By Larry Fitzgerald
Originally posted 5/06/2010
LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather has made a believer of me. After being in Las Vegas during the week buildup to the championship fight Saturday night between WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather, I’m convinced that Mayweather stands alone as the best in the ring today. His domination of Mosley on Saturday night was surgical.
It was a complete performance, and he made Mosley look defenseless.
Mayweather is now an impressive 41-0 and deserves much credit for the standard of excellence and credibility he brings to the ring. He has his share of critics and haters and those who expect more knockouts. But what I witnessed in his fight against Mosley, a 38-year-old champion and future Hall of Famer in his own right, convinced me that Mayweather is the best I’ve seen in any weight class since Muhammad Ali back in the day.
He brings class to the ring and a huge following, he puts on a terrific show without a lot of bells and whistles, he’s 16-0 versus 15 previous world champions in different weight classes — and he’s never been beaten. Did I mention that he’s 41-0?
Mayweather also is as good a businessman as boxing has ever had. He refused to accept Mosley’s WBA title belt, which we all saw he won unanimously. He would have had to pay three percent of his purse winnings, estimated at about $40 million, to the WBA sanctioning body.
The world saw him whip Mosley right — who cares about the WBA belt? Floyd keeps all his money, and that is impressive.
Mayweather has proven that his business model puts him in a position where he controls the revenue streams. Boxing over the years has seen promoters milk fighters for millions: Joe Frazier, Mike Tyson and others.
Plus, Mayweather gives glory to God for his success after his wins and does not hold up a mythical prize belt.
Now, I fully understand why so many in the media and in boxing over the years are against Mayweather. He’s a fighter with a brain and does not kiss up to the national media masses who support the organizations like the WBC-WBA and others who have milked boxing for decades.
Saturday night at the MGM Grand, Mayweather won 11 of the 12 rounds on my card in his unanimous decision over Mosley. Mosley rocked Mayweather midway through the second round with a terrific right hand and appeared to have Mayweather in trouble. Mayweather survived the round and made adjustments.
However, Mayweather won round three convincingly and went on to dominate and befuddle Mosley the rest of the night. You may not agree with Mayweather’s approach to ignoring the title belts and the glory and fame attached to a fighter’s legacy, but I like it — particularly in boxing.
Who’s next for Mayweather? Lightning-quick Manny Pacquiao is believed to be the best around at 147 outside of Mayweather. The world would pay a zillion dollars to see that fight. Will it happen? Mayweather believes strongly in drug testing, and so far Pacquiao has been resistant to testing.
So for now Mayweather is the best in the business by a wide margin — with or without a belt.
Fitz Notes & Quotes
The Minnesota Lynx have high expectations with the return of Minnesota native and Gopher great Lindsay Whalen. Media Day is this week.
However, the health of veterans Seimone Augustus and Candice Wiggins will be critical to the team’s 2010 season.
Anything goes?
Miami Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland finally apologized to NFL first-round pick Dez Bryant of Oklahoma State, drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, for asking if his mother was ever a prostitute. The questioning by Ireland took place during a pre-draft interview. The Dallas Morning News reported recently that Bryant’s mother gave birth to her son at age 15 and sold drugs. I believe this clearly crosses the line of questioning, and the NFL and Dolphins should suspend Ireland. This is absolutely unacceptable!
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com
