An appreciation: Ranking Floyd Mayweather Junior’s five finest performances

An appreciation: Ranking Floyd Mayweather Junior's five finest performances

Love him or loathe him, and whether you’re going to miss him or you are saying good riddance; Floyd Mayweather Junior has waved goodbye to the boxing ring. Yes, many great fighters of the past did the same thing, only to have a change of heart – ego-driven or down to financial need – and launch a come back, but it looks as though we can take “Money” at his word.

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Miguel Cotto thrashes game but outclassed Kamegai, now wants winner of GGG-Canelo

Miguel Cotto thrashes game but outclassed Kamegai, now wants winner of GGG-Canelo

Though it flew far lower under the radar than any fight involving the great Miguel Cotto should have done – overshadowed as it was by the Las Vegas extravaganza that was the surprisingly competitive Mayweather-McGregor fight – Cotto’s fight last night, against tough Japanese warrior Yoshihiro Kamegai, was of interest to some.

Cotto, who punished Kamegai over 12 rounds to win a wide and commanding decision, proved he has something left to offer. We don’t really know how much, simply because Kamegai was so outclassed, but Cotto said post-fight that he would like one more fight, a farewell bout, before his chosen retirement date of December 31 of this year. By this time, Cotto will have turned 37 but he aims to go out with one massive bang.

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Mayweather-McGregor: It was no joke

Mayweather-McGregor: It was no joke

So much for those people who said Conor McGregor would not be able to land a single punch on Floyd Mayweather. Last night, in the most heavily hyped fight in years, MMA star McGregor did considerably more than that; catching Mayweather with uppercuts the odd left hook and a number of fast right-hand jabs.

What was widely derided, going in, as a bad joke/potential black eye/farce/disgrace proved to be none of those things. Instead, quite shockingly, what we got last night in Las Vegas was one of the most watchable, compelling and entertaining Floyd Mayweather fights is quite some time. It may be taken as an insulting claim, but last night’s fight was more exciting and was far better value for money than was the incredibly disappointing Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight.

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Bullets and Butterfly Wings: A Preview of Saturday Night’s Fights

Bullets and Butterfly Wings: A Preview of Saturday Night's Fights

On November 16, 1974, an accomplished Thai kickboxer named Saensak Maungsaurin made his professional boxing debut against a young California-based Filipino named Rudy Barro. Barro’s record of 14-9 going into the bout wasn’t particularly glittering, but he was on a four fight win streak, including a victory over an undefeated, highly ranked Jimmy Heair that propelled him to a top five ranking in the lightweight division. So, there was reason to believe that Saensak was taking on more than he could handle by facing Barro without any prior boxing experience; and for the first minute of their fight that very much appeared to be the case. Barro steamed forward and pelted his slower rival with right hands and combinations; after about two minutes of this, he drove his opponent into the ropes and stepped forward to finish matters off…

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Mayweather vs. McGregor: The Definition of Rachet

Mayweather vs. McGregor: The Definition of Rachet

Barring a draw on Saturday night history will be made from the outcome of this super fight when Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor clash in the ring. If Floyd is victorious he will break Rocky Marciano’s career record of 49-0. If Conor does the impossible his legacy will live in infamy as the best combat sports fighter ever, although Bruce Lee would argue that fact and rightfully so. Is this a real fight or a figment of the imagination? (Translation to the youth, Real or Rachet AF)

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Remembering the great Diego Corrales: “Chico” would have turned 40 today

Remembering the great Diego Corrales: "Chico" would have turned 40 today

Had his life not been so cruelly taken from him via a motorbike accident in May of 2007, when he was just 29 years old, legendary warrior Diego “Chico” Corrales woud have celebrated his fortieth birthday today. Remembered as one of the bravest, never-say-die fighters of the modern era, Corrales gave us so many classic, monumental ring wars.

Born on August the 25th, 1977, in Sacramento, the lanky puncher with the incridble heart turned pro in March of ’96. A three round TKO win over one Everett Berry was his and the beginning of a sensational boxing career had begun. Corrales went unbeaten in his first thirty-three fights, picking up the IBF super featherweight title with a seventh round stoppage of Roberto Garcia in 1999. This belt proved to be the first of many titles he would box for.

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Overviewing the MayMac Undercard

Overviewing the MayMac Undercard

On the American night of the 26th and the UK Dawn of 27th August, boxing will be released from its intriguing kidnap by Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, as theyfinally meet in a ring at the centre of the T-mobile Arena, Las Vegas.

Boxing’s release ransom has beenably raised by a live gate that,according to StubHub, is already the second best-selling fight in the company’s history (MayPac being No.1) which will combine with PPV sales to make this the largest grossing combat sports event, period.

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UPSET! Where would a McGregor win over Mayweather rank amongst the biggest shockers in boxing?

UPSET! Where would a McGregor win over Mayweather rank amongst the biggest shockers in boxing?

James “Buster” Douglas KO10 Mike Tyson. Leon Spinks W15 Muhammad Ali. Cassius Clay WRTD7 Sonny Liston. James J. Braddock W15 Max Baer. Lloyd Honeyghan WRTD6 Don Curry. Antonio Tarver KO2 Roy Jones Junior.

Each of the above stunned the boxing world, some of these wholly unforeseen results shocking the whole world; sporting and otherwise. The question now is, where would a Conor McGregor win over Floyd Mayweather rank alongside these momentous boxing upsets?

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IBF orders Terence Crawford to defend against mandatory challenger Sergey Lipinets; but will the unified champ choose to vacate?

IBF orders Terence Crawford to defend against mandatory challenger Sergey Lipinets; but will the unified champ choose to vacate?

Boxing moves fast these days and the sanctioning bodies move even faster. Less than 48 hours after scoring a scorching 3rd round KO win over Julius Indongo to unify all four major belts at 140 pounds, Terence Crawford was ordered to make his first mandatory defence; so reports ESPN.com

The IBF ordered the unbeaten Crawford to face Sergey Lipinets of Kazakhstan but living in Los Angeles. The 28 year old is unbeaten at 12-0 (10) and he KO’d a good fighter in Lenny Zappavigna to become the IBF mandatory challenger. Still, it’s likely not too many fight fans will be overly familiar with Lipinets, certainly not to the extent that they will get too excited over the prospect of seeing Crawford defend against him.

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Sugar Shane Mosley- A Career Retrospective

Sugar Shane Mosley- A Career Retrospective

DeMarkus Jones- The sun set on the illustrious, almost 25 year career of Shane Mosley. Here I provide a look back at the boxing life of the Sugarman; a man who experienced it all. Supreme victory, unexpected defeat, a steroid scandal, attempted loaded gloves, and everything in between. Still, we must pay homage to, arguably, one of the best boxers of the last 20 years.

Shane Andre Mosley was a decorated amateur in the local California box scene as well as the national stage. He won many competitions, compiling a stellar record of 250 wins over against just 16 losses. Mosley was favored to go to the 1992 Olympics, however a loss to Vernon Forrest derailed those plans. Undeterred, Mosley turned pro. On February 11th 1993 the world witnessed the pro debut of the man who go on to rule the 135 lb. division like no one else had since Roberto Duran.

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