By James Slater – Boxers in general can be terribly unreliable when it comes to making good on their retirement vows. Bernard Hopkins, for example, told us all he would walk away at the age of 40, yet he has recently said that this past Saturday’s points loss to Chad Dawson will not force him to quit the sport.
Floyd Mayweather Junior, now aged 35 but arguably looking better than ever, doesn’t look like a guy ready to retire, but “Money” has spoken about his walking away plans.. Speaking ahead of this Saturday’s mega-fight with 154-pound ruler Miguel Cotto, Mayweather said he plans on retiring at the age of 37 – whether he’s faced Manny Pacquiao by then or not.
“If it really was all about Pacquiao then I didn’t have to fight all [previous] 42 opponents,” Mayweather said. “All I had to do was come to the sport of boxing and fight one guy and then I would have gown down as the best, just one guy. So I guess the 42 guys that I’ve faced didn’t count.
“But I want to stay active, I want to fight again in 2012 before the year is up. I still plan to retire at 37, but I want to fight plenty of times before then.”
Fans have long since given up on ever seeing Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao; as fed up as they are with all the posturing from both sides. But there are other potentially great fights out there for Mayweather. It really will be a surprise to some if Floyd does actually fight again this year after Saturday. The June 1st, 87-day jail term must be served first, possibly taking Mayweather into August (if Floyd serves the full sentence), which would not leave Mayweather with too much time to get through a 12-week training camp and also sufficiently promote his next big fight.
It’s possible Floyd could fight in November or December, but no-one knows how the time in jail will affect the superstar. Maybe Floyd will want a good long rest after he’s served his time. But just who could Mayweather fight in the remaining months of his masterful pro career?
Fighters I’d like to see Mayweather face before he quits (not including Pac-Man, who doesn’t seem like ever agreeing to face Mayweather/ or vice versa.)
1: Saul Alvarez. This one would be special. Assuming Mayweather comes through okay against Cotto, in what will be his second fight up at 154, “Money” could stick around at the weight and face the fighter many people feel will become the next boxing superstar. The young lion against the ageing master: a fascinating prospect.
2: Sergio Martinez. Floyd shooting for a piece of boxing history. Can Mayweather move up even higher and defeat the world’s number-one middleweight; at either a catch-weight or up at a full 160-pounds? The entire boxing world would tune in to find out if Floyd agreed to take this, the ultimate risk of his entire career.
3: Tim Bradley. If Bradley either defeats Pacquiao in June or acquits himself well, Mayweather could give the boxing purists a delight by agreeing to face the boxer/puncher who is as well-conditioned as he is. Naturally, if Bradley can upset Pac-Man, a fight between he and Mayweather would be massive.
Maybes: Amir Khan. If it happened in the U.K, Floyd’s first fight outside of the U.S, this match-up would be a big, big event.
The winner of Victor Ortiz-Andre Berto II. Granted, a return with Ortiz wouldn’t excite too many of Mayweather’s fans, but if Berto can reverse his hugely exciting points loss to Ortiz, he would make a good, young opponent for Mayweather.