Floyd Mayweather: It Didn’t Happen By Accident

Published

12 years ago

September 12, 2013

On October 11th 1996, Floyd Mayweather turned professional with a second round TKO over Roberto Apodaca, who was also making his pro debut. Here we are 17 years later and Floyd sports a career record of 44-0 (26) which is very impressive, and if he defeats Saul “Canelo” Alvarez 42-0-1 (30) this weekend, it’s pretty much a given he’ll retire undefeated based on who is out there qualified and in the running to meet him in the next two years.

Some probably marvel at the fact that he’s been undefeated for 17 years, something that wasn’t the luck of the draw in no way, shape or form. Sure, he’s managed himself brilliantly, but his boxing IQ and aptitude are just as impressive as his record. In addition to that, Floyd has never been out of shape for the duration of his career. Do you realize every time Mayweather started training for a fight, he never had to worry about his weight or conditioning. All he ever had to concentrate on was boxing and whoever the next opponent was. Unfortunately, a lot of world class fighters go into training and have to bust their ass just to get in shape and lose the necessary pounds just so they can make weight, then they focus on their craft and the opponent last.

Yet in regards to Mayweather, we’ve never really even seen him tired or gassed. A body that’s been in shape for 17 plus years like his must be strong in a boxing sense beyond imagination. Most fighters when they get in great shape brag about it. Not Mayweather. He brags about everything else except that. Like Bernard Hopkins, he doesn’t have to tell us about how great of shape he’s in, we already assume it.

The list of fighters who can say that is very short and Mayweather belongs on it every bit as much as Rocky Marciano, Marvin Hagler and Hopkins. Like them he runs and stays fit along with not ballooning up in weight between fights. Is it a coincidence that Marciano retired undefeated, Hagler was undefeated from 1976-1987 and Hopkins was undefeated from 1993-2005?

There are fighters around today and a multitude of them who’ve come before Floyd Mayweather who are/were more gifted, but didn’t or don’t work or think as hard as Floyd. That gives him a huge edge over everyone he fights. It’s interesting (to me anyway) that one of the problems Canelo will have to deal with is his not being in good enough shape to deal with Mayweather, who is 14 years his senior.

Think about all the temptations Mayweather has avoided since he’s been on top and it’s not like he leads a sedate life outside the ring. Yes, he’s had his run ins with law enforcement and has said and done some ridiculous things, like referring to an HBO contract as slave wages, but has there ever been even the slightest rumor about him drinking too much or him snorting or shooting something that he shouldn’t? If there has, I’ve never heard them. And do you know why that is? Because Mayweather, like him or not, takes boxing seriously.

On top of that, winning means something and is paramount to him. His ability to focus on what’s important is beyond comprehension. Like Hopkins, Mayweather grasped a long time ago that lazy losers and wannabes don’t get paid. Again, most marvel at his unblemished record, something that doesn’t blow me away because I believe if an in-their-prime Shane Mosley or Felix Trinidad fought every opponent Mayweather did on the night he fought them, they’d also be undefeated. What blows me away about Mayweather more than anything else is his lifelong dedication to boxing intelligence, which is really the things that have made him successful, not great natural talent. There have been a lot of fighters who were more physically gifted than Mayweather in the last 30 or 40 years.

Sugar Ray Leonard, Tony Ayala, Hector Camacho, Roy Jones and Mike Tyson were better prospects than Mayweather. Yet look at all he’s achieved. Actually, Joan Guzman is more physically gifted than Mayweather but isn’t nearly as accomplished.

In reality, Mayweather’s asset is skill plus will and a dedication and love for the sport of boxing. He’s taught himself and learned every aspect of the fight game in and out of the ring. How many other fighters not named Bernard Hopkins can that be said about? Some assume because Floyd isn’t a ‘walk in, take it to you’ type fighter that he’s not tough or strong, but you’re wrong, because he’s very tough and physically strong. He fought Miguel Cotto’s fight in the trenches because he wanted to, not because he was forced to. Floyd wanted to beat Miguel at his own game and won many of the exchanges on the inside due to his grit and physical strength. Had he chosen to box and counter he would’ve escaped with a much easier fight.

It was just eight years ago that Mayweather had to take the smaller purse in his first pay per view bout against Arturo Gatti. Up until fighting Gatti, Mayweather was a brash talking revolving title holder fighting on HBO. But he promised after Gatti, he’d only be seen on PPV and that’s basically been the case. In fact the only time he didn’t get the lion’s share of the purse is when he fought the real “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya six years ago. Mayweather hasn’t just figured out where the X’s and the O’s go in the ring, he also figured out the business of boxing and what it took to pique interest in his fights. Mayweather realized that didn’t have the most fan-friendly style and that he could never be promoted and packaged as the kid next door like Sugar Ray Leonard or Oscar De La Hoya. So he figured he’d piss the fans off with his antics and words and willingly adopted the role of the bad guy (like in professional wrestling). This made him boxing enemy number one and he’s fed off of that and used it for motivation. And an overwhelming majority of fans wanted to and still want to see him lose – so they buy all of his fights so they can see it live and he laughs all the way to the Bugatti dealership.

And that folks, along with him always keeping them hanging on for the fights they want him to make, is a lot of the reason why he’s the most relevant, comprehensively covered and talked about athlete in combat sports worldwide. And like all else regarding Mayweather, that didn’t happen by accident. Like his in the ring strategy, it was well thought out and planned. It really has been something to watch over the last eight years. Mayweather studies the art of boxing, stays in great shape, resist all temptation that’s thrown his way, knows how to build and sell a fight and promotion, is very physically gifted and tough and knows what’s most important, winning. He’s never lost focus of that and for 17 years has done it his way. These things about Mayweather have to be admired and respected.

Also, if you’re a boxing purist, you must appreciate how Floyd has helped out other fighters who fell on hard times. He respects fighters and knows how tough the business is. He even paid for “Smokin” Joe Frazier’s funeral without being approached to do so, at least that I’m aware of. Look for for Mayweather to retire with his health, wealth, respect and title. Again, adding him to another short list of fighters who can make that claim. Love him or hate him, Floyd Mayweather is one of the more unique great fighters we’ve seen, and that didn’t happen by accident.

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

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Frank Lotierzo

Jorge Garcia is the TSS Fighter of the Month for April

Published

5 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Jorge-Garcia-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-April

Jorge Garcia has a lot in common with Mexican countrymen Emanuel Navarrete and Rafael Espinoza. In common with those two, both reigning world title-holders, Garcia is big for his weight class and bubbled out of obscurity with a triumph forged as a heavy underdog in a match contested on American soil.

Garcia had his “coming of age party” on April 19 in the first boxing event at the new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California (roughly 35 miles north of San Diego), a 7,500-seat facility whose primary tenant is an indoor soccer team. It was a Golden Boy Promotions event and in the opposite corner was a Golden Boy fighter, Charles Conwell.

A former U.S. Olympian, Conwell was undefeated (21-0, 16 KOs) and had won three straight inside the distance since hooking up with Golden Boy whose PR department ballyhooed him as the most avoided fighter in the super welterweight division. At prominent betting sites, Conwell was as high as a 12/1 favorite.

The lanky Garcia was 32-4 (26 KOs) heading in, but it was easy to underestimate him as he had fought extensively in Tijuana where the boxing commission is notoriously docile and in his home state of Sinaloa. This would be only his second fight in the U.S. However, it was noteworthy in hindsight that three of his four losses were by split decision.

Garcia vs. Conwell was a robust affair. He and Conwell were credited with throwing 1451 punches combined. In terms of punches landed, there was little to choose between them but the CompuBox operator saw Garcia landing more power punches in eight of the 12 rounds. At the end, the verdict was split but there was no controversy.

An interested observer was Sebastian Fundora who was there to see his sister Gabriela defend her world flyweight titles. Sebastian owns two pieces of the 154-pound world title where the #1 contender per the WBO is Xander Zayas who keeps winning, but not with the verve of his earlier triumphs.

With his upset of Charles Conwell, Jorge Garcia has been bumped into the WBO’s #2 slot. Regardless of who he fights next, Garcia will earn the biggest payday of his career.

Honorable mention: Aaron McKenna

McKenna was favored to beat veteran campaigner Liam Smith in the co-feature to the Eubank-Benn battle this past Saturday in London, but he was stepping up in class against a former world title-holder who had competed against some of the top dogs in the middleweight division and who had famously stopped Chris Eubank Jr in the first of their two encounters. Moreover, the venue, Tottenham Hotspur, the third-largest soccer stadium in England, favored the 36-year-old Liverpudlian who was accustomed to a big fight atmosphere having fought Canelo Alvarez before 50,000-plus at Arlington Stadium in Texas.

McKenna, from the small town of Monaghan, Ireland, wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion. With his dad Feargal in his corner and his fighting brother Stephen McKenna cheering him on from ringside, Aaron won a wide decision in his first 12-round fight, punctuating his victory by knocking Smith to his knees with a body punch in the 12^th round. In fact, if he hadn’t had a point deducted for using his elbow, the Irishman would have pitched a shutout on one of the scorecards.

“There might not be a more impressive example of a fighter moving up in class,” wrote Tris Dixon of the 25-year-old “Silencer” who improved his ledger to 20-0 (10).

Photo credits: Garcia/Conwell photo compliments of Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy; McKenna-Smith provided by Mark Robinson/Matchroom

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Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Published

2 days ago

April 27, 2025

David A. Avila

Chris-Eubank-Jr-Outlasts-Conor-Benn-at-Tottenham-Hotsour-Stadium

Feudal bragging rights belong to Chris Eubank Jr. who out-lasted Conor Benn to
emerge victorious by unanimous decision in a non-title middleweight match held in
London on Saturday.

Fighting for their family heritage Eubank (35-3, 26 KOs) and Benn (23-1, 14 KOs)
continued the battle between families started 35 years ago by their fathers at Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium.

More than 65,000 fans attended.

Though Eubank Jr. had a weight and height advantage and a record of smashing his
way to victory via knockout, he had problems hurting the quicker and more agile Benn.
And though Benn had the advantage of moving up two weight divisions and forcing
Eubank to fight under a catch weight, the move did not weaken him much.

Instead, British fans and boxing fans across the world saw the two family rivals pummel
each other for all 12 rounds. Neither was able to gain separation.

Eubank looked physically bigger and used a ramming left jab to connect early in the
fight. Benn immediately showed off his speed advantage and surprised many with his
ability to absorb a big blow.Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Benn scrambled around with his quickness and agility and scored often with bigcounters.

It took him a few rounds to stop overextending himself while delivering power shots.

In the third round Benn staggered Eubank with a left hook but was unable to follow up
against the dangerous middleweight who roared back with flurries of blows.

Eubank was methodic in his approach always moving forward, always using his weight
advantage via the shoulder to force Benn backward. The smaller Benn rocketed
overhand rights and was partly successful but not enough to force Eubank to retreat.
In the seventh round a right uppercut snapped Benn’s head violently but he was
undeterred from firing back. Benn’s chin stood firm despite Eubank’s vaunted power and
size advantage.

“I didn’t know he had that in him,” Eubank said.

Benn opened strong in the eighth round with furious blows. And though he connected
he was unable to seriously hurt Eubank. And despite being drained by the weight loss,
the middleweight fighter remained strong all 12 rounds.

There were surprises from both fighters.

Benn was effective targeting the body. Perhaps if he had worked the body earlier he
would have found a better result.

With only two rounds remaining Eubank snapped off a right uppercut again and followed
up with body shots. In the final stanza Eubank pressed forward and exchanged with the
smaller Benn until the final bell. He simply out-landed the fighter and impressed all three
judges who scored it 116-112 for Eubank.

Eubank admitted he expected a knockout win but was satisfied with the victory.
“I under-estimated him,” Eubank said.

Benn was upset by the loss but recognized the reasons.

“He worked harder toward the end,” said Benn.

McKenna Wins

In his first test in the elite level Aaron McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) showed his ability to fight
inside or out in soundly defeating former world champion Liam Smith (33-5-1, 20 KOs)
by unanimous decision to win a regional WBA middleweight title.

Smith has made a career out of upsetting young upstarts but discovered the Irish fighter
more than capable of mixing it up with the veteran. It was a rough fight throughout the
12 rounds but McKenna showed off his abilities to fight as a southpaw or right-hander
with nary a hiccup.

McKenna had trained in Southern California early in his career and since that time he’s
accrued a variety of ways to fight. He was smooth and relentless in using his longer
arms and agility against Smith on the outside or in close.

In the 12 th round, McKenna landed a perfectly timed left hook to the ribs and down went
Smith. The former champion got up and attempted to knock out the tall
Irish fighter but could not.

All three judges scored in favor of McKenna 119-108, 117-109, 118-108.

Other Bouts
Anthony Yarde (27-3) defeated Lyndon Arthur (24-3) by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. in a light heavyweight match. It was the third time they met. Yarde won the last two fights.

Chris Billam-Smith (21-2) defeated Brandon Glanton (20-3) by decision. It was his first
fight since losing the WBO cruiserweight world title to Gilberto Ramirez last November.

Viddal Riley (13-0) out-worked Cheavon Clarke (10-2) in a 12-round back-and-forth-contest to win a unanimous decision.

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 323: Benn vs Eubank Family Feud and More

Published

4 days ago

April 24, 2025

David A. Avila

Avila-Perspective,-Chap.-323:-Benn-vs-Eubank-Family-Feud-and-More.jpg

Next generation rivals Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. carry on the family legacy of feudal warring in the prize ring on Saturday.

This is huge in British boxing.

Eubank (34-3, 25 KOs) holds the fringe IBO middleweight title but won’t be defending it against the smaller welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) on Saturday, April 26, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

This is about family pride.

The parents of Eubank and Benn actually began the feud in the 1990s.

Papa Nigel Benn fought Papa Chris Eubank twice. Losing as a middleweight in November 1990 at Birmingham, England, then fighting to a draw as a super middleweight in October 1993 in Manchester. Both were world title fights.

Eubank was undefeated and won the WBO middleweight world title in 1990 against Nigel Benn by knockout. He defended it three times before moving up and winning the vacant WBO super middleweight title in September 1991. He defended the super middleweight title 14 times before suffering his first pro defeat in March 1995 against Steve Collins.

Benn won the WBO middleweight title in April 1990 against Doug DeWitt and defended it once before losing to Eubank in November 1990. He moved up in weight and took the WBC super middleweight title from Mauro Galvano in Italy by technical knockout in October 1992. He defended the title nine times until losing in March 1996. His last fight was in November 1996, a loss to Steve Collins.

Animosity between the two families continues this weekend in the boxing ring.

Conor Benn, the son of Nigel, has fought mostly as a welterweight but lately has participated in the super welterweight division. He is several inches shorter in height than Eubank but has power and speed. Kind of a British version of Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

“It’s always personal, every opponent I fight is personal. People want to say it’s strictly business, but it’s never business. If someone is trying to put their hands on me, trying to render me unconscious, it’s never business,” said Benn.

This fight was scheduled twice before and cut short twice due to failed PED tests by Benn. The weight limit agreed upon is 160 pounds.

Eubank, a natural middleweight, has exchanged taunts with Benn for years. He recently avenged a loss to Liam Smith with a knockout victory in September 2023.

“This fight isn’t about size or weight. It’s about skill. It’s about dedication. It’s about expertise and all those areas in which I excel in,” said Eubank. “I have many, many more years of experience over Conor Benn, and that will be the deciding factor of the night.”

Because this fight was postponed twice, the animosity between the two feuding fighters has increased the attention of their fans. Both fighters are anxious to flatten each other.

“He’s another opponent in my way trying to crush my dreams. trying to take food off my plate and trying to render me unconscious. That’s how I look at him,” said Benn.

Eubank smiles.

“Whether it’s boxing, whether it’s a gun fight. Defense, offense, foot movement, speed, power. I am the superior boxer in each of those departments and so many more – which is why I’m so confident,” he said.

Supporting Bout

Former world champion Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs) tangles with Ireland’s Aaron McKenna (19-0, 10 KOs) in a middleweight fight set for 12 rounds on the Benn-Eubank undercard in London.

“Beefy” Smith has long been known as one of the fighting Smith brothers and recently lost to Eubank a year and a half ago. It was only the second time in 38 bouts he had been stopped. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez did it several years ago.

McKenna is a familiar name in Southern California. The Irish fighter fought numerous times on Golden Boy Promotion cards between 2017 and 2019 before returning to the United Kingdom and his assault on continuing the middleweight division. This is a big step for the tall Irish fighter.

It’s youth versus experience.

“I’ve been calling for big fights like this for the last two or three years, and it’s a fight I’m really excited for. I plan to make the most of it and make a statement win on Saturday night,” said McKenna, one of two fighting brothers.

Monster in L.A.

Japan’s super star Naoya “Monster” Inoue arrived in Los Angeles for last day workouts before his Las Vegas showdown against Ramon Cardenas on Sunday May 4, at T-Mobile Arena. ESPN will televise and stream the Top Rank card.

It’s been four years since the super bantamweight world champion performed in the US and during that time Naoya (29-0, 26 KOs) gathered world titles in different weight divisions. The Japanese slugger has also gained fame as perhaps the best fighter on the planet. Cardenas is 26-1 with 14 KOs.

Pomona Fights

Super featherweights Mathias Radcliffe (9-0-1) and Ezequiel Flores (6-4) lead a boxing card called “DMG Night of Champions” on Saturday April 26, at the historic Fox Theater in downtown Pomona, Calif.

Michaela Bracamontes (11-2-1) and Jesus Torres Beltran (8-4-1) will be fighting for a regional WBC super featherweight title. More than eight bouts are scheduled.

Doors open at 6 p.m. For ticket information go to: www.tix.com/dmgnightofchampions

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 9 a.m. Conor Benn (23-0) vs Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3); Liam Smith (33-4-1) vs Aaron McKenna (19-0).

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