CHASING MAYWEATHER JR.
Floyd Mayweather Jr., the man standing on top of the mountain, “King of the Hill”.
By Moncayo Blackbull  Photo: Jose Chavez

INSIDEBOXING (June21, 2007) - Today, Floyd IS boxing, no longer are the contenders looking toward Oscar DeLaHoya for that big payday, the money now follows Mayweather Jr. Ricky Hatton and Jose Luis Castillo fight each other this weekend and what do you hear coming out of their mouths? Mayweather Jr.! Antonio Margarito and Paul Williams are set to meet each other who do you think they have on their wish list? Mayweather Jr.!

The mega fight is now against Mayweather Jr.

DeLaHoya still can bring big money fights to the table, his popularity and name recognition dictate the big payday but unless he fights in a rematch against Mayweather Jr. he’ll only tarnish a legacy in boxing.

DeLaHoya has lost three of his last five fights, four if you take away the gift of a win against Felix Sturm. People and DeLaHoya fans realize a fighters has to get old, the hunger that was once fueled by beans and tortillas dies now that it’s satisfied with steak and Lobster. The only fight I see DeLaHoya getting “up” for is against Mayweather Jr., after all it wasn’t like Mayweather Jr. just outright kicked his butt. Many observers even thought DeLaHoya won the fight.

The tide has shifted and Mayweather Jr. is the man to beat, Mayweather is the man standing at the head of the class, Mayweather is a man who doesn’t know how it feels to lose.

The question is what will Mayweather Jr. do now? He has said he has accomplished all he can in the sport of boxing and is ready to retire but will he? Some how I get the feeling the hunger and desire have not been satisfied in Floyd. Will he encourage the fleet of elite to step up and challenge him, I think so.

The three contests I foresee as mega fights are first and foremost, a rematch against DeLaHoya followed with possible battles against Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton. Should Jose Luis Castillo defeat Hatton in there upcoming contest then Castillo would definitely put himself in the picture.

Let’s take a closer look at the above mentioned.

DeLaHoya: Without a doubt is the front runner, arguments can be made for the first contest that he was the aggressor, made the fight and should have won or at least come out with a draw. If DeLaHoya learned anything from the fight then he can make adjustments and bring a new plan of action to the ring.

Cotto: Interesting contest and one the public will pay to see. Cotto would be the most dangerous fight for Mayweather Jr. as Cotto has proven to be able to slow down his opponents and deliver damaging blows. Cotto has a solid chin and gets stronger as the fight progresses.

Hatton: Hatton represents non-stop action, he lives for an exchange of blows. The key in this fight is whether Hatton will be able to make Mayweather engage into a brawling battle. Many have tried and many have failed.

Castillo: Castillo is the only fighters that can say he beat Mayweather Jr. and actually have people believe it. The two have fought twice before with Mayweather Jr. winning both times. However, there is a good share of viewers that feel Castillo won the first contest. Whether or not you believe Castillo may have won the first fight, all questions were answered in the second encounter as to whom the better fighter is, as Mayweather Jr. pitched a no-hitter and Castillo was never in the fight.

The truth is Mayweather’s next fight doesn’t have to be a mega fight, Mayweather Jr. can elect to take a few “stay active” bouts by fighting any of the top ten boxers on any one of the sanctioning body’s lists.

Until Mayweather Jr. makes a final decision on his future, he is the money man.