Mayweather Wins 12 Rounds To 0,
Asks For Respect, Cries, Lies,
Disrespects Oscar & Contradicts Himself

Photos & Report By Bret “The Threat” Newton


Let me start off by saying that I do not agree with my colleague Will “The Thrill” on the scoring of this fight. As much as everyone wanted a good fight and perhaps for Baldomir to make it interesting, it wasn’t and was one sided all the way. However, we both see eye to eye about Floyd’s personality, his unbelievable fans and the mockery of his post fight speech. Ok, credit’s due to Mayweather for his 12 round clinic on Carlos Baldomir. It’s one thing he got upset with Larry Merchant about after the fight saying he wasn’t respected enough as a fighter and for the talent he’s been given and for the fights he put on. Ok, great job, Floyd. You happy? What I don’t get is, why do you want respect and everyone to act surprised and give you credit for something that everyone already knew was going to happen? Fans have clearly stated they didn’t want to order the PPV because it was going to be “so one sided” so it would have been a waste of money. Everyone had hoped Floyd was going to fight Antonio Margarito or Oscar DeLaHoya or even Shane Mosley instead. Of everyone who predicted Baldomir to win, it was based on hope. Not on knowledge of both fighters. Carlos Baldomir was clearly voted as the “Weakest Opposition” of all those fighters mentioned which also included Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, and Winky Wright. Baldomir was only given a 2.0% rank on “Who Has The Best Chance Of Beating Floyd Mayweather” of those 7 fighters.

July 31-Aug 6 (Past Poll Results)

Who Has The Best Chance Of Defeating Floyd Mayweather Jr.?
Antonio Margarito		26.0%
Oscar DeLaHoya		25.0%
Winky Wright		22.0%
Miguel Cotto		10.0%
Shane Mosley		8.0%
Ricky Hatton		7.0%
Carlos Baldomir		2.0%
Thanks for Voting!

So why was this fight such a surprise? Why did this fight even take place to be honest? But you want credit, Floyd? You did absolutely average, perhaps below, in beating a fighter everyone expected you to win all 12 rounds against. It’s called doing above average and “going above the call of duty” which is what warrants credit and deserves pound4pound status. An 8 to 1 favorite and going to distance in a fight that receive boos from his own fans is merely average, hurt hands or not. Arturo Gatti broke his hand and went out to knock out his opponent, if he hadn’t, he would have fought 100% and died trying. That’s the difference between Mayweather and most fighters. Sure not everyone can be an exciting Gatti, but what about Morales, Corrales, Barrera, even Pacquiao. Fighters (all who have fought their “rivals” mind you, another subject we will get into shortly that Floyd hasn’t done) who will go into the last round ahead on all the judges scorecards and still fight their butts off.

Floyd wins 11 rounds, then raises his arm and jogs the final round as shown above. How does that warrant any kind of credit whatsoever? That’s rude and pompous. Hell, even Orlando Salido in the semi-main event was ahead on points going into the final round against Robert Guerrero, but did Salido put his arm up in victory before the final bell was announced? Did he coast knowing he was ahead? No! He fought on, and won the round, giving it his best. Santos Pakau took on Paul Williams on 24 hours notice. Pakau proceeded to get hammered and the fight should very well have been stopped in the 3rd round, but he kept trying his best. Losing every round, and possibly catching Williams twice with a shot out of no where, he deserves credit. He tried his best and gave it his all. Two things Floyd Mayweather did not and has rarely ever done. Yet, look at who Pakau was fighting compared to who Mayweather was. Pakau wasn’t given a chance whereas Mayweather was expect to win with flying colors.

It goes a long way to be great. To attain “Legendary” status. Something Mayweather ridiculously said after the fight when breaking into an emotional state, and opening up for the first time. It appeared Floyd was being sincere for once and maybe he was going to be a gentleman, show some respect, but the opposite is what we got when he said his “legacy will be remembered” over that of Oscar DeLaHoya’s. Ok, how do you cry, start to be sincere, say you’re “one more fight” away from retiring, then go on to disrespect one of boxing’s greatest names in the sport? I guess Mayweather either doesn’t find it disrespectful, or he just doesn’t care. It’s like stabbing your best friend with a knife at the same time saying “sorry”, it just doesn’t quite fit and contradicts itself. First of all, Oscar DeLaHoya will always be miles ahead of Floyd Mayweather. Oscar’s fights are all exciting with the exception of the one with Felix Trinidad where he ran the last few rounds, typically what Floyd does in every single fight, despite winning them. It’s a fight that will haunt DeLaHoya for the rest of his life, but doesn’t delete the rest of his tremendous performances against nearly everyone in his era. Oscar fought Ike Quartey, Fernando Vargas, Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, Shane Mosley, and Bernard Hopkins just to name a few, and even put on a great show vs. Ricardo Mayorga most recently. His fans went wild and that fight was great, had a great beginning and ending. All of those were his rivals, but none probably bigger than the name of Felix Trinidad, all who DeLaHoya fought. Which rival’s have Mayweather fought of his own? Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo are the only two, and the first Castillo fight was a Castillo win. Floyd would probably have been given more credit in losing that fight and coming back to win the rematch easy the way he did than have been given the win in the first place. Mayweather doesn’t know that losing isn’t always a bad thing. Losing can make a fighter great. It’s about getting up, or taking a loss and coming back better than ever. Sure no one has taught Mayweather to lose, but it’s easy when you steer clear of any possible threat or big fight which is what he’s done. Henry Bruseles was hardly Floyd Mayweather’s rival. As much as they want you to think Zab Judah was, he wasn’t, but even after losing embarrassingly to Baldomir just before, Judah actually did good and managed to land an unscored knockdown. And yeah, who hand picks fighters that have lost their previous fight? What a joke. Gatti was called a “C class fighter” by Floyd himself, so why would the win be impressive or deserve credit? It’s when you yourself are the underdog and pull off an amazing win, not when you are the favorite and coast to a decision. Winky Wright was the underdog when he fought Felix Trinidad. Wright put on a 12 round clinic in a fight that wasn’t so entertaining, but it’s the fact he went above the average performance and above the call of duty and amazed everyone, surprising many that picked Tito to win. When was the last time Floyd did that? His fight with Corrales is the only time. That will always be known as Floyd’s best performance. A fight that everyone thought could have gone either way and Mayweather completely had his was with Diego. After that it’s been duck, dodge, and hide, inside the ring and out. DeMarcus Corley and Philip N’Dou were not fighters that could bring Mayweather’s career and status to a “great” one. Sharmba Mitchell? No, not him either. This is a laughable resume of fighters that Mayweather called “great accomplishments” in the time he could have fought and beaten “top guys”. Sure it’s good, and there’s no doubting Mayweather’s skill, but even Manny Pacquiao, who’s skill level really isn’t all that, at least has fought some top guys and beat them. Pacquiao is flatfooted and throws punches from any position he’s in, but he never quits, never stops, always entertaining and will take on anyone, and win at that. There’s no doubting that Floyd Mayweather could possibly beat EVERYONE he fights, so don’t get me wrong here. Im not saying “fight Margarito so Margarito can win”, oh no. We just want to see the fight, and we want fights that are more evenly matched. Not 8 to 1 odds.

There are Floyd lovers and Floyd haters, and a few neutral fans. It’s easy to be impressed by Floyd’s quickness, speed and power. His defense. His big and bright smile. Yet it’s equally easy to hate his style for the reason he’s unwilling to engage into full battle. Yeah, everyone will say “well, he’s fighting smart”. Sure is, but Winky Wright fights equally as smart, but stands right in front of his opponents and doesn’t get hit either. Big difference. Floyd’s attitude and cockiness are things that have grown of Floyd and made him become the villain in most cases which is why most want to see him lose. It’s similar to when Roy Jones was at the top. Jones also fought a strain of easy handpicked opponents, but at least he had the names of James Toney and Bernard Hopkins under his belt before, yet he wasn’t in the richest filled division. Light Heavyweight lacked in talent and big names so Jones has an excuse. Mayweather doesn’t. Up 1 weight, down 1, anywhere you look, there’s a fighter we want to see more of, not necessarily against Floyd, but it wouldn’t hurt to make big match-ups. Mayweather vs. Hatton, Mayweather vs. Cotto, Mayweather vs. Mosley, Mayweather vs. Margarito. Can you imagine those fights? Even if Floyd did his typical run and not get hit, they’d be big sellers and big names and even-match-ups and Floyd would not only be tested, but the best would be brought out of him. Carlos Baldomir is not the fighter who’s going to bring out the best in Floyd.

So now with the fact Floyd says he’s one more fight away from retirement, it’s almost a slap in the face. It’s like he’s getting out just as he’s becoming world known. He’s finally getting recognized, yet his blindness is getting the best of him. He didn’t sell out the Mandalay Bay against Baldomir. DeLaHoya and even Gatti could sell it out fighting a nobody. Why doesn’t Floyd see this? He’s in his own world and unwilling to look at it from another point of view. Crying at the podium, announcing one more fight, saying he wasn’t going to the after party, that he was just going to sleep and that he was tired, yet belittling DeLaHoya’s “legacy” and claiming position over it, then attending the party and staying until the late hours, it kind of makes you think. Was all that at the post fight just an act? Sure seemed like it during, and most certainly looks it now. Floyd can do whatever he wants, he clearly does so and doesn’t care about what anyone thinks that don’t agree with him, such as saying Larry Merchant knew “nothing about boxing”. Well, in order to know something about boxing, you have to actually BOX yourself, Floyd.

No, not every fight can be Gatti vs. Ward, or Morales vs. Barrera, but at least everyone has someone they fought. Someone to remember them by. Joe Calzaghe only just recently had Jeff Lacy. Without that, we would hardly remember Calzaghe. Muhammad Ali had many, but Ken Norton and Joe Fraizer are the two that stick out most. Mayweather saying he’s among and better than the great Ali, but without Fraizer, and Norton and Foreman, who really would Ali be? Ali didn’t get to be “The Greatest” on his own, which is what Mayweather seems to think he’s doing. So who does Mayweather have? Everyone he hasn’t fought basically. Even Arturo Gatti's Legacy will be remembered over that of Floyd Mayweather’s, wake up and smell the coffee.

When someone goes to put in an old fight, which are they going to put in? Any of Gatti’s fights, or any of Mayweather’s? I think you know the answer to that, why doesn’t Floyd?

When you ask a non hardcore boxing fan to name the fighters they know, the names always come up the same: Ali, Tyson, Leonard, and DeLaHoya. Mayweather won’t get mentioned.

Questions Or Comments? Please Contact Bret "The Threat" Newton