Fans Have More Influence Than They Realize Regarding Floyd’s Next Foe

For the last three or four years Floyd Mayweather has controlled the debate in regards to the sport of professional boxing.

Today, the banter over who he should fight next, or who he definitely should not fight next, is never ending.

Everyone holds a stern opinion. As most know, to me, there’s only one fight worth watching and paying for to see Mayweather partake in – and that’s against WBA middleweight title holder Gennady Golovkin without any catch-weight attached.

Hate on me for wanting to see Floyd engage in one legitimate bout before he retires if you wish…

It’s been repeated in this space that there’s no rhyme or reason to pay a dollar to see Mayweather fight any welterweight or junior middleweight in the world. I think we all know that in 2015, Floyd is unbeatable in between 147-154. Just like Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard were at one time. And I might add at a time when the 147-154 blocks were a much faster track and tougher neighborhood.

Since beating Manny Pacquiao conclusively two months ago and solidifying his perch as the most accomplished fighter/combat sports participant in the world, Mayweather has been teasing the public, floating out different names of opponents as to who he’ll fight next in what many speculate will be his farewell bout. Depending on where and when you’ve read various publications, junior welterweight Karim Mayfield 19-2-1 (11) age 34, has been bantered about as his next opponent. Yes, I’m serious. The most interesting thing about seeing that fight happen would be the names on the marque…Mayweather vs. Mayfield.

May we not see it or have to pay for it.

Mayfield doesn’t have the weight, style or pedigree to run with Mayweather.

Andre Berto, 30-3 (23) is a solid 31 year old welterweight. But you’re really going to ask fans to pay to see that one-sided boring snooze-fest? Yes, they are that brazen to do just that and then try and tell us how great Berto’s chances are.

Welterweight Amir Khan 31-3 (19) has been lobbying to fight Mayweather for two years, and some even believe he has the style to bother Floyd. However, are you willing to be gouged at the wallet to see it? Not me. What Khan has in speed, he lacks in gumption, toughness and strength to challenge Mayweather for more than a round or two after Floyd wakes up and becomes interested in the fight.

Undefeated welterweight sensation Keith Thurman 25-0 (21) has also been mentioned as being in the mix as a possible opponent for Mayweather this coming September. Thurman is strong and he can hit, but his lack of experience against elite opposition would be huge against a class fighter like Floyd. Thurman has one tool, power. His delivery system isn’t the greatest in the world, and even at 38, Mayweather is still a master when it comes to taking the bullets out of his opponents’ guns. Thurman would look like he was trying to knock out a bed sheet hung over a clothes-line against Mayweather.

It’s been said in this space repeatedly that there is only one fight worth paying for involving Floyd Mayweather, and that’s a non-catch-weight title bout with Gennady Golovkin. But the Mayweather fan boys have pleaded Floyd’s case that Gennady at 159 is too big and dangerous for Floyd at 151. They state Floyd started out at 130, but forget that he’s been a welterweight for eight years. And they conveniently forget Larry Holmes was about 65 pounds bigger than where Michael Spinks started.

Okay…if Golovkin is too big and scary for Mayweather, so be it. Then Mayweather can fight Mayfield, Berto, Khan or Thurman, but don’t force the fans to pay for it. Do it on SHOWTIME. Remember, Floyd only fought Pacquiao because he knew the fans weren’t buying any other fight, that, and he knew Manny was broken down and eroded physically.

If fans were smart, and they’re not, they would say loud and clear that Mayweather can fight anybody he wants, but we’re not paying for anybody but Golovkin without a catch weight stipulation. And since you know that’s not happening, speak up and say you’ll watch his next fight regardless of who it’s against – as long as you don’t have to pay for it.

That’s all it would take in order for Mayweather to meet an opponent worth seeing in his next bout, but Floyd has outsmarted the fans every step of the way for the last eight years. It’s not about to change for his last or second to last fight!

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

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