Mayweather Improves to 30-0, But Attitudes Remain Sour

Mike Samuels

20.04 - The boos rang out from all directions after the official scores of 119-109 and 118-110 twice were announced by Michael Buffer, and if you hadn't watched the previous tweleve rounds you might be thinking highyway robbery.

That was hardly the case.

Floyd Mayweather (30-0, 20 KO's) easily defeated a very game top light heavyweight contender infront of a small crowd in Fresno, California by using a stiff jab and great footwork.

It was a typical performance by the brash and publicly hated Mayweather. One in which Mayweather got off to an early and more aggressive start than in his last two pervious fights with Castillo by trading more frequently with Sosa and keeping his distance with a snapping jab.

As the fight progressed Mayweather seemed to take the middle rounds off, barely throwing any jabs or combinations, and seeminly resting in clinches with Sosa, allowing the tough Dominican fighter to bang on his elbows, shoulders, and head. But as crunch time came around - the championship rounds - Mayweather got back up to speed and dominated Sosa with his speed. While watching the fight one could get the sense that Mayweather was merely playing with Sosa, doing what he wanted through the fight knowing that at any time he could score at will.

He was proven exactly right as he won a unanimous decision.

The fight wasn't as spectacular as Mayweather predicted. It left fans wanting to see Mayweather fight more. People still want to see the explosive, hard hitting Grand Rapids native that lashed out and beat down Diego "Chico Corrales" two years ago.

So where has that Mayweather been?

It's no secret that Mayweather doesn't hold the power he had at 130lbs, and it's also no secret that his hands are as brittle and fragile as ever, so much to say that they can turn on him during any time during a fight.

Mayweather is a rare talent, though, and one that boxing doesn't appreciate. Granted his ego, arrogance, and out of the ring troubles have tarnished his image a bit, but the fact still remains: He can box.

He's easily one of the pound for pound fighters in the world. Even at a perfect 30 wins and zero losses, Mayweather still lacks the fanbase of fighters that have lost like his stable mate -- and possible future opponent -- Oscar De la Hoya.

Before the fans make judgement of Mayweather, I believe that it's entirely unfair to knock him for his "boring fights." Mayweather-Sosa was a pretty entertaining fight and without a doubt more exciting than the last two Castillo fights. But it seems as though everyone feels unsatisfied with Mayweather unless he blows every fighter out of the water. It's as if people won't find anything positive to say unless they watch Mayweather-Corrales on tape every four to five months.

What people fail to understand is Mayweather virtually cleaned out his divison at 130lbs. Frietas turned down an offer made by Bob Arum to fight Pretty Boy. That was the only lucrative fight at the time, and while people are bitching about Mayweather they seem to hold Freitas as some God-like figure.

All one has to do is look at the list of each fighter's opponents from 130lbs to 135lbs and you will find that Mayweather, though not a crowd pleasing fighter and bit of an arrogant snob at times, has fought some of the toughest guys around.

When Castillo felt as though he was robbed in the first fight Mayweather granted him an immediate rematch, much like Forrest with Mosely. Oscar De la Hoya refused to give Pernell Whitaker or Tito Trinidad immediate rematches, but boxing fans don't see that. When's the last time Roy Jones granted anyone a rematch? It's by no means a knock on De la Hoya or any one else in boxing, but the standards to Mayweather have been so unbalanced that it's impossible for him to please anyone.

It's attitudes like the ones towards Mayweather's ability that hurt boxing. Hell, it's boxing fans in general that are never happy with anything, not even death in the ring.

After the fight, when asked about the boing, Mayweather responded by saying that the crowd was mostly hispanic and the fight was in a heavy populated Hispanic area, therefore the boos were nothing he didn't expect. Since then Mayweather has been labeled a racist.

That's a joke. It's also a perfect example of how many boxing fans allow personal dislike and hate to discredit a fighter. I don't think very much of Lennox Lewis lately, but I sure as hell would never say that the only reason he beat Mike Tyson was because Tyson is a shell of his former shelf. The truth is that Lennox Lewis beat Tyson down and did it convincingly. The same thing can be said about Mayweather and the opponents he's stepped into the ring with.

With his victory over Sosa, let's hope to see Mayweather step into the ring with the winner of Spadafora and Dorin some time in the fall to unify the lightweight title. Dorin is a strong fighter and one that I think will give Floyd fits -- or has the potential to -- if he can beat the slick Pittsburg Kid. As far as De la Hoya ... I'd like to know in advance if that fight takes place, because I'll start arranging The Pretty Boy's funeral ahead of time.