by James Slater – Upon turning on my computer today, it was almost instantly apparent how much speculation there is about what Floyd Mayweather Junior will do next. The story continues when it comes to the next step in the pound-for-pound #2’s career, and as has often been the case lately, no-one knows for sure what the man known as “Money” will do next.
Opinion number-one says Floyd will stick to his plan of fighting on the same day as Manny Pacquaio; March 13th, against as opponent still to be named. Opinion number-two, however, says Floyd may actually sit March 13th out and instead fight in May – against the winner of the January 30th clash between welterweight titlists “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Andre Berto. When we weigh up the respective qualities of the fighters who have each been suggested as Mayweather’s March 13th opponent – Timothy Bradley, Kermit Cintron, Paulie Malignaggi and Nate Campbell, in case you’ve lost track – it’s clear to see how opinion number-two is the one that excites the most.
Fans seem to feel Mayweather will get it on with Mosley – finally! – if the 38-year-old WBA 147-pound champ can get past the unbeaten 26-year-old WBC welter champ Berto. There isn’t as much talk or excitement about how Mayweather may or may not face Berto if he wins, however.. But if Mosley does win at the end of the month (for what it’s worth, I think he will – either on points or by late stoppage), and Mayweather has sat idle in the hopes of facing him at long last, how great will that be for us boxing fans?
As a number of people have already mentioned, a Mayweather-Mosley fight would perhaps be an even better fight than what Mayweather-Pacquiao would have been (or still may be, who knows?). This is definitely thinking that is on the right track and IF Floyd is planning to wait for the January 30th winner in the hope that it’s Mosley, his reputation will receive a pretty big boost. Also, if Mayweather-Mosley gets signed, the bad taste that we all had when Mayweather-Pacquiao fell apart would all but disappear.
A great fight on paper today, as much as it was a few years ago, the second-best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet (some still argue Floyd is number-one) versus the WBA and (if he wins in two weeks) WBC welterweight champion is one hell of a proposition. Yes, it’s way too early to get excited about this fight happening, for at least two reasons: 1: Richard Schaefer was on TV yesterday saying Floyd will be announcing his next opponent in “the next two or three days.” And, 2: Mosley has not beaten Berto yet.
If Schaefer is correct, and Floyd is that close to revealing who he will fight next, it’s obvious it won’t be Sugar Shane. But if Mayweather has already got his opponent for March set in his mind, why hasn’t he just got on with it and announced it already? Maybe because the 32-year-old great has made no decision, other than he wants to fight Mosley if he’s victorious?
Floyd is a smart guy, and he knows how the fans would react if he were to announce how he was going to be getting it on with a Nate Campbell (no disrespect to Nate, he just isn’t big enough for Floyd). Having to come up with a foe that would match the guy archrival Pacquiao has announced he will fight – in the huge-for-the-weight Joshua Clottey – and knowing it, Floyd may have settled on Mosley after all.
Again, there are still a number of scenarios that need to fall into place for it to happen, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mayweather “cancel” his March 13th ring appearance and announce in early February how he will be getting it on with the man who has wanted to fight him for years, Shane Mosley. If, of course, Mosley beats Berto on Jan. 30th.
If Mayweather waits for Mosley and then sees his super-fight opponent lose, though, would he then take a perhaps even bigger risk and agree to fight Berto?
The career of Floyd Mayweather has become hugely interesting once again, due to nothing more than the fact that seemingly everyone is talking about who he MIGHT fight!