Boxing Chatter: Mayweather and Other Things

Floyd “Money” Mayweather was back in the gym on Wednesday sparring once again, according to one of our TheSweetScience.com sources.

When we tried to get TSS photographer Paul Hernandez inside he was booted by Leonard Ellerbee, who was asked personally by Mayweather to escort our photographer out the door.

So what’s the big secret?

Apparently, Mayweather is attempting a comeback and perhaps things aren’t 100 percent with the former Pound for Pound champion. After he retired there were rumors that he was having problems with his shoulder and others said it was his hands. Whatever, Mayweather doesn’t want witnesses.

It’s a good time for the skillful Mayweather to return to the prize ring. With new Pound for Pound king Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao engaging England’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton this coming May 2, in Las Vegas, what better time for an entrance for Mayweather?

Can you imagine Mayweather attending the fight and challenging the winner immediately following the culmination of the junior welterweight battle?

Or would the Pacquiao-Hatton winner call out Money?

Another scenario could be Mexico City’s Juan Manuel Marquez walking up to Mayweather and challenging him.

The possibilities are many.

Because Mayweather is based in Las Vegas, he’s often seen and various places around town. Though the population is large, the casino capital is still a relatively small town in area and Mayweather sightings are plenty.

If you know Mayweather, the lightning reflexes, snappy puncher and defensive genius have been kept honed even during his retirement. His being in the ring once in a while and working out is not an indication of his return. But once he starts sparring regularly then you realize he is serious about a return.

So what are his chances of a successful return?

Based on his last performances, though more than 15 months ago, Mayweather was able to beat high-level fighters despite having chronic problems with his hands. He literally beat Carlos Baldomir with one hand. That’s a remarkable feat.

Now Mayweather has to get back in the gym, test his hands and shoulders, and begin the process of getting his brain ready to accept the pain of receiving punches. It’s an adjustment period that needs to be done.

Can he return to the throne?

Only time will tell. Mayweather is now 32 years old. The body can still make adjustments, but sometimes the brain doesn’t correspond.

Lightweight Lightning

First Jorge Barrios was forced to cancel his fight with Carlos “Famoso” Hernandez. Now Cuba’s Joel Casamayor is postponing his battle with California’s Julio “The Kidd” Diaz. It’s been bad luck in March for the Golden Boy Promotion fight card.

One suggestion for Diaz’s fight: pit the Coachella fighter against fellow Californian Urbano Antillon. The two lightweights would definitely light up the television screen.
Antillon is probably the most dangerous lightweight in the world. Sorry Amir Khan, but the Maywood fighter is flying under the radar and might be able to beat anybody on the fight card.

The number one problem is Antillon fights for Top Rank.

In the other cancellation, Barrios was replaced by in-house fighter Vicente Escobedo. That’s a great match up. The Sacramento-based boxer has been working on his “A skills” and was severely tested by Southern California’s super quick Dominic Salcido. Escobedo passed.

Hernandez moved to San Antonio, Texas after spending his entire life in the Los Angeles area. The former junior lightweight world champion from El Salvador was mentally ready for Barrios. Now he has to adjust for the taller and more scientific approach of Escobedo, a former US Olympian who is trained by Nacho Beristain.

It should be interesting.

Tijuana fight card

Speaking of cancellations, Jose Luis Castillo pulled out of his fight with California’s Antonio Diaz that was supposed to take place on March 28, in Tijuana, Mexico.

The Diaz brothers must be very upset.

Once again Castillo has pulled out of a fight. It’s becoming a habit.

“He should not fight any more,” said Joel Diaz, the trainer of both Diaz brothers and Dominic Salcido and WBC junior welterweight titleholder Timothy Bradley. “He’s not professional. He did it with Timothy and now he did it with my brother.”

According to Top Rank, they were looking for a replacement for Castillo to fight Diaz. No word yet.

Golden Gloves

There were a lot of pro fighters at the Golden Gloves in Los Angeles. Sighted were Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola of Riverside, California who is preparing for his upcoming heavyweight battle with Jameel McCline on April 11 in Las Vegas.

Also at the tournament were junior middleweight contenders Vanes Martirosyan, Alfredo Angulo and welterweight contender Roberto Garcia. Both Angulo and Garcia are trained by Clemente Medina. Angulo may fight Kermit Cintron and Garcia is scheduled to fight on April 4 in Costa Rica. Both had a pretty action packed sparring session with middleweight prospect Shawn Estrada recently. All three fighters have a “no prisoners” attitude, even in sparring.

According to the organizers of the Golden Glove tournament, there were more than 166 amateur applicants this year.

The Wild Card Boxing club had many entries. Also the U.S. Navy sent a large number of boxers too. The finals are Friday and Saturday at Lincoln Park, now known as Plaza de la Raza.

Rashad Holloway

Now based in California, Rashad Holloway (9-1, 5 KOs) fights Doel Carrasquillo (12-11, 10 KOs) of Puerto Rico on Saturday March 21 in Cincinnati, Ohio in a junior middleweight bout. It’s home again for Holloway who now fights out of Southern California.

“I’m fully recovered from my hand injury,” said Holloway while outside the Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood before departing for Ohio. “Everything is good.”

Holloway has sparred some of the best welterweights and junior middleweights like Antonio Margarito and Alfredo Angulo. Now he feels he’s ready for his title shot.

“I’m done being a sparring partner,” Holloway said.

Prizefight Signs Wade

Former Maryland Amateur star Dominic Wade (1-0) signed a deal with Prizefight.

Wade, a middleweight, won his first pro bout last week by first round knockout.

As an amateur, Wade captured several national titles.