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FLOYD DID WHAT WE THOUGHT HE WOULD, BIG WHUP

Well Dougie,

Here I write to you, immediately after another Floyd Mayweather snorefest and would you look at that, Floyd adjusted exactly like everyone expected him to. I feel bad for anyone who blew $75 on this. I’m assuming you did but at least you get a tax write off.

I wrote to you after Mayweather-Maidana I and predicted that the excitement for this match would be low and let me tell you, I’m in Las Vegas right now and the buzz around this fight has been nonexistent. I’m going to go on record as calling the buy rate at below a million and if anything is going to force a Manny Pacquiao fight, it’s going to be that. I think the paying public has finally gotten sick of buying Mayweather’s glorified sparring sessions and he’s going to have to pull something big out of his overpriced hat (in case you’re curious, it’s better than $40 for a TMT hat in the casino gift shop) if he wants to keep himself in Ferraris and caviar. Personally, I can’t wait. I’ve got no problem watching Floyd if he puts on something worthwhile, but I won’t help finance his laziness anymore. – Sean

I think the paying public grew tired of the Pacquiao show the moment Juan Manuel Marquez iced him in Round 6 of their fourth fight, and they have finally grown sick of the Mayweather circus. ‘Bout time. The fact that both hardcore and casual fans were willing to shell out money to watch Floyd and Manny fight other opponents is part of the reason their anticipated super-fight failed to come off when it should have (2010 or 2011).

You aren’t the only one who predicted that Mayweather-Maidana II would be an uneventful decision victory for the self-proclaimed TBE. I had no desire to cover the “Mayhem” event in Las Vegas or to be ringside for another 12-round Mayweather exhibition, and was happy to stay home. (I promised myself that Mayweather-Guerrero would be the last time unless I was asked to go by co-workers or employers, or if I was working a broadcast.)

I’m reimbursed if I have to buy a pay-per-view broadcast, but I usually go to RING editor Michael Rosenthal’s place or my buddy (and track coach) Dave Schwartz’s Rent-A-Wreck to watch PPV shows.

I don’t feel bad for anyone who paid for the Mayhem PPV. They were either Maidana boosters who should have known that the fight wouldn’t be as competitive (or entertaining) as the first bout, or were Money Teamsters who got exactly what they wanted to see – another Mayweather victory.

I do feel a little bad for members of the media who had to cover the event. What you said about the buzz around the fight being nonexistent was reiterated in their tweets all last week. All I could think of when I read those tweets was “I’m glad I’m not there.”

MAYWEATHER-MAIDANA 2, QUIGG-JAMOYE

Well Dougie,

I see the Twitterverse is enraged at how crap “Mayhem” turned out to be. What the f__k were they expecting? The last Mayweather fight I paid for was the Canelo one. And that was only because certain boxing experts picked Canelo to pull the upset (not pointing any fingers or anything). The thing I remember most about that card was the Lucas Matthysse v Danny Garcia fight. So it wasn’t a complete waste of cash. But this most recent card was a complete and utter load of bollox and anyone who paid for it literally got what they paid for.

Floyd’s head and shoulders above most of the welterweight division. Fair enough. But so long as his fights aren’t competitive then I won’t pay for them. It’s really that simple. Whoever signed that deal at Showtime to give $30 million for each fight must feel like a right t__t right now. Maybe they’ll pressure him to fight Pacman but I’d doubt that ever happens. And if it does I may even pay for it. Assuming there’s a decent undercard because I expect that fight to be just as one sided and uneventful as the last one. As you said yourself: That ship sailed a long time ago. And of course assuming Pacman gets past Chris Algeiri.

Did you watch Scott Quigg v Stephane Jamoye? It’s only three rounds so it won’t take too much time to watch and it was a pretty entertaining scrap. Quigg is a solid dude and I don’t think Carl Frampton would have an easy night with him. I’m Irish so obviously I’d be rooting for Frampton but he looked pretty vulnerable in the 10^th round against Kiko Martinez. Then again Quigg looked pretty open to shots to the head versus Jamoye. That’s another fight that probably won’t happen. The way Barry McGuigan was talking it sounds like they want the lion’s share of the revenue, which wouldn’t be fare on Quigg. Same old bulls__t keeps repeating itself in boxing. Maybe it is a dying sport, which would be a pity ’cause it’s the only sport I have any interest in.

I’d like your opinion on the following matchups:

Quigg v Kiko Martinez

Broner v Matthysse

Broner v Danny not so swift Garcia

Leo Santa Cruz v Quigg

Maidana v Thurman

Maidana v Pacman

Maidana v Shawn Porter

Keep up the good work. – John

Thanks John, I’ll try.

It would be a crying shame if the ship sails on Frampton-Quigg. I believe that 122-pound matchup would be the UK version of Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales I, as my buddy Steve Kim has previously stated (Frampton, the more talented and dynamic of the two, would be Barrera; Quigg, more of a blue-collar grinder, would play El Terrible’s role).

(It would also be a crying shame if boxing is really dying. Like you, it’s the only sport I care to watch, and covering it is also the only job I can do half-way well.)

I did watch Quigg-Jamoye. I’m a Quigg fan if you haven’t already noticed from previous mailbags.

I love his body attack. The way Quigg goes about breaking guys down behind a high guard reminds me of Leo Santa Cruz, but I think the Manchester-area native has more versatility and is more economic with his punches than the Southern Californian. Speaking of Santa Cruz, if we can’t get Frampton vs. Quigg right away, I’m willing to accept Frampton or Quigg vs. Santa Cruz as a temporary substitute.

I’ve got four things to tell you regarding, the prospect of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao:

1) That ship hasn’t just sailed; it sunk.

2) Pacquiao may not get past Algieri, and there’s a good chance that if he does, he’ll do so with such heinously corrupt scorecards that U.S. boxing fans will turn their backs on him forever.

3) If you believe Mayweather is really interested in making that fight happen, you probably believe that he purposely made the first fight with Maidana competitive “for the fans” (I just laughed and threw up a little bit at the same time).

4) Don’t kid yourself. Even if you believe Mayweather would ice Pacquiao in one round, if they agreed to face each other and Mia St. John and Butterbean unretired to be the chief pay-per-view undercard support to that “event,” you’d gladly pay 100 U.S. dollars (which is what would be charged) to watch that s__t live.

Sorry about the Canelo pick if it made you buy the Mayweather-Alvarez PPV show. Blame San Antonio for giving me “Canelo Fever.”

My opinions on your 122- and 147-pound matchups:

Quigg v Kiko Martinez – Quigg by hard-fought decision (I’d like to see this fight)

Broner v Matthysse – Matthysse by hard-fought decision

Broner v Danny Garcia – Garcia by close decision in what turns out to be more of a boxing match than a shootout

Leo Santa Cruz v Quigg – Quigg by very close, maybe controversial decision in a terrific, Fight of the Year caliber scrap

Maidana v Thurman – The Thurmanator survives an early knockdown to wear down and stop the Argentine slugger to a late TKO in an entertaining fight

Maidana v Pacman – Pacquiao outboxes Maidana more “cleanly” and decisively than Mayweather did

Maidana v Shawn Porter – Porter just edges Maidana in an evenly fought, sometimes entertaining-sometimes ugly distance scrap.

WHO RETIRES FIRST?

Doug –

Between Floyd and Manny, who retires – and stays retired – first? – Kevin Key, Duluth, MN

If I had to bet on who hangs his gloves up first I’d put my money on Pacquiao. He was the first to lose his desire to train and fight (after the Antonio Margarito bout in November 2010), he was KTFO by his arch rival less than two years and he may lose to a big underdog this November, plus he’s already got a dozen or so second careers already going (from congressman to pro basketball player/coach).

Unless you consider gambling a profession, Mayweather is 100 percent boxing. Plus, he’s trying to get his own promotional company off the ground the way Oscar De La Hoya did 10 years ago. He’s going to need to keep fighting in order to have leverage with Showtime (or with HBO if decides to go back to that side of the street after his SHO/CBS deal is completed). And at the end of the day, Mayweather has become used to bigtime cash flow. If he wants to continue living the “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” he’ll have to keep fighting.

On a completely unrelated note, you’ve been sending me the most concise (but topical) questions for the mailbag since at least 2007, maybe earlier than that. I appreciate that you’ve emailed me for so many years (and that you always keep it short and to the point), so here’s what I’m going to do (and continue to do with other longtime mailbagers and new fans who submit exceptional emails for my twice-a-week column), I’m going to mail you a free RING magazine T-shirt. Send me an email with your address and your shirt size and I’ll make sure it gets shipped out to you. Visit our new RING shop to view our T-shirt selection and let me know which one you want.

JUNIOR FEATHERS, ANOTHER AWFUL SCORECARD

Hi Dougie,

A couple of thoughts on the duper bantamweights following recent victories for three of what is now the ‘big four’ in that division in the last week or so. First, the Quigg-Frampton fight has to happen now. Eddie Hearn has rightly been praised recently for putting on quality fights with stacked undercards but trying to do a deal with a Boxnation fighter will be a real test of his desire to continue the trend. There is no way that Sky Sports will allow a Matchroom boxer to fight on another network so Eddie may have to stick his hand quite deep into his pocket to work out a deal to get Frampton to fight on Sky. Here’s to hoping he works something out.

Also, Quigg seemed very keen for a tear up with Frampton or Santa Cruz in his post-fight interview but his response of “erm yeah maybe” when asked about Guillermo Rigondeaux was highly unconvincing! Fair play to his trainer, Joe Gallagher, for stepping in and admitting Rigo is on a different level to everyone else in the division and that someone would have to break the bank for him to allow his charge to go into that potential bout. Leo Santa Cruz however seemed very keen to challenge Rigo after his destruction of Roman on the Mayweather card. Do you think a 122-lb mini-tournament could be forthcoming now?

Finally, are you adding the 119-109 scorecard from Miguel Vasquez-Mickey Bey to your judging hall of shame? I had it 115-113 Vasquez and although I can see an argument for a few of those going to Bey, 119-109 is a joke. I counted three rounds in which Bey didn’t seem to land a thing!

Best of luck sifting through PBF love-ins/hating for the next few mailbags, thought I’d offer an alternative with this email. – Sir Laurence of Nottingham

Much appreciated Sir Laurence.

Robert Hoyle is officially part of The Money Team with that scorecard, just like Lisa Giampa joined Al Haymon’s Army with her 114-114 tally for Gary Russell Jr. after Vasyl Lomachenko took the American prospect to school. Both Hoyle and Giampa need to be watched closely (and will be) and should they pull anymore BS, fans and media need to make such a stink that we force a CJ Ross situation.

I wish I could predict a mini-tournament involving the best junior featherweights in the game but politics of the sport being what they are, I can’t. We’ll just have to wait and see.

I tell you right now that I’m not dying to see anyone challenge Rigo for the real 122-pound championship. Honestly, if the Cuban is as unbeatable as Twitter Nation claims he is, I’d rather see him go up to featherweight and take on a killer like Nicholas Walters, who I expect to beat Nonito Donaire next month, or fellow amateur superstar Lomachenko.

The round robin that I want to see at junior featherweight involves Frampton, Quigg, Santa Cruz (and Martinez against the latter two).

Eddie Hearn has a piece of Chris Avalos, Frampton’s IBF mandatory, and I hear the plan is to bring that fight to Sky Sports. Frampton’s deal with BoxNation has expired, so I can see that happening (so long as “The Jakal” is paid handsomely enough, which he will be). Frampton-Avalos should set up the eventual UK showdown with Quigg (assuming the new IBF beltholder takes care of the young Californian, which he should).

WHY YOU’RE MISTAKEN ABOUT MAYWEATHER

Doug,

I enjoyed reading your recent column ranking your top 20 “modern great” fighters. Mayweather may not be TBE, but he belongs in your top 12. You list many of the reasons in your column, including the large number of (future) Hall of Fame boxers he’s defeated. However, while Mayweather is not impervious to criticism (both he and Pacquiao share blame for not fighting at or near their respective primes), some of yours is misguided.

You write that Mayweather needs to climb up to middleweight in order to ascend your rankings. But for years he’s been fighting boxers who weigh 160-168 in the ring while he stays at 148-151. And he’s still doing it at age 37. That’s remarkable. What other fighter outside your top 10 ever surrendered that much weight against quality opposition at that advanced age and still won so convincingly?

I’m a huge Holyfield fan and a big Hopkins fan as well. Those are two of the most talented, courageous and toughest fighters that I’ve ever seen. But Holyfield lost his most important rivalry (2-1 to Bowe) and Hopkins was outclassed when he fought one of his biggest rivals at or near their respective peaks (Jones, Jr.). That has never happened to Mayweather. Maybe it will happen next year, when he’s 38 and not the same fighter he used to be, but until then it has not. -Marc

Perhaps fighting at a weight disadvantage in one’s mid-to-late 30s is your main criterion for greatness, Marc, but it isn’t mine.

My article made it quite clear that my No. 1 criterion was quality of opposition, with a strong emphasis on facing fighters who are – or definitely will be – enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF).

You bring up “the large number” of hall of famers and future hall of famer’s Mayweather has defeated, but at the present time he’s beaten two (Oscar De La Hoya and Arturo Gatti) and he’s faced three fighters who are absolute locks to enter the IBHOF as soon as they are eligible (Marquez, Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto). That equals five, which is nothing to scoff at. However, most of the men in my top 20 faced more than five (and the hall of famers and contenders that they faced during their careers were generally a lot better than the guys Floyd have fought).

For example, the two fighters I highlighted in my article – Jimmy Bivins (No. 17) and Sammy Angott (No. 18), who were overlooked by the other 19 “experts” polled in THE RING magazine feature – both faced 10 hall of famers. (Go count ’em! TEN! And among those hall of famers, most of whom they fought more than once, are some of the greatest of all time, such as Ray Robinson, Willie Pep, Henry Armstrong, Archie Moore and Ezzard Charles.)

The only guys on my list who currently have five or less hall of famers on their records are No. 20 Hopkins (De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad and Joe Calzaghe, with Jones being a lock to get in when he’s eligible), No. 12 Julio Cesar Chavez (Pernell Whitaker, De La Hoya, Kostya Tszyu and Edwin Rosario), No. 11 Whitaker (Chavez, De La Hoya, Trinidad and Azumah Nelson) and No. 10 Sugar Ray Leonard (Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Wilfred Benitez and Terry Norris).

However, these guys did things that scored points with me, which Mayweather hasn’t, such as set notable all-time records (Hopkins and Chavez), unify all the major titles in a division (Leonard, Hopkins and Whitaker), face the fellow elite rival of their era/division (Leonard, Whitaker and Chavez), and notch more than 100 victories (Guess Who?).

Taking on naturally bigger opponents at an advanced age is special, but most of the men on my list did that. (Don’t you think De La Hoya outweighed Chavez and Whitaker on fight night as much as he did Mayweather? Most of the welterweights – and the WBA 154-pound beltholder, Julio Cesar Vazquez – outweighed Sweet Pea, who is barely 5-foot-6).

Holyfield barely made my list at No. 19, but he was outweighed by most of the heavyweights he faced. At age 45, Holyfield was outweighed by nearly 100 pounds by 7-foot Nikolai Valuev (who most observers thought should have lost the fight). Before you diss the skills or talent of the Russian giant, who was 49-1 and held the WBA title when Holyfield faced him, I should remind you that a lot of these guys who outweighed Mayweather, such as Victor Ortiz and Maidana, are mediocre talents. The Real Deal was at considerable weight disadvantages when he faced Riddick Bowe (30 pounds in their epic first encounter) and hall of famers Lennox Lewis (31 pounds) and George Foreman (49 pounds).

Going 1-2 with a prime Bowe is no shame in my book (especially when the first bout was the Fight of the Year for 1992).

And losing to Jones when Hopkins did is no shame, either. Hopkins, who was still very much a work in progress in 1993, faced an elite-level amateur star and a once-in-a-life-time talent in Jones, who should have been a 1988 Olympic gold medalist (and was named the Val Barker Award winner of the Seoul Games boxing tournament despite being robbed in the finals). (Now that I think of it, Bowe, Lewis and Foreman were all Olympic medalists.)

Need I remind you that Mayweather, a 1996 Olympic bronze medalist, didn’t exactly set the world on fire the two times he faced fellow Olympians – De La Hoya and Cotto. And you know as well as I do that even the prime versions of those two – never mind the faded 2007 version of De La Hoya and the 2012 version of Cotto (which had been through the proverbial meat grinder) that Floyd fought – don’t come anywhere near Jones in terms of raw talent and ability. Who the hell has Mayweather faced that comes close to Jones’ style, skill and talent?

That’s what it comes down to for me. Not how many wins you got, but WHO YOU FOUGHT.

As far what Mayweather can do to advance his legacy in my view (and in the eyes of other “non-believers”), I did not say that he merely “needs to climb up to middleweight. ” I wrote that he should challenge for a legitimate middleweight title and face an opponent (Golovkin) that the sports media and most of the boxing world thinks will crush him (as Hopkins has done more than once and continues to do; as Holyfield did when he took on Tyson).

CLEARLY NOT TBE

Yeah, I like Floyd and all of that, but tonight showed he is not TBE, not that I was seriously considering that he was. I don’t think he FOUGHT that well. Yes he got the ‘W,’ but the way he fought doesn’t really make you want to tune in, especially the 12^th. Also his lip was swollen up like Mitch Green’s face after Tyson caught him in an alley at 2am in Harlem! I also believe his nose was broken. Did you hear how his voice sounded doing the interview? He was speaking through his nose and he kept feeling it touching it and wiping it. He appeared to be limping at the end of the fight as he walked around the ring. He appeared staggered at the end of that round where he got hit and kind of limped back to the corner at the bell.

Maidana is awkward as hell, strong and wild, but others have fought much better against Maidana than TBE. We all know styles make fights, but Floyd did some running, lots of holding, he did sit down on some shots in the middle rounds where I thought Floyd would try to take him out, but long before Floyd said he felt “dry” something appeared to be missing all week leading into the fight. By all media accounts, Floyd was not himself, he didn’t seem to have any spark, appeared passionless and sleepwalking. He had a strange look and demeanor about him in the locker room and ring walk. It was very serious, somewhat concerned, more isolated, he had no rappers, etc., accompany him to the ring, even though Beiber and Rick Ross text they were walking him out/performing, he clearly wanted solitude. His performance in the ring was a little off. It appears the hectic schedule may finally be taking it’s toll, and I think if he fights these next two bouts every 6 months with the way he was tonight, he may be ready to lose. He didn’t or “couldn’t” get up for the rematch, the grueling schedule and age might be taking its toll. It’s different when you fight when you feel like it, right now he is OBLIGATED to fight and that is very different. – JCB

You might be correct about the stress and grind of fulfilling the two fights-a-year obligation to Showtime/CBS gradually slowing Mayweather down (mentally and emotionally if not physically). He seemed out of it at times in the build-up to both Maidana bouts. And Mayweather appeared to lose focus at times during both fights, though he was sharp in spots during the rematch. Of course, it might just be the cumulative wear and tear of being a pro boxer for 18 years.

I didn’t think for a second that Mayweather would go for a knockout (even though it could have been there for him on Saturday), because he never goes for the stoppage, but I also thought he would at least try to press Maidana when it was evident that the challenger was frustrated and running out of steam in the middle rounds. However, instead of upping his punch output and committing more to power shots to Maidana’s body, Mayweather went into full Devon Alexander mode (and even appeared to take a page from the Wladimir Klitschko play book with a few “mounts” down the stretch).

Honestly, if Maidana did indeed bite Mayweather in Round 8, I can’t really blame him.

I thought Mayweather clearly won nine or 10 rounds on Saturday, but I was watching the fight on TV in a room that included guys who had bet on Floyd. I wasn’t on press row (thank God). I’ve been told by very knowledgeable boxing insiders who were ringside (and sitting among Mayweather supporters) that the fight appeared much closer live, some of Floyd’s fans who were there agreed (off the record, of course) with the seven-rounds-to-five scorecard. And I suppose the fat lip and nasally voice due to what could be a busted beak is proof that Maidana was able to get some solid work down during those 12 frustrating rounds.

Father Time might finally be getting to Mayweather. (Hey, there can only be one B-Hop, right?)

BOXING NEEDS TO CHANGE

First off, I love your mailbags and read them every Friday and Monday. I sit there at work every Friday and Monday mornings hitting refresh, refresh, refresh on my phone till your mailbag pops up. It’s always a great read.

Now, onto my issues.

Ring generalship should be removed as a scoring point. I’m tired of seeing guys run around the ring barely throwing punches and win the round on ring generalship and a couple jabs. I’m not saying give the round to the guy chasing cuz if he’s not doing anything then he doesn’t deserve it either but don’t reward the guy that just runs and won’t engage. Make it an even round.

Boxers should have no say in picking the ring size, gloves, referee or judges. It was clear Kenny Bayless’ ONLY job in that ring was to protect Mayweather and it was disgusting to watch. There was several times when Bayless was stepping in to break them up BEFORE there was a clinch. Not to mention the times when they had one arm free and he didn’t allow Maidana to work. Floyd himself is one of the dirtiest boxers around yet he’s allowed to push, throw elbows, choke his opponents with his forearm, cutoff his opponents air with his glove and all without even one warning. It’s disgusting to watch and just one more of the reasons fans are leaving the sport.

Now I’m not trying to say Maidana should have or could have won but Maidana had no shot cuz he was up against two people in that ring and only one of them had to abide by the rules. – Sal F.

Thanks for the nice words about the mailbag column, Sal.

I believe Bayless is one of the best referees in the sport but I thought he had a bad night on Saturday (maybe his worst ever). He was overly officious when it came to breaking the fighters up and he allowed Mayweather clinch and hold with impunity. Bayless also seemed to allow Mayweather to manipulate him at times (such as when he deducted a point from Maidana in Round 10), although I give the veteran official credit for not taking Mayweather’s word after the alleged bite in Round 8. A different ref may have DQ’d Maidana without sufficient evidence.

I understand your frustration with some boxers’ use of ring generalship in fights that are uneventful but if what they do (or don’t do) in the ring prevents their opponents from landing punches and helps them land clean shots (even if there aren’t too many of them), it has to count in terms of scoring criteria.

Ring generalship shouldn’t be the primary criterion, which is landing clean punches, followed by effective aggression, but it has to count for something. Mayweather didn’t throw many punches but he landed at least half of what he threw (as usual). That’s why he won the majority of rounds. The official judges didn’t see a lopsided contest, which tells you that they gave Maidana credit for the shots that he landed and they didn’t go overboard with rewarding Mayweather’s defense and ring generalship.

Mayweather’s tactics (along with Bayless’ officiating) limited Maidana to an extent on Saturday, but the underdog also had a part in only being semi-effective. He didn’t cut the ring off on Mayweather when the 8-to-1 favorite moved on him. Cutting off the ring is a form of ring generalship, an aggressive form of it. Maidana is relentless but he’s never going to remind anyone of Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.

Bottom line: Mayweather landed the cleaner punches at a higher connect rate than Maidana and his ring generalship was more effective than Argentine’s. Floyd deserved to win the fight.

And if the judges scored even rounds every time an aggressive fighter failed to connect significant shots against negative boxing “ring general,” they really wouldn’t be judging would they? Judges are there to make difficult decision on who had the edge in very close rounds.

AMEN TO YOUR MODERN GREATS TOP 20

Congrats on the great article on your top 20! I’ve been a fan for a long time (and quite proud of having made it a few times to the mailbag! My partner jokes that I’m prouder of that than of any of my “academic articles” and she’s quite right about that! LOL!!!).

Of course, Mayweather nuthuggers would be bitching and moaning, but I think that you put his 47-0 in a very sobering light. And the fact that you mention what B-Hop is doing at 50 is the icing in the cake. While Hopkins not only met fearsome punchers during his reign at 160, and is now scheduled to fight a bona fide Bad Ass and touch SOB, the self-anointed TBE won’t touch Gennady Golovkin with a twelve foot pole… Keep it up, man! – Yamir

I will try, Yamir. Thanks for the kind words on the commentary article and for reading these mailbags for as long as you have.

Character is a major aspect of boxing greatness (well, any kind of greatness, really). Hopkins has it, as the great ones who came before him did, and he continues to show it.

MAYWEATHER IS GREAT, STOP BEING UNFAIR

Doug everything that has a beginning has an end. One day your unfairness is going to be exposed. Why can’t you give Floyd what he fully deserves? He deserves to easily make the best ever list. Come on Doug the guy is a genius. He is simply a beauty. Look at his size, Doug, and look at how big his opponents are. The guy is just excellent, Doug. I know you are not an evil man, but just erase that hate in your heart that you have for Floyd. Floyd has done remarkably well, period. Loosen up man. It’s becoming obvious you don’t like him, for some reason. I am a white guy and I hope you are not racist. Please try to improve Doug. Regards. – Justice

Um, yeah. OK. I’ll work on my racism and my hate, Justice. I’ll even try to improve my attitude about Mayweather, but I don’t think doing any of that is going to change how I view and rank great boxers.

If you rate boxers based on “genius,” “beauty” and how “big” their opponents are, more power to you. But I listed out – in explicit detail – what my criteria are in that article.

Mayweather is an awesome talent who has had the best mix of skill and technique of any active boxer for the past 10 years. He’s one of the best boxers of the past 15-20 years, which is saying a lot. But when comparing him to the best of the best going back to the early 1940s, his ledger is lacking. It is what it is.

QUICK QUESTION

At what point does it become excessive holding? I counted about 30 clinches from Floyd by round 5? (Im not kidding). – Peter

It’s all up to the referee, Peter. Some world-class referees, who prefer to give boxers a change to work out of clinches themselves, would not have tolerated all that grabbing and holding by Mayweather. Bayless isn’t one of those referees (and least not this past Saturday).

JUANMA IS A SPENT BULLET

Hey Doug,

Juan Manuel Lopez got the head-snapping shots (maybe the last 4 freaking shots) in his boxing career. I guess he’s been a spent bullet since after the 1st Orlando Salido fight. I’m just wondering if JuanMa is a fluke from the onset or something just happened (I guess I’ll refer back to the 1st Salido fight) that made him look so vulnerable. And since JuanMa had been craving a big payday before calling it quits, will a JuanMa-Donaire fight in Macau be viable? – Markslain

I hope the hell not!

I don’t expect Donaire to get by Walters next month and anyone who would put Lopez in with that Jamaican puncher should be banned from the sport.

Jesus Cuellar’s brutal knockout of Lopez on Friday should be the last time the Puerto Rican veteran ever steps into the ring again. He shouldn’t have been fighting on Sept. 11, as he had been stopped on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez-Erislandy Lara card on July 12. He should have been ordered not to train or have any contact for a month, maybe even 45 days, so how could have any time to train and prepare for a badass like Cuellar? And why was he even getting a shot a Cuellar’s interim WBA featherweight title when he was beat and TKO’d by Francisco Vargas in his last fight?

That was really sad to witness. I think the Nevada State Athletic Commission, as well as Lopez’s management and promoter, failed him (and the sport) this past Friday.

Anyway, Lopez had a good run at 122 and 126 pounds. He beat some solid guys and a borderline hall of famer in Rafael Marquez. However, he didn’t always take care of himself between fights, sometimes ballooning up in weight, and drying himself out to make the junior featherweight limit ultimately cost him when he defended his WBO title against rugged Rogers Mtagwa in New York City in October of 2010. He went life and death with Mtagwa over the second half of that fight (especially the final round) and I really think it was the beginning of the end of his once-bright career. The 18 rounds with Salido took out whatever he had left.

I wish Lopez luck and success in whatever he does outside of the ring.

Photo Gallery by Naoki Fukuda

Email Fischer at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @dougiefischer