Carl Froch: “I’ll Make You Famous”

“Are you gonna give me a ring about this training then or what?” called out the coach, across the noisy gym through the swinging bags.

“You give me a ring – and I’ll make you famous” shot back the fighter, over his shoulder as he strolled nonchalantly by, without breaking a step.

It was 2001. The boxing club was Nottingham’s Phoenix ABC; the trainer was Dale McPhilbin, and the fighter was Carl Froch. He was about to turn professional. Read more

‘Boxing Philosophy’ Makes a Comeback!

Following a two-year reprieve from being bombarded with random musings about the world of boxing, prepare to be “in-boxed” once more by your favourite source of all things fight-related.

After a year back in the UK buried in books, and another eighteen months or so in China buried behind the Great Fire Wall, I’ve finally gotten around to writing down some of my ponderings on The Fight Game once more (and investing in a connection which will allow me to, erm, “hop” the Wall). Read more

‘Money’ Mayweather: Stepping Up To The Plate

After a run of fourteen years and forty fights undefeated as a professional boxer, including nineteen world title fights, Floyd Mayweather will step into the ring for what most people consider to be his toughest challenge to date. Perhaps more importantly, despite Mayweather competing in the welterweight division for five years already, it is also considered by many to be the first time he has fought a truly elite 147lber. Rightly or wrongly, there has been a common perception of Floyd in recent years of “ducking” the most serious challenges available whilst making his name against smaller and/or older opponents. This perception was given further credence when the much-hyped super fight with Manny Pacquiao fell through.

When it became clear the aforementioned mega bout would not get past the negotiating table, Mayweather was left with a choice: Find the most dangerous opponent in the world not named Manny Pacquiao, or fight a hand-picked lesser accomplished foe, and thereby forever risk the taunt of “running scared”. To his credit, Floyd stepped up to the plate. By taking on the legitimate welterweight champion and future hall of famer Shane Mosley, Mayweather has fired back the best possible response to silence his critics, out-flanking Manny Pacquiao somewhat in the pound-for-pound stakes in the process by taking on the better and more dangerous opponent of the two subsequent to their proposed fight collapsing. Aside from maybe Paul Williams, there is no other fighter in the world you could reasonably claim would be a more suitable opponent for Floyd to test himself against at this time.

It is in many respects though quite amazing to be talking of a fighter who went into his first world title fight after only seventeen fights and two years as a pro, as taking his first “real test”. On that night almost twelve years ago the young ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd stepped into the ring against accomplished veteran champion Genaro Hernandez, whose only previous defeat in forty fights came against a blazing early-career Oscar de la Hoya. Incredible now to think there was concern going into the bout that it might be too much too soon for the flashy young fighter. In the ring it was Mayweather who fought well beyond his years and looked like the seasoned vet though, completely outclassing the proud champion until it was stopped after eight rounds.

Floyd immediately followed this great win with a resounding victory over another fighter rated as a very dangerous opponent in the division at that time, Angel Manfredy. The WBU champion was considered a serious test for Floyd and was certainly no easy picking for a first title defense. Floyd destroyed Manfredy in two rounds. After five more dominant wins in the division, Mayweather took on the formidable undefeated IBF champion, knockout artist Diego Corrales. Corrales was freakishly tall for a super featherweight and had blasted his way to 33-0 with 27 knockouts going into the fight, making him one of the most feared punchers in the whole of boxing – never mind the super-featherweight division. Many astute experts were tipping him for the victory. What transpired was one of the most clinical boxing exhibitions you’re ever likely to witness, as Mayweather bamboozled the bigger man with his speedy boxing and knocked him to the canvas on five occasions before his corner mercifully threw in the towel in the tenth round. Mayweather was still just twenty-three years old.

So how is it then, almost a decade later, and with a further five title belts behind him in four more weight divisions, that Floyd Mayweather is only now taking on a “real test”?

On the one hand, we might say that Floyd is somewhat a victim of  his own early career success: he made every perceived challenge look so easy that he raised peoples expectations of himself too high. This has been a burden for many of the greatest fighters. On the other hand though, Mayweather has actively encouraged people to raise their expectations of him, in his wild yet virulent claims that he is not just a great boxer, but the greatest boxer – ever. Judging him as he has asked himself to be judged then – against the best that ever did it in this sport – there is a lot to be said for the “ducking” accusations that have plagued his post-lightweight career.

After escaping with what many labelled a “gift” decision in his first lightweight title fight against Jose Luis Castillo, and then winning a clear decision in the immediate rematch, for a long time the strength of Mayweather’s competition waned compared to his early career challenges. Although he continued steadily with two more title defenses at lightweight, before moving up to collect titles at light-welter, welter and light-middleweight, it is Floyd’s competition post-Castillo – or perceived lack thereof – that has lead to harsh taunts such as “Gayweather” and “Scareweather” appearing over internet message boards.

Arturo Gatti, despite being the WBC champion at 140lbs, was known for his guts rather than his world class credentials and barely even made it into the division’s top five at the time. Moving up to welterweight, victories over Sharmba Mitchell, Zab Judah and Carlos Baldomir only seemed to give his critics further ammunition: Mitchell was old and fighting above his weight; Judah was soundly beaten in his previous fight to Mayweather against Baldomir; and the champion Baldomir was considered a limited fighter whose skills presented almost no danger.

Subsequent to the title winning victory over Baldomir, Mayweather again began to add some star names to his resume, yet for one reason or another, each seems to have come under fire: De la Hoya was aging and yet still able to take Mayweather to a close split decision; Ricky Hatton was perceived as too small and even over-hyped in some quarters; and while Juan Manuel Marquez was without doubt an elite fighter, he was also moving up two weight classes to tackle Mayweather.

Perhaps just as much ammunition has been found by Mayweather’s critics due to the fighters he has failed to meet in the ring, rather than the ones he did meet. Consider that at 140lbs, where Floyd hand-picked a WBC title  from Gatti, boxing legend Kostya Tszyu, undefeated British star Ricky Hatton, and red-hot WBO Puerto Rican champion Miguel Cotto were all active in that weight division at the time, and yet he failed to meet one of them in the ring (Hatton eventually came later at 147lbs). Up at welterweight cries of Floyd “running scared” really intensified when he chose to box Baldomir instead of feared puncher Antonio Margarito, and then chose to retire instead of fight undefeated star Miguel Cotto. With Margarito dismantling Cotto, and Shane Mosley subsequently undressing Margarito, these are two potentially “legacy defining fights” that passed Floyd by.

Add in the recent collapse of the aforementioned Pacquiao blockbuster, and the flashy man who calls himself ‘Money’ finds himself, after nineteen world title victories, “proving” himself in the ring.

Yet for all the criticisms, it should be noted that in his last four fights Floyd Mayweather has defeated the reigning linear lightweight, light-welterweight, light-middleweight and welterweight champions. Should he win against Mosley, we can add another welterweight champion to that amazing list. Aside from a certain Mr. Pacquiao, you’ll be hard pressed to find an achievement like that in boxing unless you go back to 1950’s boxing immortal Henry Armstrong – famed for holding titles at featherweight, lightweight and welterweight concurrently. Some will argue that all but one of the contests in Mayweather’s win streak took place in his favoured 147lb weight class, and that the victories were tarnished because they were against smaller or older fighters. As Floyd rightly points out though – he himself used to be a smaller fighter; he himself came up through the divisions. Why shouldn’t he accept the challenge of other fighters attempting to do the same thing?

Whether you take a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty view of Mayweather’s career to date though, one thing cannot be denied: on Saturday night he is fighting against a bona fide, world class welterweight who cannot be dismissed as an easy nights work even by Mayweather’s harshest critics. We might say, finally, he is stepping up to the plate. Again.

Big Fight Betting & Predictions: Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather vs. ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley

Floyd Mayweather, USA (40-0, 25 K.O’s) vs. Shane Mosley, USA (46-5-0-1, 39 K.O’s)

MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada. 1st May, 2010.

Note: Although Mosley is the current WBA welterweight champion, the title will not be on the line as Mayweather refused to pay the required sanctioning fees and elected instead not to fight for the belt. It was stipulated as part of the contracts for this fight that it should be referred to and promoted as “Mayweather-Mosley”, and not “Mosley-Mayweather”. It is believed therefore that Mayweather will also enter the ring last and have his name and record announced second in the ring – traditionally roles reserved for the champion.

BETTING:

Despite the fact that this is largely seen as Floyd Mayweather’s toughest fight, and viewed as a very competitive match-up in the boxing business, the bookmakers still have Floyd as a solid favourite.

UK’s Sky Bet are giving odds of 1/4 for Floyd to take the fight outright – meaning for every £4 you bet on Mayweather, your winnings will be a measly £1.

If you fancy backing the underdog Mosley, however, you will find very tempting odds of 3/1 for the fight outright – meaning for every £1 you bet on him you win three.

Analyzing the odds a bit more closely, if you happen to fancy Mosley’s chances in this fight, it could be a very lucrative night for you indeed. Pick the ‘Sugar’ man on points and you will be rewarded with odds of 6/1; by any method inside 12 rounds and you’ll get 15/2.  The big money in this fight can be won if you really put your neck on the line though and call the exact round in which the underdog will win: pick any round from 1-12 and you’ll get a massive 66/1. Quite surprising odds given that Mosley is the proven puncher in the fight, and worth a punt if you ask me.

If you think Mosley is capable of the stoppage though, ‘group rounds’ betting is where the clever money could be won. Pick him to win in either of the following groups – rounds 1-4, rounds 5-8 or rounds 9-12 – and you’ll get excellent odds of 16/1.

The safe money is – not surprisingly given his track record – on Mayweather to take a decision after 12 rounds. Choose this outcome, and you’ll get odds of 1/2. Choose Mayweather inside the distance, and you’ll get a much more appealing 10/3.

The under/over rounds betting for tonight’s fight is listed at: Under 10 rounds 21/10; Over 10 rounds 1/3. The bookmakers clearly echoing the general consensus that this will be a long fight, probably decided on points.

Boxing Philosophy Fantasy League Predictions:

M.O.Boxer: “My heart says Mosley, but my head says Mayweather. Even though I really like Mosley’s chances of pulling off the upset, I’ve picked against Floyd before and he’s always proved me wrong, so I’m going to go with my head over my heart on this one and say that Floyd will win a decision, probably winning about 8 of the 12 rounds”. Mayweather, Points (over 10).

‘Boom Boom’ Brown: “I’d love Mr Mosley to win this fight because I can’t stand Mayweather… but my head says Floyd on points by a unanimous decision.” Mayweather, Points (over 10).

H. Grenyer: “‘Money’ too quick, too good, too slick.” Mayweather, Points (over 10).

‘Ferocious’ Joe: “Going with my heart on this one but still feel its right. Mosley is not a small, slow, no movement guy. This is a test, make no mistake. He’s going to  come here as the underdog but with the tools to pull it off. It depends on whether Mayweather is as good as he says or shows a true fighter lays inside. Whatever the result it will be a classic”. Mosley, Stoppage, Over 10.

‘Gavster’: “Even as I type this I am unsure what to go with; my head, or my heart. I’ll go with my heart.” Mosley, Points (over 10)

J. Tasker: Mayweather, TKO, Over 10.

Andy Cathy: Mayweather, Points (over 10).