By Alston H Borrel
There is a poll on this site NowBoxing.com, which asks the question “Why do you watch Mayweather fights”, and as expected the overwhelming majority of the responders say, “To see Mayweather lose.” Now, this should not be surprising to anyone, Muhammad Ali suffered the same fate during his prime. Like the Ali of old, Floyd is Brash, Confident, Boastful and Effusive. Like Ali in his prime, Floyd has exceptional speed, cunningness, flair, an invincible attitude and is a proven winner. These are all qualities which infuriates those in the boxing world who like their champions to be Subdued, Unemotional, Placid, and Restrained in Speech and Actions.
So we have established that Floyd is a flamboyant character, is that reason enough to dislike a fighter, to the point of watching his fights just to see him lose? How can we in good conscience, so vehemently dislike a fighter who has achieved much more than any fighter active today?
Mayweather is undefeated with 41 wins including 25 by knockout and is currently rated the “Number 1” pound for pound boxer in the world by prominent boxing websites and magazines such as, BoxRec, Ringside Report.com, BBC Sports, Doghouse Boxing.com, Yahoo Sports, The Sweet Science.com, Sporting Life.com, BoxingScene.com, BoxingTalk.com, BoxingNews247.co.uk, EastSideBoxing.com, BoxingDaily.co.uk, HardcoreBoxing.net, DaLockerRoom.com and RonBorges.com. Additionally, he is currently rated by The Ring and ESPN as “Number 1” Welterweight in the world.
Floyd Mayweather was involved in the most lucrative fight ever in boxing history, The fight was with “Six Division World Champion” Oscar De La Hoya, with over $120 million in generated revenue, live gate of $19 million, beating the previous record of $16 million held by Evander Holyfield vs Lennox Lewis rematch, and selling a total of 2.4 million household Pay-per-view buys. Beating the previous record of 1.99 million held by Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson II.
On 22 June 2010, Floyd was listed in Forbes Magazine which ranked him “Number 2” as the most powerful and richest Sport Athlete of 2010. Mayweather earned an estimated of $65 million, placing him second only to Tiger Woods who earned an estimated $105 million.
According to HBO Compubox, Floyd Mayweather, Jr is one of only two boxers ever in history to go an entire round without being hit, the other is Roy Jones, Jr.
Many Boxing experts regard Mayweather as one of the best boxers of all times. Having wins over celebrated opponents such as: Genaro Hernandez, Jose Luis Castillo (twice), Diego Corrales, Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley.
On Wednesday, July 14, 2010 Mayweather was named the 2010 ESPY Award winner for “Best Fighter” during ESPN’s 18th annual event, an honor which was also bestowed upon him in the year 2007 and 2008 as well.
Those of you who watch Mayweather fights just to see him lose, having read the above, can you name a single active fighter today, who has achieved as much as Floyd Mayweather, Jr? Now search your conscience to find out why you hate Mayweather as much as you do.
Hated or not, in his heyday, Muhammad Ali never lost a fight, I suspect Floyd Mayweather, Jr wont either, not until…like Muhammad Ali, he is way, way, past his prime. And when that first loss comes, no one would care, for just like Ali, Mayweather’s legend would have already been assured.
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