There was recently a conference call with Roger Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe and many boxing writers for the upcoming fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Ricky Hatton. And in this phone call, all of these objective journalist sat and allowed Roger and Leonard to rant and rave about how great Floyd was. Now granted I understand he is his uncle, trainer, father figure, and close confidant, what these journalst allowed Roger to say was sacreligious to the history of boxing and to the sport itself. Uncle Roger made statements in this conference that Floyd was a more skilled boxer then Ali. Floyd was the best boxer next to Sugar Ray Robinson, but also stated that if Mayweather retired from boxing today he would be considered the greatest ever because of his accomplishments. And with that statement, the conference call should have either gone dead, or every boxing scribe on the line should have literaly went on the attack.
Now I am no fan of Floyd Mayweather for a number of reasons. While in conversation it sounds good that a fighter has won 6 titles in 5 difference weight classes while doing so undefeated. But I took the time to really analyze Floyd Mayweather Jr's career and once I was done, I was less impressed with him and his accomplishments then I was before. While Mayweather has campaigned at 5 weight classes, it is a legitimate argument that can be made that since his move to 140, his choice in opposition has been sub-par if not suspect. That I will deal with later. It is his campaign at 130 and 135 that needs closer examination.
Floyd's campaign at 130 and 135 should really be looked at closer by boxing journalist who rank him as the number 1 P4P fighter in the world. While Floyd's first championship fight against Genaro Hernandez happened when he was 17-0, it was a 7-0 fighter by the name of Leon Spinks who upset arguably the greatest heavyweight in history, Muhammad Ali. Ask a 5 year old who Muhammad Ali is, and he might be able to tell you. Ask a 20 year old who Genaro Hernandez is and you would probably get a dumb look. Looking at Hernandez's record, you will see not a list of "who's who" fighters, but a bunch of "who's?". With the exception of Oscar De La Hoya (whom defeated him with a 18-0 record at the time), there are really no nameworthy opponents he faced. No one makes a big deal out of a young Oscar handing him his first loss. but Mayweather is praised for winning a fight that Hernandez heart wasnt in, who retired from fighting afterwards. His very next fight was with Angel Manfredy. Everyone makes a big deal about this fight, but who was Manfredy? The only noteworthy victory on Manfredy's resume prior to Mayweather was a fight with Arturo Gatti whom he stopped ..s. After the Mayweather fights he accumulated 5 losses against Stevie Johnston, Diego Corrales, Paul Spadafora, and 2 unknowns named Courtney Burton and Craig Weber. When looking at Manfredy's resume it is not impressive, so why is a victory over him considered such a wonderful feat? His next fight at 130 was with an undefeated fighter named Diego Corrales. Now this fight Floyd deserves all the praise and credit for. Corrales was a monster puncher who had previously stopped 17 opponents. So an argument can be made for his victory over Corrales cause no one thought he could compete.
Moving on to 135, Floyd's first opponent was against Julio Ceasar Chavez's former sparring partner and then WBC lightweight champion, Jose Louis Castillo. Now many who saw this fight saw Castillo pressuring Floyd, hitting him consistantly to the body opening up occasional shots to the head. Floyd was in a dog fight and in many eyes, one that he lost. Realizing he may have gotten a gift decision and not wanting to have any lingering questions, he offered Castillo a rematch and won easily. But it isnt like Castillo had a great record. While he owns a victory over both Johnston and Paez, most of his victories were in Mexico against fighters with little to absolutely NO professional fight experience. 10 of those fights, some even being later on in his career were against fighters with no more then 3 professional fights, and he still managed to have 4 losses on his record. And his only significant opponents since the Mayweather fight was a victory over Casamayora, a split with Corrales, and getting KO'd by Hatton. So how significant wasa victory over Castillo? He fought Sosa an unknown, and N'dou who basically quit after losing his next fight. So Floyd's campaign at 130 and 135 has been greatly overstated and over emphasized. He never faced the another title holder at either weight. And while I have questioned his career at 130 and 135, to even speak on his accomplisments from 140-154 is shameless at best.
Part II tomorrow
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