Floyd Mayweather Jr. And His Legacy

After watching Ricky Hatton beat the retirement out of Jose Luis Castillo last weekend. Then watching the most annoying man in sports commentary Max Kellerman belittle the performance, and bait Ricky Hatton into comments about Floyd Mayweather Jr.. I wondered to myself, where is Floyd? Not just physically, as he was absent from the fight in Las Vegas, where Floyd resides, but among the great fighters, where is Floyd?

Now if you ask Floyd Mayweather, he would quickly answer you that he is the best fighter of all time. Not sugar Ray Leonard or Robinson, not Marvelous Marvin Hagler, not Thomas Hearns, Julio Ceasar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, or Roberto Duran. No Pretty Boy says he is the greatest of all time simply because he has never lost. Huh? Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s win over Oscar De La Hoya is currently his career highlight. Although the fight is probably the leading candidate for worst fight of 2007 aesthetically, it did propel Floyd Mayweather to another level of his professional career. With a win over the Golden Boy, you would now expect Floyd to no longer compete in bouts with fringe contenders, (Zab Judah, Arturo Gatti, Chop Chop Corley) but elevate and cement his status by engaging in super fights with the top guys in the 147 - 160 lb. Weight range. Alas, Floyd chose another route, and quit boxing?

I think back to Jermaine Taylor winning the middleweight crown. After two fights with the rugged middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, Taylor turned around and faced Winky Wright, who had not lost since the Clinton administration. Although the decision may have been fool hearted, I do applaud Taylor for recognizing his accomplishments over Hopkins, and using those victories to make a fight fans would enjoy seeing. As opposed to Floyd Mayweather, who after his win, quit.

It is widely recognized that from welterweight (147lbs.) To middleweight (160lbs.) The best boxers on earth reside. From the lightest being the action packed Ricky Hatton at 140lbs. to the bigger fighters like Jermaine Taylor and Winky Wright at 160lbs. there are plenty of mega fights still to be made for Floyd Mayweather Jr.. There is Sugar Shane Mosley who is the biggest name at 147lbs, who fans would love to see face Floyd. There is the opportunity for Floyd to fight Miguel Cotto, who appears to be the Felix "Tito" Trinidad for modern day Puerto Rico. There is the afore mentioned Ricky Hatton, who sells out arenas wherever he fights, because of his loyal British following. Finally there is the Big Fish, Jermaine Taylor, who holds the most prestigious title to boxing fans, middleweight champion.

Hagler, Hearns, Duran, and Leonard all fought each other, which added to their mystique. De La Hoya fought Whitaker, Quartey, Trinidad, Mosley, Hopkins, and Ceasar Chavez which added to his legacy. Can Floyd Mayweather Jr. Really refer to himself the best of all time with a resume of wins over top contenders, over the hill champions, and a marginal win over De La Hoya?