Rumor: Mayweather considering UK fight
by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2009 11:40 AM EST
in Boxing Rumors
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With Manny Pacquiao likely to run for Congress in the Philippines and that providing a bit of an issue with negotiating a fight between himself and Floyd Mayweather Jr., other possibilities are starting to open up.
First off, Bob Arum told Ronnie Nathanielsz that Pacquiao may fight on March 13 after all:
Given [that Pacquiao is apparently running for Congress] Arum told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports "what’s there to talk about" when asked for an update on his talks with Schaefer on a Mayweather fight.
Arum said "if worse comes to worse we’ll go back to the original plan for a March 13 fight" in which the new Dallas Cowboys billion dollar stadium is the likely venue.
Right now, March 13 is tentatively taken by the Roy Jones Jr.-Bernard Hopkins rematch in Las Vegas, though that could move, perhaps to April. It'd be tough to sell boxing fans on two major-priced PPVs in the month of March. Arum mentioned no possible opponents, but there would be plenty of guys happy to take the shot.
And then there's Mayweather, who is reportedly considering a tune-up fight in the United Kingdom. All things considered, if the Pacquiao fight simply can't be made due to Pacquiao's political interests and aspirations, and Shane Mosley is tied up with Andre Berto on January 30, Floyd probably doesn't want to sit around for months.
The troublesome part is the opponents being talked about. FightHype's Ben Thompson has a short list: Dmitriy Salita, Matthew Hatton and Carlos Quintana.
Quintana is a legit welterweight and a second-tier fighter at the weight, and he's the best option here. Salita is a non-contender at 140 pounds set to face Amir Khan on December 5. And Matthew Hatton, bless him, is just not anywhere even close to Mayweather's league. Matthew is a C+ fighter on his very best days. He went to a draw with an aged Lovemore N'dou this month, and N'dou looked as mediocre in that fight as I've ever seen him.
It's highly unlikely that there's really anything to this, but it's out there and going around.
If Mayweather does want to fight in the interim, there are a few opponents. Quintana wouldn't be the worst choice. Joshua Clottey's always out there, though if by some mini-miracle Mayweather was able to deal with Top Rank for a fight with Clottey, that could wind up on the worst fight of the year list. Both are fantastic fighters (on different levels), but generally need help being exciting.
Honestly, if he wants to go to the UK and stay sharp, I'd rather see him fight their prospect Kell Brook than Matthew Hatton or Dmitriy Salita. Brook would have just as much of a chance to win, if not more.
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If there is a March fight in Dallas
I wonder if Edwin Valero’s legal issues would be settled in time for him to make that fight. I have to imagine he would be Arum’s top choice opponent, with Humberto Soto (or maybe Juan Manuel Marquez) being the second option. No matter what, fight would be at 140, meaning that none of those opponents would pose a real threat.
I wonder if Pacquiao could really sell out a 100,000 seat arena if he’s not facing name competition?
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I had just started to move away from my resolute cynicism about a Manny and Floyd fight ever happening and now this. One can’t help but wonder why Floyd needs a tune up fight. After all he is immensly talented and looked fantastic against Marquez (yes I know Marquez was poor at that weight but Mayweather looked as brilliant as always.) Of course him taking a tune up fight and Manny fighting someone like Valero isn’t too terrible a thing but it’s a far cry from our highest hopes of a Mayweather-Pacquiao superfight.
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Nov 30, 2009 12:14 PM EST reply actions
This sucks. But if Floyd is going to take a tune-up fight first, I want to see Pacquiao/Marquez III on March 13.
If Pacquiao-Marquez III happens, mark me down for Pacquiao by overwhelming fourth round stoppage. If it happens and the time comes, and I pick it any other way and nobody’s coming in with a broken hand or swine flu or anything like that, call me on it.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions
Why cant Pacquiao and Mayweather happen on May 1st? This is fuckin bullshit. All of a sudden Mayweather wants to fight Shane after the backlashing he gave him in the media? Gimme a break. He’s been ducking Pacquiao and is gonna keep ducking Pacquiao.All you optimists keep waiting.WE GOTTA WAIT TIL SEPTEMBER TIL THE FIGHT IF EVEN THAT? It’s just ridiculous. It has nothing to do with Arum. It has nothing to do with Tune up fights.It’s just one champion that is dodging another champion. Period. I have nothing against Yuri Foreman. He’s a really great fighter and is a champion ,but I have no interest in him in the ring with Manny. Please.Give the fans what they fuckin want!!!!
Manny won't fight on May 1
Philippines elections are in May, so he doesn’t want to fight any later than March or any earlier than September.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Well it looks like September then. Im thinking it will Most likely it will be the Mexican Independance Day weekend.
No better way to celebrate Mexican Independence
than to have two of the countries from which they were liberated fighting each other. Now we just need a Spaniard and an Austrian on the undercard.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
And i don’t want to see Mayweather in there with Quintana or a fuckin Clottey!! First of all, If he initially wasn’t gonna give a legend like “Sugar” Shane a shot, why in the hell would he give them a shot?? An easy win? Every fights been easy since the Castillo fight for Floyd. He doesn’t need a"tune up fight". He’s that good. He was off two fuckin years and didn’t seem rusty at all !! If he was gonna fight before he fought Manny, he would fight somebody who draws a crowd. And you know that. He’s obsessed with that. But this is even if the Pacquiao fight happens!!!! And if he can’t find a fight he likes before the Pacquiao fight, he’ll sit out til September. Don’t think he won’t. Cause after all. Floyd only cares.. about Floyd. The whole tune up fight is ridiculous to me.
If he fights M. Hatton...
…I’m not sure how you could really take PBF seriously at that point. That is an insane mismatch that would in no way tune him up for any meaningful fight.
by The Boxer Rebellion on Nov 30, 2009 2:28 PM EST reply actions
Mayweather in the UK
Better be followed by: Wembley is being considered as a venue for Pac-May, otherwise I don’t care. I really like Mayweather, but you have to fight either Mosley or Pac. It’s not even close to a negotiable point. Do it, do it now!!!
id go n watch mayweather if he fought in the UK, as long as he fights a credible opponent
by Sweet science on Nov 30, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions
Dallas for Pacman-Mayweather?
I’d love to see this fight happen in Dallas……if it does, I’ll host a party at a nearby hotel. All good fight fans are welcome!
Mayweather vs Matthew Hatton!
All you people talking that BS about how thats a crappy match up or it shouldn’t be made are irrational as any Mayweather fan will tell you.
Mayweather only fights the best and fighting Matthew Hatton who is linked by BLOOD to the great Ricky Hatton is no easy fight and he’s going to do it in England too. God knows those British fans are so loud they can wake up the dead and drum up spirits in fighters that make them invincible.
Just like the Marquez fight this is a very credible and challenging match up and Mayweather will show his GOAT skills against an incredible opponent in his prime at a weight class where he has endless experience.
Seriously though I think he’ll fight Matthew Hatton in London as it is the easiest option and gives him some coverage in a nation he seems to like. All you people talking about how impossible it is need to get real.
I’m willing to bet Matthew gives Mayweather a better fight than Marquez did.
I’m willing to bet Matthew gives Mayweather a better fight than Marquez did.
I’ll take the bet. Chubby little Marquez would beat Matthew at 147, I think.
Bad Left Hook
"If bulls**t was poetry, Ray 'Boom Boom' Mancini's name would be Shakespeare." -- Dennis Rappaport
by Scott Christ on Nov 30, 2009 9:30 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah Matthew Hatton is really bad
You say C+ but I wouldn’t even be that generous.
"Honey i forgot to duck" - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on Dec 1, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions
You heard it here first
Mayweather vs Audley “I’ll be world champion in 20andsomething I promise” Harrison.
To take place in my house.
"Chris Eubank lost his recent comeback fight on points ... the main one being that he's a total git."
Floyd’s perfect record just keeps getting bigger and bigger. If he ends up fighting Quintana, Hatton or Salita, it will be for no other reason than him being afraid to take a real challenge. He’ll stick to either has-beens, untested prospects or fighters who are giving up ridiculous weight to face him.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Dec 1, 2009 6:04 AM EST reply actions
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