A Ray Robinson Performance,  Maybe a little Better

By Moncayo Blackbull     Photos: John Hornewer (Click on photo for larger view)

INSIDEBOXING.com (December 14, 2007) - Every time you hear talk about the greatest fighters, you hear Muhammad Ali and Ray Robinson and today’s boxing fans just have to sit and listen and take the old timers word that these guys were really all they are talked to be, or have been. Sure, today’s fans can watch the videos, but it’s not the same, Kind of like, tell today’s teenagers about record albums, cassettes, 8 tracks or even the open faced 4 tracks, who cares? They are not interest in what used to be, only what they have today.

I can’t tell you about Robinson or Ali as a eyewitness, as they were before my time, I only talk about what I read and the tapes I’ve seen of their performances, so I won’t pretend to know first hand about the past greats after all I’m not Max Kellerman.

What I will tell you is today we have a great in Floyd Mayweather jr. and when you talk about active fighters there is none greater. Can you hear me Oscar? AND speaking about DeLaHoya, real quick… this piece could have very easily been about him but he gave up making history for money. Now let’s get away from what could have been and back to reality.

Many people downplay boxing and talk about how boxing is going downhill but I have no problem with the boxing I’ve witnessed over my years as a fan, I’ve caught the likes of Salvador Sanchez, Wilfredo Gomez, Alexis Alguello, Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, Roy Jones plus many more.

Now with American TV giving exposure to fighters outside the US, we are treated to see the Ricky Hatton’s and Calzaghe’s of the world, it’s good to be a boxing fan today.

Mayweather with his performance over Hatton can easily lay claim to being in the same company amongst Ali and Robinson, after all he’s only beat everyone put in front of him. And don’t listen to that quality of opponent’s baloney, take a look at Robinson and Ai’s records and you will see they are filled with their share of inferior opponents.

The big difference between Mayweather and Robinson is not in the ring but out. Mayweather will surely leave the sport with an abundance of money, also fans love to hate Mayweather out of the ring where they loved Robinson.  Out of the ring Mayweather more or less shadows Ali in respect where fans can’t wait to see him get beat. Mayweather’s big mouth annoys the fight fan to the point where fans will pay in hopes to see an opponent put an old fashion ass whippin’ on him, Ali much of the same. All in all like Ali, Mayweather is well respected for his talent and skills.

Mayweather has accomplished and met his goals as a fighter and now has his mind set on boxing outside the ring. Mayweather has established and formed his promotional company, following the footsteps of Oscar DeLaHoya. With an aging Don King and Bob Arum, look for DKP and Top Rank to slowly diminish and fade as we see strong and well financed Golden Boy and Mayweather promotional companies become the future promoters of boxing.

Should Mayweather elect to fight a few more fights, he may very well surpass DeLaHoya in the revenue department. Imagine that, bad boy Mayweather outdoing good boy DeLaHoya in gross revenue. DeLaHoya, a big box office draw because of his clean goody-to-shoes looks and attitude while you have the opposite in Mayweather and his don’t give a crap approach. While DeLaHoya made the jump into hyper-money by defeating Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez, the same can now be said of Mayweather when he defeated the Golden Boy.

Brave heart fighters in the weight class subject to Mayweather and on the horizon include Miguel Cotto and Paul Williams, fighters in the mix include Antonio Margarito, Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley and Vernon Forrest. Now would your rather see any of the aforementioned fighters fight Mayweather or DeLaHoya? Personally, I feel DeLaHoya’s time has come and gone. I for one would rather see Mayweather in a rematch with Hatton or fight any of the other fighters in the mix, DeLaHoya versus anyone just don’t excite anymore.

Mayweather can stop fighting today and seal his legacy to boxing and be considered one of the greatest if not the greatest fighter or continue fighting and put millions more into his bank account.

Whatever Mayweather decides to do is fine with me as I can say, It’s great to be a boxing fan today. In the meantime I will be looking for an old timer that has witnessed Robinson, Ali and Mayweather and get his Birdseye view and give a comparison.

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