Mayweather VS Mosley: Gloves For Swords (GIF Spotlight)

In 2010, May's 1st was not May's first.* It was, however, responsible for one of my personal favorite promos, in the lead-up. The gladiatorial HBO promotional for Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Shane Mosley featured Shane Mosley growling like a half-man creature from 300 and the two boxers wielding swords.

 

I like the way they transform from ancient gladiators to modern gladiators. Fair play, HBO advertising team. Mayweather was severely rocked early in this fight, but came back like a true great to dominate the rest of the match to a fair unanimous decision. CBZ recognized this as a second win of the lineal welterweight title for the Money man. I have no problem with that.


If you need to catch the growl (and I certainly believe you do):

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*This was possibly a one-percenter.

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Andre Ward On Floyd Mayweather Being The Best, P4P: Quote Spotlight

On the ninth of January, 2015, during the Roc Nation Sports Card on FS1, Andre Ward was interviewed by Michael Woods. Woods asked the following straightforward question and got the following straightforward answer:

Woods: "Last question, putting you on the spot: Are you the top pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, or is that Floyd Mayweather?"

Ward: "That's Floyd Mayweather. Floyd Mayweather has done it longer than me. He's been at this level for a very, very long time, and I'm a young guy who always pays homage to the guys who go before me. But, as a competitor, and as somebody who's in this sport, I always shoot for the top spot and that's the spot I'm coming for, with all due respect to Floyd, but the top spot is what you should always want."

In boxing history, a fighter's greatness is often more easily digestible when looking at how how their contemporaries rated them during their careers than when looking at accomplishments on paper, or even reviewing available fight films or revised opinions being given upon reflection, years after the dust settles. You'll find numerous glowing appraisals of Harry Greb and Joe Gans in their days, from the men plying the trade alongside him, as well as appraisals of Julio Cesar Chavez Senior and Pernell Whitaker in their day.

Floyd Mayweather Junior, aged 37, in January, was rated by one of the standout, dominant champions in the sport as the actual pound-for-pound best, without any hesitation. We will be able to look back and see how Floyd was rated as essentially an old fighter who still stood on top in his day, according to most of the other top fighters. Not just on top as a celebrity or money-maker. But on top in a pure, most-difficult-to-beat sense. The purest sense, really. It will be easier to separate his personal history or his often villainous, arrogant persona from his boxing. It will be seen by those looking back in future generations that when it comes to boxing, most of his peers knew he was the most consistently special in the world, even while closer to forty than thirty. It's quite a rarity, and can only be appreciated when it's separate from all things non-boxing.

Respect to Andre Ward for stating his position with that kind of clarity and candor for the history books.



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Iceman John Scully Politely Calls BS On Pacquiao Injury: Quote Spotlight

This screen-captured image was from yesterday, on John Scully's Facebook page. John, of course, is a man who has been around the block quite a few times. He fought Michael Nunn, sparred Roy Jones Junior, and trained Chad Dawson.

Click Here For Direct Post Address


Straight Text Quote: "This is a tough one because I like Manny as a boxer and I consider Freddie a friend but I had a similar injury in a fight years ago and I'm telling you right now. There is no way possible you are throwing hard punches with a shoulder/rotator injury like that. The pain would be more than a man can handle..."

This is one of many people in the industry showing public incredulity for Manny Pacquiao's fight-night injury against Floyd Mayweather Junior. Some, like Paulie Malignaggi, are infinitely less polite about it, but there you have it. Overall, I am seeing mostly non-buyers, rightly or wrongly. I personally wouldn't say nothing was wrong, because there's probably always something or other wrong with guys who fight for a living, much like Teddy Atlas said, and fighters tend to always have a reason for believing "the real me," as they often even say, wasn't truly bested. I assume he had something wrong with his shoulder. The level of severity and effect on the outcome is another matter altogether. You don't really need an explanation for something going according to the typical expert prediction on the matter.

PS: TMZ could report this as "Iceman John Scully gives the cold shoulder to Manny Pacquiao" or something to that effect. If you work for TMZ, pass that one along. It's a gem. 


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Mike Tyson Shows He is Not A Disney World Mascot: GIF Spotlight

At tonight's weigh-in for Floyd Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, aside from Patrice O'Neal's take, shows he's not exactly a cuddly sports mascot you can randomly cop a feel on for a picture. Step off the champion, my man. Step right off. The champ is not Mickey Mouse.


This was pointed out via Youtube user ShivDes357, on this page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tw1jojV93Ea and I believe the footage comes from BBC coverage.

Good catch, Shiv!



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Jim Lampley Predicts Wide Points Decision of Mayweather Over Pacquiao: Quote Spotlight

When asked on an ESNEWS interview, published today, about his pick for Mayweather VS Pacquiao, Jim Lampley gave what some seem to think is a highly surprising answer, considering the personal opinion he's displayed for Floyd Mayweather Junior in the past. Although, I can't ever remember Jim Lampley putting down Mayweather's professional abilities, so I can't say I'm particularly surprised by the comment, caught outside his HBO broadcasting habitat, where he isn't obligated to promote the intrigue of these contests. 

"It's a Floyd Mayweather fight, right? . . . I love Manny Pacquiao. . . Floyd Mayweather fights a hundred opponents, in a hundred different arenas, that's a hundred times I pick Floyd Mayweather to win by unanimous decision. Okay? It's about control. It's about absence of risk. It's about gradually erasing the other guy. It's about taking all the air out of the balloon, so that the crowd walks away saying 'What was that?' And it's a Floyd Mayweather unanimous decision. He'll win nine or ten rounds." 

So, regardless of a the common perception of Jim Lampley's bias for Manny Pacquiao and against Floyd Mayweather Junior, he apparently has no problem saying, when out of the confines of his channel, that he flatly assumes Floyd Mayweather will decisively outbox Manny Pacquiao. The context for a domination call isn't just that it's one star fighter over another, but that it's in a fight being advertised as one of the most intriguing and important megafights that modern boxing has had to offer in about a decade, if not several. That, my friends, is the fight game. That is the business.

Full interview here:

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Floyd Mayweather's best weapon against a southpaw

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Shane Mosley On Manny Pacquiao's Physical Strength: Quote Spotlight

In a nice little interview with Mike Hill, airing on Fox Sports Live, Shane Mosley, Zab Judah and Paulie Malignaggi spoke of the upcoming Mayweather/Pacquiao fight. Though Mosley spoke highly in the past of Pacquiao's punching power, he had something interesting to say about Manny's total body strength.

Shane Mosley:

"Manny, like Paulie was saying, is not physically-He doesn't feel physically that strong. So, you can kind of get misrepresentation of the way he punches. Because he's not really that physically strong, but, when he does hit, you feel the impact. So, that can make Floyd have false sense of security, thinking he can walk in, maybe, and just take his shots. And, that's the only way Manny can get to Floyd. I don't think there's any other way. "

This is very interesting to me, because A. Erik Morales, in his "Best I've Faced" interview with Ring magazine, listed Pacquiao NOT as the best puncher he faced (Junior Jones, he says, gets this honour) but as the physically strongest he'd faced and B. Because total body physical strength in the boxing ring is sometimes very far apart from punching power or punching effectiveness. Erik Morales had said, actually, that many guys who look muscular in the ring are simply not that physically strong. Many people say that often the most muscular looking fighters are surprisingly not particularly good punchers either. Sometimes, it's all just a mystery and it leaves many interesting quotes trying to describe and explain it all.

For the Ring magazine article referenced, click through here: Erik Morales: Best I've Faced



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Floyd Mayweather Junior's Straight Right To The Body: GIF Spotlight

In Floyd Mayweather Junior's first welterweight campaign match, he deconstructed one of his several talented southpaw opponents in former major world titlist Sharmba Mitchell. Sharmba was nailed multiple times by one major orthodox-VS-southpaw weapon: The straight right to the body. It ended the fight.

During this HBO broadcast, Roger Mayweather, to Floyd, in the corner before the fifth round: "Keep walking him down. When you get close to him, then you let your hands go. . .And keep trying to throw the right hand to the body."

HBO commentator Roy Jones Junior, during the post-fight replays:
"Straight right hand to the body-the best punch against a southpaw."

HBO commentator Larry Merchant in the final round: "That was a hard right hand to the body. You don't often see that. Mayweather has great discipline and great *intuition* in the ring. That's where that right hand to the body comes from."

All night long, with this punch:

Floyd Mayweather Junior TKO6 Sharma Mitchell, 19th of November, 2005. Notice, he even threw it twice in a row to end the contest.



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What is Mayweather's record against southpaws? No one knows? Let's see. . .

 

The above image is not that of a fighter while being actively ducked or winning. This is apparently a difficult concept to grasp. 

"He has fought so many southpaws as an amateur that he's very hip to what to do to 'em."

~Al Bernstein, on Floyd Mayweather Junior possibly being thrown by Reggie Sanders' southpaw stance in his second professional fight, on ESPN, as commentator during the match in question.

So, before his first professional match against a southpaw was complete, the talk was already of being experienced against southpaws.

Floyd Mayweather Junior then went on to face eight of them in total, as a professional, all without suffering defeat, as follows:

1996: Reggie Sanders: Unanimous decision in his second fight.
1997: Bobby Giepert: KO1 victory, in his sixth fight.
1997: Jesus (Roberto) Chavez: TKO5 victory, in his ninth fight.
2004: DeMarcus Corley: Unanimous decision victory over twelve rounds, in his thirty-second fight.
2005: Sharmba Mitchell: TKO6 victory, in his thirty-fifth fight.
2006: Zab Judah: Unanimous decision victory over twelve rounds, in his thirty-sixth fight.
2011: Victor Ortiz: KO4 victory, in his forty-second fight.
2013: Robert Guerrero: Unanimous decision victory over twelve rounds, in his forty-fourth fight.

His total record against southpaws: 8-0-0, with four knockouts. So, he's never drawn with or had anything worse than a unanimous decision victory against 8 different southpaws. Five of the eight southpaws (that's a majority here, if you're mathematically challenged) have been major world titlist names. So, he's faced and decisively defeated southpaws throughout his career, from his time as a prospect, to his time as a young champion, to his status as a pound-for-pound elite PPV celebrity.

Where does the Mayweather southpaw myth come from? We all know the myth we're talking about. Where does it come from? Ignorance, manipulation, stupidity, lack of integrity, any of those, I would say. Maybe Bob Arum would know something about this propaganda as well. Now, if you debunk the Mayweather southpaw myth on Tuesday morning, and you're missing the high you get from it, just take comfort in the fact that it will be as unharmed as ever by Tuesday afternoon, and you'll have a fresh chance to debunk it again, if that's your thing. That is the power of myths.

It seems that every day, as I comb the Internet forums to see what boxing fans are bickering about, it comes up. Every time, it is just as wrong as it ever was. People do believe what they want. But the question is: How many fighters in the sport of boxing have fought eight southpaws, let alone five major world titlist southpaws, and beaten them all by no worse than unanimous decision or knockout, let alone done any better? Can you think of one around at the moment? I can't. How about ever? Let me know your thoughts. I'm genuinely curious if you can name any or have any corrections about these statistics.



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Those who can, up to a point, teach even better: Quote Spotlight

Former Super Featherweight and Light Welterweight Champion, Roger "Black Mamba" Mayweather, in a September 2013 interview with Hustle Boss' Chris Robinson, had the following exchange: 

Roger: "Discipline, obviously, is the most important part about boxing. Because, if you ain't disciplined, you ain't gonna get nowhere, no way. You've got to be disciplined."

Chris Robinson: "Were you disciplined, when you were a fighter?"

Roger: "To a certain degree."


Roger clarified the humourous and self-indicting sound of his reply by adding: "I wasn't like my nephew."

Catch the full (but brief) interview here:

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And This Day's BGB Matrix Award Goes To. . . :GIF Spotlight

Here, defending the Lightweight Championship of the world is Floyd "The Matrix" Mayweather Junior, against the extremely frustrated Phillip Ndou, the first of November, 2003, on HBO. No, it's not Andre Dirrell, it's Floyd Mayweather Junior. Referee Frank Garza is clearly working on some kind of slapstick routine here, on the side. Mayweather is putting on a modern boxing classic performance against the determined South African, while Garza is working on a Vaudevillian revival act; it's amazing.



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Floyd Mayweather's Knockdown, Knockout Left Hook: GIF Spotlight

On the first of February, 1997 as a young Super Featherweight prospect, fighting just inside the Lightweight range, Floyd Mayweather Junior took his fourth fight against Edgar Ayala. Mayweather was responsible for creating an electric television outing as he stalked and rapidly dismantled his opponent, putting him on the back foot quickly and motioning him to come back and fight. Not too many fighters look so confident, polished and deadly, so early in their professional careers. In this GIF, Floyd checks Ayala at the door with a left hook to put him down in the first round, then out in the second round, with a nice replay of the knockout shot from a different angle. It was Ayala's professional debut on ESPN. I don't wish a debut against Floyd Mayweather on anyone.


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What is Floyd Mayweather Junior's Reach? A Reference Guide

Considering when boxing statistics are released, there is some confusion over changes in how measurements are reported. When it comes to reach statistics this is particularly interesting because sometimes we get "wingspan" and other times we get arm length measurements from the armpit to the end of the fist, which may be what more fans are actually interested in, even though it is used less. This page will stand to inform you of which sources list Floyd Mayweather Junior's reach and how, so that you have a good idea for your reference. This will include any broadcast tales of the tape from any channel that I may find. All reach measurements will be paired alongside that of the opponent's, for your convenience and according to the broadcast's tale of the tape, as opposed to their Boxrec listing. We will update this page regularly to get it as thorough as possible and maintain it. You may click through to Boxrec for each fighter's individual page.

Last updated: 27th of January, 2015

Longest reported wingspan on file: 72 inches (x17)
Shortest reported wingspan on file: 69 inches (x1)

Longest reported armpit to arm length on file: 26 inches (x13)
Shortest reported armpit arm length on file: 26 inches (x13)

Differences for wingspan: 3 listed: 72 inches (x17), 71 inches (x1) and 69 inches (x1)
Differences for arm length: 1 listed: 26 inches (x13)

Longest difference for Mayweather with greater reach on file: 7 inches wingspan, against Jesus Chavez (the champion), 6 inches arm length for Ricky Hatton.
Longest difference for opponent with greater reach on file:
1 arm length, Phillip Ndou, by one inch, 27 inches to 26 inches
Wingspan has been equaled against Justin Juuko, both were listed at 72 inches.
Diego Corrales' wingspan was listed as 1 inch longer at 73 inches, to Floyd's 72. 

Boxrec: 72 inches/183 centimeters
Wikipedia: 72 inches/183 centimeters

Earliest to latest broadcast tale of the tapes (TOTT's):

1996:
(professional debut year)

1. VS Roberto Apodaca:

Mayweather: Currently unavailable
Apodaca: Currently unavailable
Airing on 11th of October, ESPN

2. VS Reggie Sanders:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 30th of November, ESPN

1997:

3. VS Jerry Cooper:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 18th of January, HBO

4. VS Edgar Ayala:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 1st of February, ESPN

5. VS Kino Rodriguez:
Mayweather: 71 inches - Rodriguez: 68 inches
Airing on 12th of March, DIRECTV

6. VS Bobby Giepert:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Geipert: 68 inches 
Airing on 12th of April, HBO

7. VS Tony Duran:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 9th of May, ESPN

8. VS Larry O'Shields:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 14th of June, Currently unavailable channel information


9. VS Jesus Chavez: 
Mayweather: 69 inches - Chavez: 68 inches
Airing on 12th of July, CBS Sports Show Budweiser Boxing Series

10. VS Louie Leija:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Leija: 68 inches
Airing on 6th of September, HBO

11. VS Felipe Garcia:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Garcia: 67.5 inches
Airing on 14th of Octber, USA Network's Tuesday Night Fights

12. VS Angelo Nunez:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Nunez: 71 inches
Airing on 20th of November, Channel Unknown-not HBO or Showtime


1998:


13. VS Hector Arroyo:
Currently unavailable


14. VS Sam Girard:
Currently unavailable


15. VS Miguel Melo:
Currently unavailable


16. VS Gustavo Fabian Cuello: 
Mayweather: 72 inches - Cuello: 68 inches
Airing on, 18th of April, channel unknown

17. VS Tony Pep:
Currently unavailable
Airing on 14th of June, ESPN2

18. VS Genaro Hernandez: 
Currently unavailable


19. VS Angel Manfredy:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Manfredy: 71 inches
19th of December, HBO

1999:

20. VS Carlos Alberto Ramon Rios:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Rios: 66 inches
Airing on 17th of February, TNT

21. VS Justin Juuko:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Juuko: 72 inches
Airing on 22nd of May, HBO

22. VS Carlos Gerena:


 

2000:

23. VS Gregorio Vargas:

Mayweather: 72 - Vargas: 67
Airing on 18th of March, HBO

24. VS Emanuel Augustus (Burton, formerly):



2001:

25. VS Diego Corrales: 
Mayweather: 72 inches - Corrales: 73 inches
Airing on 20th of January, HBO

26. VS Carlos Hernandez:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Hernandez: 65.5 inches
Airing on 26th of May, HBO

27. VS Jesus Chavez:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Chavez: 65 inches
Airing on 10th of November, HBO



2002:

28. VS Jose Luis Castillo I:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Castillo: 70 inches
Airing on 20th of April, HBO 

29. VS Jose Luis Castillo II:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Castillo: 70 inches
Airing on 7th of December, HBO

2003:

30. VS Victoriano Sosa:
*The HBO broadcast unusually featured both arm length and wingspan.
Wingspan: Mayweather: 72 inches - Sosa:  71 inches
Arm length: Mayweather: 26 inches - Sosa: 25 inches
Airing on 19th of April, HBO

31. VS Phillip Ndou:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Ndou: 27 inches
Airing on 1st of November, HBO

2004:

32. VS DeMarcus Corley: 
Mayweather: 26 inches - Corley: 24.5 inches
Airing on 22nd of May, HBO

2005:

33. VS Henry Bruseles:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Bruseles: 23 inches
Airing on 22nd of January, HBO

34. Arturo Gatti:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Gatti: 25 inches
Airing on 25th of June, HBO

35. VS Sharmba Mitchell: 
Mayweather: 26 inches - Mitchell: 21.5 inches
Airing on 19th of November, HBO

2006:

36. VS Zab Judah:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Judah: 22 inches
Airing on 8th of April, 2006, HBO


37. VS Carlos Baldomir:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Baldomir: 23.5 inches
Airing on 4th of November, HBO


2007:

38. VS Oscar De La Hoya:
Mayweather: 26 inches - De La Hoya: 24 inches
Airing on 5th of May, HBO

39. VS Ricky Hatton:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Hatton: 20 inches
Airing on 8th of December, HBO




2008:

(Mayweather did not fight in this year)

2009:

40. VS Juan Manuel Marquez: 
Mayweather: 26 inches - Marquez: 23 inches
Airing on 19th of September, HBO

2010:

41. VS Shane Mosley:  
Mayweather: 26 inches - Mosley: 23.5 inches
Airing on 1st of May, HBO

2011:

42. VS Victor Ortiz:
Mayweather: 26 inches - Ortiz: 23.5 inches
Airing on 17th of September, HBO


2012:

43. VS Miguel Cotto:



2013: 

44. VS Robert Guerrero:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Guerrero: 70 inches
Airing on 4th of May, Showtime

45. VS Saul Alvarez:
Mayweather: 72 inches - Alvarez: 70.5 inches
Airing on 14th of September, Showtime

2014:


46. VS Marcos Rene Maidana I:




47. VS Marcos Rene Maidana II:

Airing on 13th of September,


2015:

(Mayweather did not fight in this year)


*Please, comment for any corrections, suggestions, etc.


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Another Friendly Arum Quote Reminder...Oscar De La Hoya, on Mayweather VS Pacquiao

Another Friendly Arum Quote Reminder...Oscar De La Hoya, on Mayweather VS Pacquiao

"We know Pacquiao wants the fight. We know Mayweather wants the fight. That's a given, you know, and Bob Arum is coming out with this nonsense that Richard Schaefer is not even involved with Mayweather, you know, it's ridiculous, now, what Bob is talking. You know, everybody wants the fight- except Bob Arum. He doesn't want the fight. What's the problem? Let's make it happen."

~Oscar De La Hoya in 2011 interview with Fight Hub.

Does anyone else find it odd that De La Hoya said both fighters want the fight and Arum doesn't, in 2011? Does anyone else find it odd that this is exactly what Alex Ariza said while working with Pacquiao in 2011 and exactly what Ariza reiterated while working with Mayweather in 2014? Me, I find it odd.



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A Reminder Now That Both Are Unscheduled Again...Alex Ariza On Bob Arum

"Arum said 'The media is like a dumb rock. You just kick it in any direction you want. They'll believe anything you say.' "

"This fight is not happening because of Bob Arum."

"Don't get me wrong. Manny truly wants to fight Floyd, and I know Floyd wants to fight Manny."

"I know it's not going to happen because that was always the agenda. Make sure that Manny doesn't fight Floyd. Michael Koncz, Bob Arum, do not want that fight to happen, have never wanted that fight to happen." 

~Alex Ariza, in September 2014 interview with Fight Hype


From this fairly recent interview, Alex Ariza states, just as he did while still working with Manny Pacquiao in a November of 2011 interview, also with Fight Hype, that Bob Arum is a "greedy pig" and essentially goes on about how Arum deliberately blocks this fight from happening. If you aren't familiar with these interviews, for however many grains of salt you choose to take them with, at least read the 2011 interview and watch the 2014 interview I've linked to, to hear what Ariza has to say. In deciding whether to catch these interviews, perhaps also keep in mind the old Cus D'Amato quote "When Bob Arum pats you on the back, he's just looking for a spot to stick the knife." That's a quote that can also be found in quite an impressive list of quotes on Bob Arum in Thomas Hauser's The Black Lights: Inside the World of Professional Boxing. Who do you believe about this issue? I don't know if we should put any faith in the words of Alex Ariza. But I do know that putting faith in the words of Bob Arum is like putting your morning coffee in a colander. You can do it. You might try, if you're in a particularly festive mood, but I don't know if it will leave you with much.




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Click here to read: Hearns Angers Leonard, Steroid Accusations No Laughing Matter

During the lead-up coverage of Sugar Ray Leonard's rematch with Tommy Hearns, in June of 1989, in an article by Bernard Fernandez, quotes like these remind us of the now lengthy history of PED's working its way into publicity for big boxing contests:

"Monday night's scheduled 12-rounder between Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns, which is likely to become the highest- grossing prizefight of all time, is now a running gag about the possible use of anabolic steroids by Leonard."
 ~Bernard Fernandez

"I take it personal. . . It's so ludicrous. It's a slap in the face to me and to boxing. We have enough criticism of this sport."
~Sugar Ray Leonard

"We would like for (Leonard) to take a physical before and after the fight. We've been hearing too much that Ray's been taking steroids. I can't give you the source, but we've heard it before we got out here."
~Emanuel Steward

"I was on the promotional tour with Ray and he wasn't all pumped up. It seemed like it happened overnight."
~Tommy Hearns

"Without a basis (for conducting such a test), it is disrespect to such a great champion as Sugar Ray Leonard,"
 ~Jose Sulaiman (then WBC president)



It seems so recent in boxing that PED accusation is part of "trash talking" and pre-fight negotiation gamesmanship, if not for truly genuine concern. In recent years, I've heard Floyd Mayweather Junior repeat "Take the test." to Manny Pacquiao (through media), as well as Jean Pascal, rather directly, at his ancient tormentor, Bernard Hopkins. I've also heard Alexander Povetkin and Kubrat Pulev both goading Wladimir Klitschko about it, all casting doubt on the validity of their propspective opponents, and in each mentioned case of the fight happening (all but Mayweather VS Pacquiao), what happened to be their conquerors. Of course, these are cases where tests do get taken, just not the tests the opponent has desired, and/or the way they desire them, and/or from who they desire to administer them. It's a giant, and exasperating trap for boxing fans. In a way, no one is ever above reproach on this topic, simply because there are no requirements for any form of suspicion and there is no way to eliminate all forms of suspicion with something like this, no matter what tests you take. It doesn't mean you shouldn't try, but it does mean if you want to cast doubt on someone, anyone, it's always an available option. It doesn't matter if you have proof. It doesn't matter if you have evidence. It doesn't matter if you're doing it because you believe it or because you are preparing an excuse for a future loss, or are already a sore loser.

All testing may be insufficient. All testing may be wrong. All testing may fail where a cheater succeeds or, hey, where an innocent athlete is found guilty. Hey, maybe the person doing the testing is wrong! All the testing has experts trying to figure out how to cheat them. No testing is a guarantee you've got any kind of level playing field. All of the world of true sport (i.e., not poker) seems to have some degree of PED paranoia or frustration about testing inadequacy, and boxing, being influenced by many different outlooks from its fighters, athletic commissions and sanctioning bodies has been developing quite a high degree of PED paranoia and testing dissatisfaction for some time now. It did not start with Money and Pac Man, of course. Nor will it end with Doctor Zerokiller and The Bulgarian Cobra. Not to mention, this complex and broad-ranging of a subject is far beyond the average layperson's fundamental knowledge, just as it was in 1989, if not much more so, as it stands now. I see that worsening as time goes by, not that your average fan wants to admit ignorance to something they'd love to understand, which plays such a large part in their sport. It's like having someone living in your house and you don't really know who they are or where they come from or what they're doing. It might even be easier to pretend they aren't there, if you can. 

Boxing fans seem to have three main groups that make up the overwhelming majority of this issue, from my observation. There are the vehement deniers or the rabid accusers that certain fighters are on what is vaguely under the PED's umbrella, or banned substances list, less vaguely, most seemingly arguing out of false certainty, and then, thirdly, those that realistically admit they have little idea what is going on either way. The deniers and accusers seem well in the lead, ahead of group number three, to my reckoning. Maybe the admitted ignorance group is larger than I think, and their silence has fooled me. I commend their restraint, whether they're much fewer or greater in number than I've noted. In any case, it's a strange feeling to look back on 1989, with two legends going into a giant fight, bickering over PED's accusations. All these years later and it seemed to be a major enough sticking point between our pound-for-pound icons that they went to court over it and still didn't fight. Also, noting that Wladimir Klitschko's camp, much like Pacquiao's, decided to take Kubrat Pulev to court, I'm seeing in the headlines today. Ah, 1989. My, how you've grown.


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Basement Gym Boxing


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Harsh Comments On Kenny Bayless' Performance During Mayweather/Maidana: James Ali Bashir Quote Spotlight

                    (image of discussion involving James Ali Bashir insulting Kenny Bayless on Facebook)

I've been through hours of reading about the big Mayweather/Maidana rematch last night. A rematch of what was a very good contest, with both the lineal Light Middleweight and Welterweight title on the line. It was a match of monetary and historical value that turned into a messy, unfriendly-to-fans clash between not just fighting styles but referee styles, it seems. Now, I've always maintained that Kenny Bayless was a great referee and a man of integrity in an occupation where somehow Laurence Cole is an oft-used referee. But it can't be ignored that Kenny is being badly slated over the perception that he helped make the match a stinker, and in strong favour of Floyd Mayweather Junior. I am highly reluctant to pick on Bayless, considering, as stated, that I've always rated him very highly, both personally and professionally. But I do want to spotlight one surprising catch during my reading of the feedback on his officiating.

While browsing the popular Facebook boxing group/forum called "Boxologist" James Ali Bashir, a man known to have worked closely with the late Emanuel Steward for a long time, and top trainer in his own right, serving on the current Wladimir Klitschko/Johnathon Banks team, apparently making his public disdain for Bayless as clear as possible.


If you can't view the image, Bashir says in one comment: "When they chose this geek to ref, I knew that this would happen! Special$$$interest Groups saw that he would be the ref."

Then comments immediately afterward: "Steve Smoger is probably the best Ref out there at this time! He allows the fighters to fight inside and out. You can't have a good and honest contest unless you allow some inside fighting. Baylis(sic) never allows it!"


I'm sure I don't need to point out the humour in a man on Wladimir Klitschko's team talking about a good, honest contest needing to allow inside fighting. No disrespect intended, to any gentleman mentioned. But it is funny that Klitschko is one of the most highly criticised champions in boxing for getting away with spoiling on the inside with clinching and leaning on his opponents' backs and no inside fighting taking place for the rangy outside fighter. Why James Ali Bashir would make a public statement like that without worry that Bayless wouldn't take it out on one of his fighters, if he figures him so bad, I wouldn't know. But it's worth a quote spotlight, no matter what your opinion of it is, no?


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Basement Gym Boxing



Link to the Boxologist Facebook group/forum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Boxologist/
Link to James Ali Bashir's page: https://www.facebook.com/JALIBAS
Link to the specific post/comment thread in question: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=317458301768154&set=gm.828927877138251&type=1&theater



Thanks for stopping by our place. Here are some other pages you might enjoy:

Floyd Mayweather Junior's Sparring Profile: A Sparring Partner Reference List

Wladimir Klitschko Is Disgusted By Your Dirty Dancing: GIF Spotlight

Steve Bunce on Marcos Maidana's chances with Floyd Mayweather Junior: Quote Spotlight

An old Bob Arum quote on Floyd Mayweather Junior: Spotlight on Nostalgic Promotion Theory

"I say this, today, to you-and I really believe it, and it's true- that since Ali, there hasn't been a better fighter, better boxer, than this kid, Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather. This young man has the technique and the ability which puts him, in my book, ahead of such greats as Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, and all the other great fighters that I've seen in my career. But there is nobody that combines all the skills of Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather."

Bob Arum, in the lead-up press conference to the 2006 match between Floyd Mayweather Junior and Zab Judah.

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Basement Gym Boxing






Other posts you might be interested in:

Floyd Mayweather Junior's Sparring Profile: A Sparring Partner Reference List

Steve Bunce on Marcos Maidana's chances with Floyd Mayweather Junior: Quote Spotlight

Floyd Mayweather Junior's Weight, With Unofficial/Rehydration Weights List

Steve Bunce on Marcos Maidana's chances with Floyd Mayweather Junior: Quote Spotlight

"I would be stunned if he freezes like Guerrero did. I would be stunned if shows the amount of respect that Cotto did. I would be stunned if he becomes as frustrated and absolutely lethargic as Alvarez did. All three of those, I think, should have done better. Guerrero I fancied to really push him. This kid won't be bothered, Jim. He is not bothered. He is not phased, and it's not an act. Will he win? I doubt it. Will he hurt him and catch him? I can guarantee you he will. I'm absolutely convinced."

~Steve Bunce, on the BoxNation broadcast of Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Marcos Rene Maidana, shortly before the match began.


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Basement Gym Boxing

Floyd Mayweather Junior's Weight, With Unofficial/Rehydration Weights List

For our resource regarding all rehydration weights in our file, please see this link:

Fight Night Boxing Weights: A List Of Unofficial Weigh-in Weights After Rehydration

This page is here for your reference, comprised of all talk of Floyd Mayweather Junior's weights in the ring that I find relevant, with as full a list as I can find of his unofficial/rehydration weights (and where they went unlisted), or what he likely weighed on fight night, going into the ring, as opposed to his listed official weigh-in weights, which are often misleading in a fighter's career. If you have a source to a missing weight you want to see up here, please link me to a source, so that I may verify it myself. Same for all corrections would be helpful. I will update this page as new information is collected. Thanks to HBO for their focusing on this detail when they are able in their broadcasts, as they have led the pack on this for all other channels. Please note, earlier fights before HBO that I've seen from other channels do not ordinarily do unofficial weights, so little will be found about what Floyd weighed on fight night for most of his pre-title career.





From latest to earliest:



2013: 

VS Robert Guerrero - Contested at Welterweight

Showtime did not release an unofficial weight for this bout.

2011:


September:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Victor Ortiz - Contested at Welterweight
Mayweather: 150
Ortiz: 164  

2010:

May:

VS Shane Mosley - Contested at Welterweight

HBO Tale of the Tape did not list unofficial weights for this match.

2009:

September:

VS Juan Manuel Marquez - Contested at Welterweight with a catch-weight in place which Mayweather could not or did not wish to make after all, coming in two pounds over the initially agreed upon 144-pound catch-weight limit and renegotiating with Marquez in order to do so. HBO's TOTT was read by commentator Jim Lampley and he mentioned that Marquez allowed his weight to be taken on the night of the fight but Lampley says: "Mayweather did not allow us to weigh him on our unofficial scale."

Mayweather: ???
Juan Manuel Marquez: 148 lbs

2007:

December:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Ricky Hatton - Contested at Welterweight

HBO Tale of the Tape did not list unofficial weights for this match.

May:

VS Oscar De La Hoya - Contested at Light Middleweight

HBO Tale of the Tape did not list unofficial weights for this match, Jim Lampley saying that they were unavailable for both fighters..

 2006:


November:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Carlos Manuel Baldomir - Contested at Welterweight

Mayweather: 149
Baldomir: 162

April:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Zab Judah - Contested at Welterweight

Mayweather: 146 (same as official weigh-in weight-very rare)
Judah: 150

2005:


November:

VS Sharmba Mitchell - Contested at Welterweight

Mayweather: 148
Mitchell: 155


June:

VS Arturo Gatti - Contested at Light Welterweight

HBO Tale of the Tape did not list unofficial weights for this match.

Jim Lampley says: "We do not have their unofficial weights coming out of the dressing room tonight, but rest assured, Arturo Gatti will significantly outweigh Floyd Mayweather in the ring." 

January:


Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Henry Bruseles - Contested at Light Welterweight

Mayweather: 142
Bruseles: 150

2004:

May:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS DeMarcus Corley - Contested at Light Welterweight

Mayweather: 145
Corley: 144


2003: 

November:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Phillip Ndou - Contested at Lightweight

Mayweather: 140
Ndou: 147

April:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Victoriano Sosa - Contested at Lightweight

Mayweather: 140
Sosa: 145

2002:



December:


Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Jose Luis Castillo (II) - Contested at Lightweight

Mayweather: 138
Castillo: 147


April:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Jose Luis Castillo (I) - Contested at Lightweight

Mayweather: 138.5
Castillo: 147.5



2001:


November:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Jesus Chavez - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 137.5
Chavez: 136

May:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Carlos Hernandez - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 139
Hernandez: 137


January:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Diego Corrales - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 136.5
Corrales: 146

2000:

October:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Emanuel Burton (Augustus) - Contested at Lightweight

Mayweather: 139
Burton: 140

March:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Gregorio Vargas - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather:  139.5
Vargas: 141



1999:


May:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Justin Juuko - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 136
Juuko: 140

February:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Carlos Alberto Ramon Rios - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 137
Rios: 133


1998:

December:

Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Angel Manfredy - Contested at Super Featherweight

Mayweather: 138
Manfredy: 139



Other pages which might be of interest to you:

Floyd Mayweather Junior's Sparring Profile: A Sparring Partner Reference List

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Basement Gym Boxing

Floyd Mayweather Junior's Sparring Profile: A Sparring Partner Reference List

This page is designed to be as complete as possible a reference list and guide to the sparring of multiple division champion Floyd Mayweather Junior as can be found. It is part of our main page list for finding sparring partner history, to be found here:

Who Were Their Sparring Partners? A Boxing Reference List For Research Purposes

As always, for any corrections you think you have, please post a source with your comment, unless it's something like a simple typo. If you like what we do, please, bookmark, share, etc. The more traffic we get, the more likely we are to keep going, at this stage, and building our material.


1. Tony Pep (then past opponent)
Pep says: "Every day I turned up with a plan to unsettle him. It only took him a few seconds to adapt to whatever I threw at him. He's a special fighter."

Source:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/2327410/Tony-Pep-Hatton-must-knock-Mayweather-out.html

2. Pernell Whitaker
Source: Fight Hype

3. Frankie Randall
Source: Fight Hype
 
4. Steve Forbes
Source: EsNEWS

5. Hastings Bwalya: For Shane Mosley
Source: Lusaka Times

6. Ashley Theophane:
Source: Ring

7. Carlos Baldomir
Source: Bad Left Hook

8. Erik Morales (unverified)

9. Lamont Peterson

10. Paul Spadafora

11. Luis Arias:
Arias and Mayweather's promotional company and gym had a contentious dissolution of their connection, with Arias telling Boxing Scene that he felt it was connected to his friendship with sons of Mayweather's friend Hasim Rahman, Sharif Rahman and Hasim Rahman Junior, who were suing Mayweather for a variety of legal allegations stemming from a filmed sparring match at Mayweather's gym. Arias basically says he was given no reason and cut loose only for his assumption that he was close with the Rahman brothers.

Source: Boxing Scene

12. Deandre Latimore

13. Kassim Ouma

14. Ramon Montano

15. Malik Bosile: Bosile says he sparred Floyd for Floyd's match with Robert Guerrero. Bosile says Floyd joked with him about his Louisiana background by saying "Ain't no good boxers in Louisiana. I'm gonna cook you. I'm gonna cook you and you'll be done like a turkey." but calls Floyd a "Real good guy."
Source: EsNews

16. Errol Spence: One of Mayweather's chief sparring partners for his match with Robert Guerrero. Errol says: "I learned a lot from him. . . he’s patient, he’s always composed no matter what situation he’s in. I like that. It’s been a great experience sparring Floyd Mayweather especially so early in my career. . ."
Source: Ring

17. Jesus Gonzalez: Jesus says they sparred back in 2004 and that he learned a lot and what hard work is. He says he is not surprised by where Floyd is in the sport now. "If you want to be the best, you've gotta train like Floyd." He also says "T. B. E." and whether to your chagrin or satisfaction, I think you know what that stands for by now.

Source: EsNews

18. Bastie Samir
Source: Ashley Theophane

19. Omar Henry
Source: Ashley Theophane

20. J'Leon Love
Source: Ashley Theophane 

21. Zab Judah: Their session was a mutual preparation, as both had scheduled matches, Judah against Rafael Pineda and Mayweather against DeMarcus Corley. This took place in April of 2004. True or false, the story goes that Mayweather gave Judah a terrible hiding for a scheduled four-round spar. Roger Mayweather was quoted as saying he stopped it to prevent Judah getting anymore damage, as I've rephrased it. There is more to the story, if you follow the ESPN link from the pre-fight coverage of Zab and Floyd's professional match together.

Source: ESPN


22. Joseph Elegele: For Floyd's 2013 match with Robert Guerrero: Elegele said: “Floyd, he’s a very, very smart dude. . .He knows the game in and out. He’s been on top for a long time. He knows what moves to make. He’s a very smart dude. We had a quick sparring session, but while it lasted it was real nice. I learned a lot from it.”

Source: Hustle Boss

Extra notes:

1. In a rumour that was laughed off by most, Media Take Out reported that a "snitch" informed them of an unnamed sparring partner knocking Mayweather down on a left hook to the body. All a week before his 2013 fight with Saul Alvarez. I don't take the rumour any more seriously than most. But entertaining it, the anonymous source says he got up to beat his sparring mate to a "bloody pulp" in the aftermath of the knockdown.

Source: Media Take Out


2. During the HBO broadcast of Floyd Mayweather Junior VS Arturo Gatti (June of 2005), in the sixth and final round, Larry Merchant remarked:

"In case you're wondering whether Mayweather will get tired, he sometimes spars ten or fifteen minute rounds, with different sparring partners moving in, to increase his stamina."


As always, for any corrections you think you have, please post a source with your comment, unless it's something like a simple typo. If you like what we do, please, bookmark, share, etc. The more traffic we get, the more likely we are to keep going, at this stage. This page will be filled in with quotes and notes I find interesting, whether informative, odd or funny or any other form of interest. Thanks for checking in.


Work that bag,
Basement Gym Boxing



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