MAYWEATHER VS CORRALES

(INSIDE BOXING) This coming Saturday night in Las Vegas, the MGM GRAND Hotel and Casino should provide boxing enthusiasts with one of the most highly anticipated bouts early in the year 2001.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (24-0, 18 KO’s) from Grand Rapids, Michigan will take on Diego Corrales (33-0, 27 KO’s) who resides in Columbia, South Carolina. Both fighters are 23 years of age and two of the premier fighters in the 130-135 pound weight division.

Mayweather, the WBC junior lightweight (130 lb.) champ risks his title against Corrales who just recently forfeited the IBF version of the title in the same weight category. Corrales has publicly stated that he wishes to move up in weight but has taken this fight on a personal basis. Both of these fighters have a definite dislike of one another. Corrales claims making the 130 lb. limit is no real problem but he would feel more comfortable fighting at 135 or maybe even 140 pounds.

Corrales was seeking a fight in the 135 pound category when an altercation between he and Mayweather in the hallway of the Mandalay Bay Hotel after the Lennox Lewis vs David Tua bout this past November prompted this match at 130 pounds. Corrales will attempt to win the WBC belt from Mayweather and, just as he did with the IBF version of the title, immediately announce his forfeiture of the title and continue his bid to gain recognition in the next weight class.

Promoted by Bob Arum and Top Rank Productions both fighters should maintain their status as two of the best in the world. But neither will have much time to rest as their ascent to the title "Pound-for-Pound" will require the heart and grit of a true champion.

Should he win, Mayweather will have to deal with stiff competition in the 130 pound weight class. Current WBA champ Joel Casamayor has become vocal as of late and the Brazilian knockout sensation Acelino Freitas is one all boxing fans have to see. One or both of these fights will have to occur later this year.

Freitas currently holds the WBO title in the 130 pound weight class. He should challenge for the vacated IBF title forcing Mayweather to consider himself before Casamayor. This scenario could mean danger for any one of the three as all know that defeat at the hands of one means risking that "fat payday" all are looking for.

Corrales’ 6 foot height will present a major problem for Mayweather. The slick and elusive Mayweather speed gives Corrales something to worry about. This fight should come down to which fighter is able to inflict his will on the other. Mayweather throws "punches in bunches". Corrales has the one punch knockout ability and is deceptively strong.

If Mayweather thinks he can run from Corrales he needs to look at the Oscar De La Hoya fight when he fought Felix Trinidad. Not only will he be roundly booed and criticized but he will lose respect among those in the boxing community and they are who determine which fights are the most attractive.

Mayweather must take on the attitude of Erik Morales when he fought Marco Antonio Barrera. The hard punching Barrera had challenged Morales to a fight…not a boxing match. Corrales has issued the same challenge to Mayweather. Floyd Mayweather cannot withstand the punishment the 6 foot tall Corrales dishes out.

The outcome of this fight was determined when Mayweather accepted the Corrales challenge to a FIGHT…had Mayweather chosen to challenge Corrales to a BOXING MATCH…he had a chance.

The year 2001 has been designated the year of Championship FIGHTS.

This coming Saturday night Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will experience the distinct difference between a fight and a boxing match.

Boy Wonder

01/15/01