Much is said of Floyd Mayweather and his opponent selection prowess. He has a tendency of late to favor smaller challengers; those with enough legitimacy in one form or another to earn the right to stand across from him in the ring. There is the on-paper frustration that this creates, due to the sizable list of viable contenders in Mayweather’s own weight class who are foaming at the mouth to get their hands on him. Mayweather, for some reason, seems tentative to engage with any of them. He’s been very open at times in acknowledging his primary motivation for lacing up the gloves – money; and so his nickname is not unfounded. He is entirely dedicated to preserving the illusion or reality that he is unbeatable; increasing the purse he can command by perpetuating that reputation.
By his logic, Mayweather’s last two opponents did make sense, because they made dollar sense. British idol Ricky Hatton, with his enormous appeal, was able to carry a solid portion of his native country across the pond to witness what was widely predicted to be his inevitable destruction. That devotion converted directly into ticket sales, and supplied padding to Mayweather’s pocket. Mexico’s great lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez was also a smart choice, as he had given current pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao the challenge of his life; not once, but twice. Marquez offered a possible glimpse of what might transpire if Mayweather were actually to clash with Pacquiao. It might have served as somewhat of a preview, but just as Mayweather likes it, it was one with less risk than an immediate headlong dive into the king’s moat to enter into battle.
While it may be unsavory that Mayweather recurrently accepts the challenges of smaller men, should he alone be bearing the mantle of disgust for retaining size supremacy? He is not alone in doing this. Nowadays, division hopping is becoming commonplace. Fighters chase the glitziest prospect, even if it means that the match up may not be as competitive as it’s billed to be. How often do the Klitschkos tower over their opponents, and yet their integrity isn’t questioned for it. Of course, it can be argued that they are fighting in their appropriate weight class, but the heavyweight division only has a minimum limit, and no maximum, a point that must be abandoned here because it is a discussion unto itself.
In Mayweather’s case, it is necessary to delve further into the common accusations of cherry picking. Mayweather is the first to praise his own kindness in gifting smaller boxers with the opportunity to fight him. Prior to his bout with Ricky Hatton, Mayweather mentioned on HBO’s 24/7 that the Englishman should be thankful that he was being given the chance to fight him. In other words, Ricky Hatton would never have been considered a feasible opponent had it not been for Mayweather’s gracious acceptance of the challenge.
A similar situation occurred with Marquez. When the Mexican was unable to secure a third contest with Pacquiao, he decided to try rushing to the front of the line by calling out Mayweather. Mayweather then used the opportunity to craft the quintessential comeback bout, all the while trying to appear the noble one, by giving Marquez an opportunity that others were denying him. He knew that Marquez was considered a great fighter and that would provide enough validity to the pairing to see it materialize. But Mayweather doesn’t do anything unless he has a good handle on the outcome. Internally, he knew that the likelihood of Marquez defeating him was bleak. Being always clever both in and out of the ring, he promoted the fight contrary to that notion. He wants to fool observers into thinking he’s taking risks. In actuality, there’s no fighter out there today basking more comfortably in the light of certainty.
Why is this? It is because Mayweather possesses a skillfulness and ability that makes him all but impervious to the antics of smaller men, even great smaller men. This isn’t a general rule in all match ups with size differentials. Often times, fights between large men and small men can be competitive. Sometimes, they can conclude one-sidedly in unexpected ways. Take Pacquiao’s victory over De La Hoya for proof there. But in order for the level of competition to be credible, the larger fighter has to have exploitable weaknesses, ones that the smaller man can manipulate to neutralize the size disadvantage. Mayweather doesn’t have any of those weaknesses.
So far, two widely divergent styles of smaller men have challenged Mayweather. Both failed. Take Hatton first. Critics may dismiss Hatton for his over reliance on bullishness in the ring, but his style may have actually had the greatest chance of success against Mayweather. If nothing else, there was a possibility that the overwhelming tempo of brute forcefulness might have rattled Mayweather out of his rhythm. And nobody was better at applying unrelenting, reckless pressure than Hatton. But it didn’t work.
Take Marquez now. How is it possible that Marquez was able to fight so dynamically against Pacquiao, and yet so comparatively dully against Mayweather? Is this a key in revealing that Mayweather is actually superior to Pacquiao? The answer is an emphatic no. The truth lies in Marquez’s brain, his ring acumen, and his understanding of the fundamentals that were in place when Mayweather was standing in front of him. Marquez, like Mayweather, is a counter puncher. It’s not his instinct to storm his target throwing a barrage of punches. He, like Mayweather, needs to watch his opponent. He saw things in Mayweather instantly that seemed to disturb his internal timing, and he spent the remainder of the fight burdened with the futile quest for an opening that he knew he wouldn’t find. What Marquez most likely realized early on, is that a smaller man cannot penetrate Mayweather’s guard.
It’s a myth that Mayweather is “schooling” these smaller opponents, no matter what sterling commentary HBO analysts provide enforcing the sentiment. It could be said that the only lessons he’s teaching are concerning the laws of physics, and not the nuances of boxing. He has every natural advantage over the smaller opponent. His reach is superior, so that the smaller man obviously has to enter Mayweather’s range before Mayweather enters his. And then he has the speed and accuracy to utilize that range to its optimum, forcing the smaller man to mount an offense by settling himself firmly in harm’s way.
Mayweather is a great fighter. He has speed, accuracy, and an almost iron clad defense. His traits make it virtually impossible for a smaller man to conquer him. It’s not likely that he can be outwitted in the ring, either. Consider the pure mechanics: even if the smaller man avoids Mayweather’s jab, he’s sure to be caught with the follow up shot. That’s why it seems that many of Mayweather’s opponents fall victim to the straight right. They try to burrow their way in, sometimes succeeding in ducking the initial punch, but they simply cannot evade the inevitable.
Is it probable that Pacquiao would fare any differently than the other two against Mayweather? There is no doubt that Pacquiao is an exceptionally gifted fighter, but it’s difficult to muster a trait belonging to Pacquiao that Mayweather doesn’t possess as well, along with the size advantage. Maybe the difference is in terms of heart and character. Pacquiao is seemingly willing to test himself against anyone. He wants to perform his best at all times, and he will put it all on the line to do that. In the end, that kind of veracity shines more brightly than the superficial gleam of an overly guarded, unbeaten record. Thusly, the battle of the kings is won by the man who would push beyond the safety of fortified walls, and look invaders of any mystical proportions dead in the eye.
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