Poll: What do you want to see Mayweather do next?

by SC on Sep 20, 2009 3:00 AM EDT in Features Comment 41 comments

ESPN's Teddy Atlas says it's gotta be Manny Pacquiao next for Floyd:

But how about you? Here's what we know.

Manny Pacquiao: He has to get by a stiff challenge from Miguel Cotto on November 14, and THEN they'd have to agree on a revenue split (Mayweather taking 50-50 seems unlikely to many, including myself, and Manny taking anything less than that is probably just as unlikely). We also know this: If Pacquiao beats Cotto, particularly if it's a no-doubt sort of win, this is the fight in boxing. Period. There's also the ongoing bad feelings between Floyd and Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, but if the money could be sorted out, I don't think there's a real question that Floyd and Bob could do business again.

Shane Mosley: Mosley wants it. Bad. Thing is, Mayweather-Mosley almost happened a few years ago, and it was Shane that was blamed for it not going through. This fight has been a "dream match" sort of thing for a long, long time, and while now it might not be what it once might have been, I think it's still an outstanding fight. This is another fight with a potential split problem. Mosley is very proud and doesn't want to hear the numbers about him not being much of a draw, which I again say is a shame given how great a career he's had and how good of a fighter he still is. But would Shane take something like 65-35 Mayweather? Something close to that (60-40 at the very lowest) is what Floyd would want.

Miguel Cotto: If Cotto beats Pacquiao, then this might be the fight. An impressive Cotto win over Pacquiao almost surely trumps what Mayweather did against Marquez, even given how dominant Floyd was. Cotto's Puerto Rican fanbase also promises more overall money than Mosley does, probably, plus Miguel's profile would get a huge boost with a win over Manny.

And to be perfectly honest with no disrespect to anyone else, these are the only three acceptable opponents. If I were to make a guess, I think it'll be Shane, maybe in February or March, or later than that if Floyd waits to see how Cotto-Pacquiao plays out. If Shane can land a Floyd fight and payday, waiting around to fight might not bother him too much, the way it is now that his December 26 HBO card is not happening.

Given that a pick for Pacquiao or Cotto would depend on them winning in November, I assume, I'll just make the poll read "Cotto-Pacquiao Winner" instead of an option for one of the two of them.

Poll

Who do you most want to see Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight next?

Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao Winner

899 votes

Shane Mosley

392 votes

Other (Please specify in comments)

20 votes

1311 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Def. Cotto-Pac first

Hoping it’s Pac because Cotto is far too easy for Floyd. And Max stole our moment from hearing Floyd speak on opponents. Never thought I’d say this but we need Larry back

by gunranger on Sep 20, 2009 3:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

exactly what i said. merchant mos def would not have cut back to jim during that situation, hell he probably wouldve thrown a drunken punch at mosley during that whole throwdown

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Sep 20, 2009 3:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m pretty sure i was ok with having at least 20 mins of post fight interview…

by waldo47 on Sep 20, 2009 3:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I fell asleep by that time anyway

I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘’Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)

by BrianBrock on Sep 20, 2009 3:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nah, maybe Floyd, but not Shane. He loves Shane.

Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes

by SC on Sep 20, 2009 3:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shane Mosley, I LOOOOVE YOU.

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Sep 20, 2009 3:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly Larry would have let Floyd speak. And we all know he can throw a punch

by gunranger on Sep 20, 2009 3:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Damn this is so hard for me! Floyd has been my fav boxer for a while now and im from PR like cotto and want him to beat pacquiao, but i want to see pac vs floyd also! Ugh

by AllDayBoxing on Sep 20, 2009 3:21 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

voted for a mosley fight btw. i want to see mayweather fight a legit welterweight. it won’t exactly be the fight that defines money may, but for a ’next fight" type of deal i say go for it. JMM was basically a tune up, mosley would be the step up back into strong competition, and pacquiao will be the massive career defining fight that with a victory he can finally ride off into the sunset. not saying its going to go that way, but if i actually had a say in things this would be my plan

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Sep 20, 2009 3:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I should also say that one reason I think Shane will be next is that I really don’t think Floyd wants to wait until next summer to fight again.

Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes

by SC on Sep 20, 2009 3:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So pac is overrated and I’m fairly sure will lose to Cotto. So I hope Cotto pulls a FMM and says f-you to the catchweight because if Cotto had to put his belt up, it might as well be at a reasonable weight… Anyways I see Cotto digging to the body and severely limiting the speed of the Pac-man. If he can weather the early storm, I think he can take the pac-man down the stretch. Pac has done nothing lately to indicate that he will have impeccable fitness or be able to battle until the final bell. Anyways that being said I still want to see Floyd embarrass the pac-man. For Floyd’s sake, it the fight that will make him the most money, and since that is what he is interested in, I am therefore picking that fight.

by waldo47 on Sep 20, 2009 3:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

how is pacquiao, the greatest man and fighter to ever live, overrated?

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Sep 20, 2009 3:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did I imply that? Must have been a slip of the keyboard…he is the greatest fighter ever and his straight left will never miss and will knock out anyone. All hail boxi-presdient Pacquiao. He is not only the greatest of this time, but the greatest of all time! No one could hope to parry the all-powerful left of a god…

by waldo47 on Sep 20, 2009 4:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

dude chill the f out do you not understand the concept of a joke

The Dude Abides

by battle axe of doom on Sep 20, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sarcasm may have gotten a little too thick….sorry bout that.

by waldo47 on Sep 21, 2009 5:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Btw does anyone have the PPV numbers for this fight?

by waldo47 on Sep 20, 2009 3:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Those won’t be out for a little bit. If they’re ugly I bet someone tries to hide them, but they’ll leak somehow.

Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes

by SC on Sep 20, 2009 3:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Call me optimistic but I think the PPV numbers and Floyd’s fight time weight will somehow leak.

by waldo47 on Sep 20, 2009 4:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sugar said he was probably 146

by gunranger on Sep 20, 2009 4:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bert not shane

by gunranger on Sep 20, 2009 4:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I chose "other" for your poll..

My reason for that is if these greedy boxing promoters and fighters do not put on the fight that their own fans want to see because they are not making enough millions, then I will just continue to watch the UFC. Atleast they know how to finish fights and continue to give the fans what they want.

by steveoc24 on Sep 20, 2009 4:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I want him to go up for winner of Pac – Cotto.
Im going for a Pac win over Cotto and hope for Pac vs Mayweather. I want to see how his defence will go against a fast lefty. His shoulder rolls are wicked and he can pick off a hook easy so i wana see how it would be when the punches are coming from a diffrent angle and coming fast. Plus Manny has decent head movement while at distance so Floyd wouldn’t be able to pop off his jab or that quick lead left hook as easy.
If Cotto beats Pac then i think Floyd will go for him.
I wouldn’t expect to hear anything untill after Pac – Cotto.
Shane would be better taking a stay busy fight and meeting up with one of the 3 mid/later next year.

"Good, so it can’t go any deeper." - Arturo Gatti after being told he was cut to the bone

by sigidy on Sep 20, 2009 5:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hmm all good fights...

They all seem like pretty good fights actually.

My main concern is Mosley whoose a little on the old side and not as fast as he once was. It’s an absolute shame that fight wasn’t made all those years ago as stylistically it’s nearly impossible to make heads and heels of it.

They give each other so many problems in so many different ways its just amazing thinking about it. Mosley in his senior years though isn’t what he once was. I’d say Floyd would win that in similar fashion to Cotto.

Cotto vs Floyd though is an incredible fight. A lot of people think Floyd is some sort of deity but the truth of the matter is Cotto Zab only months before Floyd took him to a decision. Cotto would give Floyd a lot of trouble and I think is most likely to beat him just based on styles alone.

Pac vs Floyd is the fight and again it is not the fight. Pac is pushing the limits of his body at 147 which would be the seventh weightclass he would win a title at. The fact that no other boxer in the entire history of boxing has done that is just telling about how ludicrous and unheard of a 7 weight division champion is.

It’s also more impressive when you consider Pacman is the only mutli weight division champion to skip 2 divisions. He skipped 115 and 118lb weight divisions. Duran was the only other multi weight division champion in boxing history to skip a weight division(140lbs).

At 147 Pacman is at the very maximum he could possibly fight at. He couldn’t compete at 154 in his wildest dreams. This presents a problem for him against stronger bigger fighters.

Guys like Margarito and Paul Williams would eat up Pacman due to his tiny size at 147. Chances are at that weight Floyd would be stronger and quicker considering that is his “best” weight while Pacman would be in way over his head at a weight class that is pretty much the end of the road for him.

It could still be a close fight but the advantages are with Mayweather and the disadvantages for a man that has only fought at 147 once.

by MannyPacquiao on Sep 20, 2009 7:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mosley in his senior years though isn’t what he once was.

As evidenced by what? His oh-so-terrible performance in his most recent fight?

Boxing writer: "Iran, what are you going to do when you retire?"
Iran Barkley: "Rob your house"

by Matt Miller on Sep 20, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wanna see Floyd just retire for good

He will never fight anybody that could maybe possibly hurt him with a punch.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Sep 20, 2009 9:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh and he STILL

Has no power.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Sep 20, 2009 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do not underestimate!

Do not underestimate late career Floyd’s ability to justify being scared to himself as practical opponent choosing. He’ll be in the ring with Isaac Hlatshwayo next because he has a belt and he’ll say something like big fights becoming bigger with unification while he desperately hopes and prays that a fourth, easier viable option like Marquez or Hatton shows up by then.

by jcarr71 on Sep 20, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Without a doubt, Shane Mosley!!!

by SmittytheCutman on Sep 20, 2009 10:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It don't really matter

They could put whomever they wanted in front of Floyd and he’d tax that ass too

by Option27 on Sep 20, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mosley vs Mayweather

Floyd didn’t make the catchweight and did what he wanted to, I take nothing from him he was Fastter and he beat a little man. If he has theBa***s he fight Mosley cause then he would be fighting a guy his SIze. Cotto should Beat MP, now hes not fighting a Drained Oscar De La Hoya or a Beaten down clumsey Hatton. Im glad Mosley called out Floyd in the Ring, good for him. Now be a man and fight a true WELTERWEIGHT. If Floyd fight MP he will do the same thing.

by rgb on Sep 20, 2009 11:45 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sugar Shane

Pac is my favorite fighter, but even if he gets past Cotto (which I’m not sure he will) I don’t see him doing much better than Marquez did against Mayweather.

In order:

1. Mosley
2. Cotto
3. Pacquiao

Max Kellerman = hack broadcast journalist

Bring back crazy Larry.

by steak_knife on Sep 20, 2009 12:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he’ll do Mosley now, given that little bit of theatre last night. Floyd obviously wants as many advantages as he can scrounge up, and of the three, well… at least Shane is old. Shane will have an interesting opportunity here. If he starches Midget-Hunter Floyd in addition to mashing MargaCheato, they’ll still be singing folk songs about him when we’re all old men.

Shane probably realize right about now that his negotiating power is very small. So Floyd will probably do a Mosley fight for some outrageous split. Either that or a cage match with that giant wrestler dude.

"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb

by jrok on Sep 20, 2009 1:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Shane

i honestly think the other 2 fights play out like last nights fight. Maybe not to that extreme. but the same dynamic (guy chasing floyd, floyd potshotting and countering and killing them with speed and defense) But i think shane has the talent to make floyd fight.

As for max, that ws horrible. he has a chance at a GREAT interview. Floyd and shane going back and forth about whos scared to fight who and bhop as an instigator (who ALWAYS makes for good interviews) “uhhhhhh jim” smh

"After this, I'm gonna kick Bob Arum's ass."
-George Lopez

by thebitb on Sep 20, 2009 1:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mosley is a longshot, Mayweather will not agree to any kind of money split that Pacquiao would be well within his rights to ask and Cotto isn’t going to win his next fight.

I don’t think we will see Mayweather fight any of these three.

by lhasafi on Sep 20, 2009 2:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Who else is there?

And I’m not arguing,I’m just asking your opinion.

Who else is there that Floyd can/will/should fight?

Boxing is the beginning of all sports. I'm willing to bet that the first sport was a man against another man in a fight. (Omar Epps)

by Chaos100 on Sep 20, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m positive that there’s noone else. Not enough money and too much risk in Berto, Clottey, and Williams. Floyd would just as easily retire if it came to it.

by steak_knife on Sep 20, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mosley, Pacman and Cotto are the three choices we’d like to see, but I seriously fear Pretty Boy Floyd and his camp will rather get another gimme fight with someone who has enough name and reputation to be semi-credible but will not be a real threat to Mayweather’s precious, precious zero.

When was the last time Mayweather fought someone with a 100% take-it-to-the-bank real shot at defeating him?
Why would he start now?

His next fight will be agaist some fairly well known titleholder while the pressers will be full of him denouncing Mosley, Pac and Cotto as “unworthy” or whatever.

by lhasafi on Sep 21, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted for Cotto/Pac Man winner

but I think he’s going to fight someone not listed. I wouldn’t be surprised if he fought someone like Berto. They could bill it as the battle of undefeated champions, and Floyd would toy with him for 12 rounds and take his 0. Then, Berto would get the pay day and attention he seems to crave.

by cardscott5 on Sep 20, 2009 2:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs