Mayweather to fight in UK

First topic message reminder :

Just seen this on the BBC,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/22351479

Ellerbe said: "Floyd cannot wait until we can come over there and give the UK fans a big, big fight."

He is planning on visiting the UK later this year ahead of returning for a fight.

"Floyd has a tremendous fan base in the UK and we're looking at working on something now where he's going to come over there," added Ellerbe.

"Ever since the Ricky Hatton fight back in 2007, UK fans have been very loyal to Floyd and he definitely acknowledges that and he wants to bring a big, big event to the UK.

I'm talking with a couple of people now and they're giving me some options, and Floyd will definitely be coming to the UK.

The UK are his biggest and best fans. He has tremendous love affair for the UK fans

We'll see how this thing plays out, his focus is Saturday night and then we'll go from there. But we're definitely going to bring a big, big event to the UK."


I'm sure this has been put forward a few times since the Hatton fight but nothing has ever come of it.

Anyone believe he'll come over here for a fight?

Is Khan the only opponent or would a fight against a non UK fighter sell just as well?

azania wrote:

Lumbering_Jack wrote:Floyd doesn't have competitive fights.

Someone like a Leonard or Duran would fight someone with a big size advantage to level the playing field.

Floyd won't, nothing wrong with that but he can't proclaim he is the greatest.

Because he is so much better than the rest

No he isn't. It's because he chooses to fight of a similar size with far less talent.

Why not fight a big light middle/full blown middle with talent? Would people think any less of him if he lost.

I'm not sure it is purely because he was born after 1970 azania..although no doubt some people do have an agenda as to why they wouldn't have him in the top 10.

For me in terms of sheer ability and talent he easily makes the Top 10 ATG list. I don't think I could pick out one weakness in his arsenal and his defence is simply outstanding. Having said that however...taking into context his record he wouldn't make my Top 10 all time list and when comparing him with the likes of Ray Robinson and Ali he isn't close....

Nothing to do with the fact he is born after the 1970, everything to do with the fact his record just doesn't stand up.

He has great great names on his ledger that is without question, but he simply does not have that stand out super fight win which many of the all time greats have.

The fact is he has fought very few people at the absolute peak of their powers and when he has they have been made to step up to fight him.

He caught Oscar De La Hoya a little late (not his fault really)...Zab Judah has always froze on the big occasion and he wasn't the first to expose that flaw...he should have fought Mosley at least 2 years earlier when there were many more calls for it.

He avoided fighting Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton at their best weight and Cotto had already been destroyed by Manny.

Then of course there is the biggest point of him avoiding the two biggest challenges of his time. Of course there is still a chance he takes on Alvarez and I really hope he does...but assuming he avoids him then he has missed the boat twice and that for me at least puts a rather large black mark against his resume.

Everything to do with the fact he's a modern fighter............

Record speaks for himself....These wallies want him to fight above his comfort zone so he loses............

WTF?? When did Leonard ever fight against the deck of cards???

Hagler avoided a rematch with Hearns and avoided Spinks.....

Guerrero is top 8 p4p......................

It's just baloney....and sour grapes.

God forbid a fighter fighting out of his comfort zone. Crazy talk.

Lumbering_Jack wrote:

azania wrote:

Lumbering_Jack wrote:Floyd doesn't have competitive fights.

Someone like a Leonard or Duran would fight someone with a big size advantage to level the playing field.

Floyd won't, nothing wrong with that but he can't proclaim he is the greatest.

Because he is so much better than the rest

No he isn't. It's because he chooses to fight of a similar size with far less talent.

Why not fight a big light middle/full blown middle with talent? Would people think any less of him if he lost.

OK

Lets ignore the fact that he has always been outweighed by most opponents he has faces with the sole exception of JMM.

Lumbering_Jack wrote:God forbid a fighter fighting out of his comfort zone. Crazy talk.

Pathetic response...

Out of interest Truss and Az ....

How do you both view Manny's victory over Margarito?!

owen10ozzy wrote:Out of interest Truss and Az ....

How do you both view Manny's victory over Margarito?!

Great win even though slightly tainted by weight stips.

He has been massively outweighed (Baldomir for example) but he is a face first plodder.

Talent and being outweighed is what I am on about.

margarito just an ordinary fighter for me.............The Cotto win was sullied...

Lumbering_Jack wrote:He has been massively outweighed (Baldomir for example) but he is a face first plodder.

Talent and being outweighed is what I am on about.

That's the only example? Ok.

Agreed Trussman,

But he did outweigh Manny on fight night by between 17 & 20 pounds..(no confirmed spot on weight)....that in itself is a pretty huge advantage regardless of the skill level of opponent.

The thing for me with regards to Alvarez is that I wouldn't think he would weigh anything more than that come fight night and whilst he is undoubtedly a better boxer than Margarito he is very young and I would say a couple of years of his peak still...both advantages for Mayweather.

I just can't really see an argument for him not taking on the young mexican tbh. If your worried about the size of your opponents then don't go skipping through the weight divisions. Manny gets a lot of criticism for some of his catch-weight stipulations but at least he did something to get the fights that people wanted to see made.

Well who else has massively outweighed him and had bags of talent?

This should be interesting.

Lumbering_Jack wrote:Well who else has massively outweighed him and had bags of talent?

This should be interesting.

Oscar for one. Coralles did also. Hatton from the top of my head. When he won his first title he was outweighed. He is generally the smaller man in fights.

So why is Canelo too big?

Was Hearns too big for Duran...........

Everyone seems to think so on here....But that's Duran.

I believe Corrales outweighed him by around 7lbs and Oscar by around 10lbs. Not sure about Hatton.

Does anyone actually know what Alvarez comes in at on fight night? The numbers I have heard is around 165-167...

"Hearns was too tall and big for Duran"..........135-154.............

"Why doesn't ducker Mayweather fight Williams" ...130 -147.....

Dear oh dear...........

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:"Hearns was too tall and big for Duran"..........135-154.............

"Why doesn't ducker Mayweather fight Williams" ...130 -147.....

Dear oh dear...........

Why did you want him to fight Williams because.. Duran gets a pass on Hearns... so It wouldn't matter If Mayweather lost to Williams on that logic..

Both Hearns and Williams being six foot welters!!!

Hypocrites..

I've got so confused about this lol! Truss who are you having a go at?!

if he fights in the UK why do you think it will be at normal time, fight would take place around 2am,

Truss seems to be arguing with himself.

azania wrote:Truss seems to be arguing with himself.

I am until I find a worthy adversary..

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

azania wrote:Truss seems to be arguing with himself.

I am until I find a worthy adversary..

Hang around long enough Truss, am sure lescargo will log on.

I miss him.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:

azania wrote:Truss seems to be arguing with himself.

I am until I find a worthy adversary..

At least you're guaranteed to win an argument.

I am If you stay on here...

Although I don't really agree (and certainly not in this set of circumstances) with them, in a strange, roundabout way I can see why some might argue that it's ok for Mayweather to swerve the Alvarez fight on the grounds of Alvarez being "too big", as it is indeed a rare former Super-Featherweight titlist who brushes shoulders with a big, strong and robust Light-Middleweight further down the line.

However, due to his past failures to take / make THE fight that everyone wants to see on a couple of occasions (so basically, Cotto in 2007 / 2008 and then Pacquiao in 2010 / 2011), he's really put himself in a position where it's hard for him to justify not fighting Alvarez soon.

As great as Floyd is, this idea that there are no fights potentially close enough or with an opponent good enough to get the public wanting it is a load of nonsense. Cotto, at the time, would have been something approaching that (certainly a lot more than Hatton or Oscar's remains) and Pacquiao, of course, definitely would have. Ditto for Alvarez.

If Floyd had just fought one of those fights (preferably Pacquiao, of course) and won, then I genuinely believe that a lof of people would be willing to grant him a little more leeway when it comes to whether or not he fights Canelo. But since he's been at Welterweight or higher, those ultimate tests have just never materialized and, as such, those who feel a little let down by this are quite rightly going to think that, if he doesn't fight Alvarez either, he's just taking the mick somewhat, and that's entirely understandable. And what's more, Mayweather has brought that upon himself, really.

Making a deal with Pacquiao in 2010 or 2011 would have given him much more sympathy from the fans if avoidance of Canelo is his preferred route, I think, and likewise taking the Alvarez fight now would go quite a way to make up for that Pacquiao fight never happening. One option is dead and buried now, realistically, so I do believe that, if Floyd is serious about his own legacy and wanting to remove this idea that he's picked his opponents a little carefully, he ultimately needs this Alvarez fight.

No excuses for this one, really. If he doesn't fight Alvarez in the very near future at 154 I'd consider it pretty poor form really for a man who has some fans touting him as the best ever and who claims to be the cash cow who is helping boxing survive in tough times.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:I am If you stay on here...

You haven't won a single one mate. But I respect your ability not to answer simple questions and keep an argument going. Props bro.

Was there really a clamour at the time for Floyd to fight Cotto or is it a case of revised clamour by people nit picking?

Manny this ..Manny that and to think Marquez has owned him all these years....

I'm marking Duran down even more now because he didn't beat Arguello........

If Mayweather is to be the first fighter who's legacy is dependent on who he didn't fight instead of who he did........

Then let's go through history and re-rank everybody..

B***S**T..........

Truss, your problem when it comes to Mayweather is that you're so obsessed and totally in love with him that it makes you incapable of sensible or reasoned debate when his name crops up.

If Mayweather doesn't take on Alvarez he's naturally going to get criticism in some quarters. Now he'd always get criticism, some of it unjustified, for whatever he does - but surely you must agree that, had he got in the ring with Pacquiao when it was the biggest fight on the planet in waiting, then the desire for him to take on a really, really dangerous and risky fight (Alvarez at 154) would be less today, as he'd have done a lot to remove this handpicking stigma that surrounds him?

Someone should have taken the test. Quite simple really. Given the plethora of failed tests, is that such an unreasonable request?

History will look at it in 50 years time and say FMJ thrashed JMM, who had Pacquiao's number, and that he also did a job on Cotto. The fact that he never fought Pacquiao or that the Cotto fight came a bit late won't really matter.

Sure, he'll never threaten Robinson for the top spot, but I think anything below that there will be an argument for Floyd.

The standards for being considered a nailed on top ten of all time fighter should be high.

In that context then I think you have to look at Mayweathers career from his mini retirement post Hatton onward with a measure of skepticism or at least an acknowledgement he could have done more and tested himself more.

I can understand people making a case for Mayweather either being in the top ten or not but I dont really understand the level of etremes whereby it seems he either isnt even deemed worthy of being a great or else he is essentially beyond criticism.

If one want to argue that he is top ten of all time, fair enough, but I find it strange that there isnt even a willingness to accept his 1 fight a year career post Hatton has its valid criticisms.

WHU_Champo_League_in_7Yrs wrote:A Floyd PPV card costs $60-$70 a person which is about £30-£40 which I doubt they will get enough UK buyers and US buyers (will be about 3pm when it'll be shown) to make it worth it

He sells out MGM with A listers a plenty with the least expensive seats at hundreds of dollars each, with a live gate of about £10mil which is a hell of a lot and impossible for him to get in the UK regardless of the venue

The fact that this would be floyds first and only fight in the uk/europe he could sell the cheapest ticket for thousands of pounds and they would sell.

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Whoever Mayweather beats you'll p**s on him mate...

Canelo would be overrated...

Stuff like this is absolute nonsense.

If Mayweather actually fought some of the guys that the fans want to see then afterwards said so and so was useless or over rated then fair enough but no one was calling for fights with Marquez, Mosley, Ortiz or Cotto when they happened and no one gave any of the opponents much of a chance before the fights either and I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who gives Guerrero a chance as well and again it's a fight no one is calling for.

2009-2010 everyone in boxing wanted the fight with Manny and he fought Marquez and Mosley.

2011 A fight with Ortiz is fair enough as a keep busy fight but people still would have preferred Manny for the most part even if he was in decline as shown in his fights against Mosley and Marquez. A lot of people calling for a fight with Martinez but that was just never going to happen as the size difference would be immense and Floyd has no business fighting the Middleweight champion.

2012 No one really screaming for a fight with Cotto, it's an OK fight but people wanted either Martinez back down at Light Middleweight or maybe Alvarez.

2013 People now really want the Alvarez fight and seeing as Floyd had his last fight in the same division it's a fight that should happen, but given Floyds history smart money says it won't. I'm the only person who is happy to see Guerrero get a fight with Floyd.

A real waste of a genuinely great talent who did take risks earlier in his career, Corrales was a massive Super Featherweight who was unbeaten and Floyd produced one of the best displays I've ever seen. He went straight into a rematch with Castillo after being pushed right to the wire first time when I'm sure he could have side stepped that.

He claims to have been at the top for 15 years but he hasn't been fighter of the year for about 6 years because he isn't fighting the best available opponents.

azania wrote:

owen10ozzy wrote:Out of interest Truss and Az ....

How do you both view Manny's victory over Margarito?!

Great win even though slightly tainted by weight stips.

I don't see how people view this as a great win but belittle floyds win against Mosley it's ridiculous

owen10ozzy wrote:I believe Corrales outweighed him by around 7lbs and Oscar by around 10lbs. Not sure about Hatton.

Does anyone actually know what Alvarez comes in at on fight night? The numbers I have heard is around 165-167...

I heard against trout it was 172lbs

Floyds is outweighed almost every fight he's in since moving to WW bar Marquez I think

Guerrero is top p4p and you can clearly see he's naturally bigger as he's heavier a week before the fight

manos de piedra wrote:

I can understand people making a case for Mayweather either being in the top ten or not but I dont really understand the level of etremes whereby it seems he either isnt even deemed worthy of being a great or else he is essentially beyond criticism.

Well said Manos, personally I don’t have him top ten but to deny his ability or greatness seems churlish at best. Don’t know if I have him top 20 as I struggle enough to put a ten together let alone a 20 but would not have any great issue with anyone who has him in there.

However cannot have him in the top ten as the argument he has not always sought out the toughest challenges available certainly since his move to welterweight. Can forgive him taking Baldomir and Judah as DLH was the obvious target and taking fights that would potentially upset that apple cart was unlikely and people expecting him to do so are at best naïve.

However there is no question there were better challenges out there post DLH than those that have been faced, with the obvious one being the Manny fight, if we are talking about joining the absolute upper echelons of the sport, which clearly a place in the top ten has to represent then surely the minimum we have to ask of a fighter is that they have consistently sought out and faced their most difficult available challenges and struggle to see how anyone can argue that since moving to welter this has been the case with Floyd.

Rowley wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:

I can understand people making a case for Mayweather either being in the top ten or not but I dont really understand the level of etremes whereby it seems he either isnt even deemed worthy of being a great or else he is essentially beyond criticism.

Well said Manos, personally I don’t have him top ten but to deny his ability or greatness seems churlish at best. Don’t know if I have him top 20 as I struggle enough to put a ten together let alone a 20 but would not have any great issue with anyone who has him in there.

To be fair, other than maybe Rodders (although I may be just reading that wrong) I don't think anyone on here is refusing to acknowledge Floyd's greatness. Nobody has said worse than Top20 p4p ATG, many have said 10-15 with a shout an edging inside 10. To me that is pretty universal acclaim. The difference/problem is, Truss' blind allegience and nut-huggery means he cannot accept how it's possible to not have Floyd nailed on comfortable Top10 with room to spare. If anyone at is at an extreme end of the spectrum it's Truss.

If we want balance we should invite D4 back!!

Floyd sits circa 12 for me, with a Canelo fight (and win) taking him into the Top 10, just.

TopHat24/7 wrote:

If we want balance we should invite D4 back!!

You might not want to hold your breath on that happening.

Haha don't worry, I'm not! He is the Ying to Truss' Yang when it comes to Mayweather tho.....

I just rememebr a thread not too long ago which had some people arguing that Mayweather was not an all time great and didnt belong in the top 30 all time. Equally there are some that argue he is nailed on top ten.

Ok, don't remember that thread, certainly seems harsh!!

Why do people beat on mayweather for not fighting Martinez or Alvarez?

They are career light middle fighters big at the weight.

Mayweather is a welterweight and has only fought twice above that against a small for the weight cotto and de la Hoya.

People forget that Pacquiao didn't take the test for reasons unknown and that even he declined Martinez.

Pacquiao is in the same weight as mayweather so let's beat on him too then.

If I remember correct Pacquiao was trying to get Martinez to 150lbs??

Typical really.

I think people are mainly frustrated that mayweather is one of the greatest fighters of all time. That's the only reason I can think of.

I don't have any problems with him not fighting Martinez, Floyd has never fought at Middleweight and he isn't ranked in the weight class.

Alvarez I don't think he has any excuse for not fighting. Ok he is big for the weight but it isn't like he holds all the advantages in the fight. For a start Mayweather has both a height and reach advantage. Whilst Alvarez will outweigh him on fight night it is nothing new to Floyd so it's not like the excuse he is to big can be used. Hatton outweighed him at Welterweight....De La Hoya at Light Middleweight (who was also taller)...Corrales at Super Featherweight (again taller than Mayweather)

Based on those facts the only reason that is surely plausible for him not taking the fight is that he doesn't want it? Because he has been at a disadvantage before. The fight itself is the money fight out there at the moment, so any talk of Alvarez not being the biggest name out there would be garbage also.

What you have to remember about Pacman is that whilst his catch-weight stipulations were annoying to many at least he did something to get the fights that people wanted to see made. As I said in a previous fight he took on Margarito who outweighed him by almost 20lbs and was 5 inches taller with a 6 inch reach advantage... they are some advantages to give away.

You seem a bit obsessed with running down Pacquaio mobile! He has his criticisms but in context not many are proclaiming him top ten of all time so his relevance to Mayweather being top ten is really only defined by the lack of a fight between them.

If you pop up in weight twice to light middleweight to beat competent but ageing de la Hoya and Cotto but then avoid facing a rising star like Alvarez (which hasn’t actually happened yet Il stress) then it looks like cherry picking your opposition based on the threat they offer. If de la Hoya and Cotto were acceptable opponents, then Alvarez should be also. Again with de la Hoya and Cotto, it seems the wins are pushed to extremes. I think they were good wins all things considered. De la Hoya was a fully fledged light middleweight when Mayweather fought him. He hadn’t been below light middle since the 1990s practically. At the time, Im not sure he was significantly any smaller than Canelo. It’s the picking and choosing that some criticise Mayweather for in the context of him being one of the top ten fighters of all time.

I understand manos and I'm not trying to beat up in pacman because his achievements are there for all to see.

But.....he stepped up for a LMW title fight against margarito? Really?

How much cherry picking can that be??

Im just comparing because their both great (pacman and may) and should be compared when we talk about going up in weights and fighting cherry picked opponents.

Why doesn't Pacquiao fight Alvarez??

Why doesn't Huck fight Vitali?

Why doesn't malignaggi fight Martinez??

It sound ridiculous but that's the equivalent.

I think mayweather has done more than enough to stake his claim.

He does not need these 22 year olds that have proved absolute nothing in their careers. (Rhodes, hatton, Gomez, Mosley......)

Neither would he want Martinez who is at 38 quite clearly not the same.

He should fight this weekend then fight the following:

Alexander (IBF champ only 1 defeat)
Danny Garcia (WBC ring champ LWW and undefeated in his prime)
Timothy Bradley (beat Pacquiao and come off that war to increase his fan base also undefeated)
Marquez 2. (Marquez has now grown into the weight and could cause more problems. Battered pacquaio to close the book)
Amir Khan ( pure money fight in th UK at wembley)

Retire.