FLOYD-MAYWEAT

 

It’s Showtime! Floyd Mayweather’s Merry-Go-Round of $$$ Candidates Narrows

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Correspondent

 

Here ye, here ye! It’s Showtime! With five more ‘money money money’ lucrative televised bouts in the planning for Floyd Mayweather Jr. on a six fight deal, the only questions remaining are: one, can Floyd remain at the top of his game (so far he has, despite the critics); and who are the likely remaining candidates in the running for a shot at Floyd on the boxing circus merry-go-round of possible Floyd opponents.

 

Floyd is now 44-0. To tie Rocky Marciano at 49-0, Floyd would have to win his five remaining fights. If he avoids Saul Alvarez, the possibility of that fight may go the way the possible fight with Manny Pacquiao did, which translates means lost in time. Pacquiao could eventually fight Floyd anyway-for far less money than before.

 

Candidate Number One: Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

 

The amazing Alvarez, 42-0-1 at age 22, is 13 years younger than the aging 36 year old Mayweather. Alvarez has 30 knockouts to Floyd’s 26. The money will have to be right for this fight to reach the ‘let’s do it dynamite stage’, which should be the last fight under the contract Floyd has with Showtime. No hurry here, so long as both men keep winning again. Then again that situation did not occur when Pacman lost.

 

Candidate Number Two: Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner 

 

Broner appears to be the most talented fighter on the planet after Alvarez, so Pretty Boy Floyd has a big big problem here. Broner, moving up to welterweight from lightweight, is 26-0 with 22 knockouts at age 23, and will try to take the WBA World Welterweight title from Paulie ‘Magic Man’ Malignaggi at Barclays Center June 22. Paulie would need magic to pull this one out. Short but powerful Gavin Rees hit Broner hard for a few rounds in their recent bout. Paulie cannot hit as hard as Rees, however.

 

Candidate Number Three: Paul ‘The Pittsburgh Kid’ Spadafora

 

At 48-0-1 with 19 knockouts, southpaw Paul Spadafora is the one fighter who won’t go away from the welterweight division, an undefeated champion who everybody continues to avoid. In the ten years since Spadafora drew with 21-0 Leonard Dorin in a three world title unification bout in 2003, Spadafora in 12-0 and currently holds the NABF light welterweight title. Spadafora is unbeaten in 11 world title bouts. Perhaps Spadafora would like to have Floyd for lunch en route to reaching 50-0-1.

Candidate Number Four: Winner of Ishe Smith versus Carlos Molina bout

At 25-5 with 11 knockouts, International Boxing Federation World Light Middleweight champion Ishe ‘Sugar Shay’ Smith must defeat 21-5-2 Carlos ‘King’ Molina to get a shot at Floyd. Either fighter is tailor made for a Floyd victory here.

 

Candidate Number Five: Winner of Erislandy Lara versus Alfredo Angulo bout

Touted Cuban light middleweight Erislandy Lara, 17-1-2 with 11 knockouts,  will square off against 22-2 Mexican Alfredo Angulo. Lara, a winner of two of his last five bouts, is favored to defeat Angulo-beaten in 2011 in Mexico by James Kirkland. However, Angulo might win a Paul Williams style technical bout by decision here.

 

Candidate Number Six: Sergio Gabriel ‘Maravilla’ Martinez

 

At age 38, World Middleweight champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez, 51-2 southpaw with 28 knockouts, got dropped in the twelfth round by Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. As such, Floyd might see some bona fide defensive holes in Martinez’ arsenal. Floyd versus Sergio is a genuine and costly potential Showtime mega fight if it happens, on a higher dimensional plane than Floyd versus Oscar De La Hoya was at 160 pounds.

 

Candidate number Seven: Timothy Bradley versus Juan Manuel Marquez Winner

 

WBO World Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley is 30-0 with 12 knockouts.

On July 14, 2013, Bradley will try his hand at 55-6-1 Juan Manuel Marquez, whose 40 knockouts include his recent destruction of Manny Pacquiao. The winner of this bout has to constitute a threat to Floyd, especially if Bradley wins. Seems unlikely thelight hitting Bradley can beat Marquez for a Floyd opportunity-but who knows?

 

Candidate Number Eight: Danny ‘Swift’ Garcia

 

WBA and WBC World Light Welterweight champion Danny Garcia, 26-0, 16 knockouts, seems the sort of fighter Floyd would pick to fight later this year. Maybe.

 

Candidate Number Nine: Devon ‘Alexander The Great’ Alexander

24-1 Alexander must first get defend his International Boxing Federation World Welterweight title against Lee Purdy at Boardwalk Hall Atlantic City on May 18.

Considering Alexander got stopped by light hitting Timothy Bradley, Floyd versus Devon could be a real possibility in 2013 or 2014, an easy win for Floyd as he sees it.

 

Candidate Number Ten (Tie): Manny Pacquiao versus Brandon Rios Bout Winner  

 

Filipino southpaw Pacquiao, 54-5-2 with 38 knockouts, coming off two losses, will    try his hand versus 31-1 Brandon Rios, coming off a loss to Mike Alvarado. Toss up.

 

Candidate Number Ten (tie): Lamont Peterson versus Lucas Matthysse Winner

 

A 12 round bout being fought in Atlantic City on May 18, 2013, at 141 pounds, with no belt at stake. Whoever wins could get a shot at Floyd. Result might be interesting.

A tentative Matthyse had Zab Judah down, but lost a split decision at Prudential Center. His first round knockout of Mike Dallas rejuvenated his reputation as a hard hitter. To beat Peterson, Matthyse has to throw caution into the wind.

 

Long Shot Wild Card Candidates To Flight Floyd

 

The IBF number two contender is a distant possibility, 29-0 IBF international welterweight champion Kell Brook. Also, 25-0 Dierry Jean of Haiti won an IBF light welterweight eliminator May 20, 2013, stopping Cleotis Pentarvis in four rounds. The winner of the Terence Crawford versus Alejandro Sanabria light welterweight bout in Texas on June 15.

 

Honorable Mention: 44-0 Cesar Rene Cuenca of Argentina could pose a threat to Floyd; Gennady Golovkin; Peter Quillin; Marco Antonio Rubio; Amir Khan; ; Cornelius ‘K9’ Bundridge has called Floyd out, and an annoyed FLoyd might pick up his ad; Delvin Rodriguez; Randall Bailey; Vyacheslav Senchenko; and Mike Alvarado. The usual rule of thumb rules when it comes to Floyd: only experienced marquee names only need apply to fight Floyd.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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