to the ring this summer are true, it is a true shot in the arm to the boxing world. Love him or hate him, Mayweather is the best, flashiest and most intriguing fighter in the sport today. His return will immediately garner mainstream interest and appeal.
Boxing needs more Floyd Mayweathers..
Unfortunately, fighters of Mayweather’s caliber only come around once in a generation. He is a rare breed: as skilled and talented as they come with speed and power to boot. He’s the fighter other champions measure themselves against and automatically the pound for pound king when he officially announces his return.
Various reports have Mayweather’s team lining up a comeback fight for sometime in June or July. Most writers are predicting a comeback fight against a b-level opponent. After all, Mayweather hasn’t fought in 15 months and most fighters returning to the ring after a long layoffs tend need to get a couple rounds under their belts to get things back in order.
This is not the case for Floyd Mayweather. Why? Because Floyd Mayweather is not most fighters. Next to Mayweather’s impressive array of prowess, all other fighters are b-level. Sure, I don’t expect Mayweather to fight a naturally bigger man in a superfight his first fight back. He doesn’t need to step into the ring against Miguel Cotto or Shane Mosley just yet, but there is no reason for Floyd not to step in the ring against Juan Manuel Marquez right now.
Sure, Marquez is a brilliant boxer, a true warrior and an all-time great, but what’s he going to do against Floyd? Outbox him? Overpower him? Outthink him?
No, no and no.
Without question, there is no reason for Floyd Mayweather to fight a traditional tune-up. Juan Manuel Marquez is a big name, a great fighter and isn’t currently scheduled to fight anyone else. It’d be a great fight for boxing fans, be internationally appealing to the masses and be a sure win for Mayweather both inside the ring and out.
So don’t do it, Floyd. Don’t be average. You want to be an all-time great, maybe the all-time great? Then comeback and fight big fights and name opponents. Start with Juan Manuel Marquez. Fight the winner of the Hatton-Pacquiao fight. Give Shane Mosley a shot and box the winner of Cotto-Clottey. Step up against the best and be the best. You’re Floyd Mayweather: no tune-up is necessary.
Kelsey McCarson publishes a boxing blog at www.theboxingstop.com