Last night in Las Vegas Nevada, we witnessed a masterclass in how to fight from Floyd Mayweather Jr. as he completely outclassed Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in a 12 round majority decision.
Floyd was at his best against the 23-year-old Mexican, and showed the world that he was without doubt, the greatest boxer on the planet. Yes, he scored a majority decision win, meaning one judge, CJ Ross, was completely inept at her job, scoring the bout, somehow, 114-114. But that was beside the point.
Mayweather looked a class above. He looked on a different level to Canelo all night long, as he avoided the big winding right hands that Canelo throws, while rocking Canelo’s head back with huge straight right hands and powerful jabs. All that with a reported dislocated elbow.
Mayweather claims that he damaged his arm in the second or third round, but he somehow managed to forget about the injury and box his way to an incredible victory.
Canelo had a massive 15 pound weight advantage on the night, with Mayweather somehow weighing in under what he had weighed in at the official weigh in the day before the fight, but it meant little.
The weight issue was the burning factor that many pundits and fans alike thought would have a deciding bearing on the outcome of the fight, with many admitting that Canelo might just be too big and strong for Floyd to cope with, but the 15 pound advantage meant nothing, as Canelo failed to make his advantage in weight count, as Mayweather was too fast to tie down.
Canelo, largely thought of as the man to dethrone ‘Money’ was outclassed, which leaves the boxing public now wondering who will be next, and is there a fighter out there with a genuine chance at toppling the genius that is the pound for pound king?
My thoughts would be ‘no’. Mayweather might just be that once in a lifetime type sportsman. A Michael Jordan of the boxing ring. An untouchable enigma that will retire at the pinnacle of the sport; undefeated.
Danny Garcia is being touted as a possible future opponent for Floyd, after ‘Swift’ came off a very impressive defence of his 140 pound titles against Lucas Mathysse.
But Garcia would be jumping up in weight to face Floyd, and when you give away advantages like that against Mayweather you’re asking for trouble. Just ask Ricky Hatton.
Garcia is a talented boxer, a very good prospect to reign as a welterweight champion in the future, and a very good prospect in terms of PPV standings, but I feel he is not ready for the Mayweather challenge, and may never be. It would make for interesting viewing in the build up watching Danny’s father Angel Garcia and Floyd Mayweather Sr go toe to toe at press conferences though!
Amir Khan is another name being thrown around, with his December opponent Devon Alexander, the reigning IBF Welterweight champ another man being touted as an opponent too.
There is Manny Pacquaio to consider also, but he would need to be impressive against Brandon Rios, and have another big win before Mayweather would consider him as a genuine challenge.
Kell Brook might fancy throwing his hat into the ring for a chance to face Mayweather, but he needs a major big win over the big names in the division first, but with his slow progress in the game so far, he may be too far off a mega Mayweather battle.
Timothy Bradley is the obvious big name opponent, after dethroning Manny Pacquaio, allbeit in a robbery for the ages. But Bradley has his own mega fight coming up against Juan Manuel Marquez, in a fight that I tip the veteran Mexican warrior to win.
So, does that mean Marquez is in line for a rematch with Floyd? No. Who wants to see Mayweather school Marquez again? Not me. Remember, Mayweather was coming off a 21 month lay off when he fought Marquez first, and now at his most active and sharpest, imagine what Mayweather would do to the Mexican warrior.
I believe that Floyd will most likely face Garcia next, with a possible bout against the winner of Khan-Alexander next. A fight with Pacquaio is not out of the question, and if the young, talented Keith Thurman continues his quick progression, I’m sure Mayweather would consider him, too.
There is Adrien Broner for Floyd to consider also, but being good friends with Broner, it is unlikely that fight would take place.
We may not know who Floyd will fight next, but one thing we do know is that Mayweather is still the best boxer in the world right now, and he may just be the best ever.
