Boxing Press Exclusive: Is Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Ducking More Than Just Punches?

Posted on | July 10, 2008 | No Comments

Editor’s Note: The following exchange took place betwen Boxing Press Editor in Chief Greg Goodrich and Boxing Talk Publisher Greg Leon regarding Floyd Mayweather, Jr’s refusal to fight either Oscar De La Hoya or Miguel Cotto. Leon continues on a daily basis to ridicule, scorn and take to task any reader of his ‘Daily Mail Bag’ which insinuates, implies or interjects that Mayweather, Jr. has been ducking fighters his entire career. Leon contends that Mayweather has ducked no one, and that Cotto and a handful of other fighters are in fact scared to face Mayweather.

Greg Leon:

As I am sure you recall, Floyd was an undefeated titlist at Junior Lightweight, having won the WBC title in 1998, and held it until 2001. Though he did face Diego Corrales- who had held the IBF title from 1999-2000- he did not fight WBA titlist Joel Casamayor nor Acelino Freitas the WBO titlist. His supremacy was far from settled. Freitas faced both Casamayor and Corrales, whereas Mayweather did not. So that’s two legitimate fighters he ducked.

Floyd won the WBC Lightweight title in 2002 from Jose Luis Castillo who won it from a legitimate champion in Stevie Johnston. He held it until 2003. Though he twice fought Castillo, you are purposely distorting the fact that many writers thought he lost the first bout. In addition, he didn’t face the WBA titlist Leo Dorin, nor the IBF champion Paul Spadafora. He didn’t face the longest reigning titlist in WBO titlist Artur Grigorian either. That’s three more legitimate fighters he ducked.

Floyd won the WBC Junior Welterweight title in 2005 from a shot Arturo Gatti, and relinquished it early the following year. He didn’t fight Kostya Tszyu, Zab Judah, or the real world WBA/IBF Champion Ricky Hatton (though he later did face Hatton, who had rose to, dropped down and later returned back to welterweight). He didn’t call out WBA titlist Miguel Cotto either. Again, that’s four legitimate fighters that he ducked because he chose easy pickings in Gatti.

Floyd won the World WBC title at Welterweight in 2006 from Carlos Baldomir and claimed the IBF title beating Zab Judah (whom Baldomir beat easily). However, he ducked the toughest opponents at that division in WBO titlist Antonio Margarito, and flat out refused Shane Mosley’s ‘call out’ claiming he was inferior and no challenge.

Again, that’s another two legitimate fighters that he ducked.

Last but not least, Floyd won a very close decision for the WBC Junior Middleweight titlle in 2007 when he barely beat Oscar de la Hoya. Floyd retired rather than face Oscar again, defaulting on a previous bout agreement. He didn’t fight Vernon Forest or Winky Wright (the former undisputed champion)- both fighters that have been calling out Floyd for many years. Floyd didn’t fight WBA titlist Travis Simms, or his conquerer Joachim Alcine. He didn’t face IBF titlist Cory Spinks either. Though WBO tilist Sergiy Dzinziruk is likewise undefeated, Floyd vacated rather than fight him. That’s six other legitimate fighters he has ducked.

I have no problem in you saying Floyd doesn’t necessarily need any fighter right now to cement his place in boxing history. However, even you- a man who finds it very hard to admit when he is wrong- must admit Floyd has made a career out of picking and choosing which fights he would take. He has been a WBC house fighter his entire career. I’ve listed about 18 legitimate fighters Floyd never fought. He certainly deserves credit for his accomplishments. However, he also has earned a fair amount of criticism for ‘Jones-esque’ mis-maneuvers throughout weight classes.

Best regards,

Greg Goodrich
Boxing Press