Juan Manuel Marquez vs Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Photos courtesy of HBO Boxing

By Randy De La O

Floyd Mayweather did what almost everyone knew he would do last night, he beat the great Mexican fighter, Juan Manuel Marquez. And he did it spectacularly. It would have been hard to do otherwise considering he had every advantage. He made sure of that fact. The weight was a big factor in this fight. Mayweather chose to pay a penalty rather than meet his contractual weight obligation. There’s more to it than that but that is the gist of it. Mayweather refused to be weighed just prior the fight. The reason should be obvious to anyone who saw the fight. He was probably fighting near 160 lbs. A huge advantage. Mayweather might have won the fight anyway but he ensured his victory by coming in over the weight.

Mayweather won just about every round and with the exception of the second round when Marquez was knocked down, each round was the same. Mayweather was too fast and to slick for the overmatched Marquez. Juan Manuel Marquez is 36 years old and last night he was showing his age, still, a lesser fighter would have given up or been knocked out. Marquez’ chin did not fail him last and  neither did his heart.

My friend, writer and boxing historian Rick Farris had this to say after the fight “Floyd Mayweather looked sharp tonight. Of course he did. He wasn't in the ring with Shane Mosely. That's who he should have fought. The problem with Shane Mosely is obvious. He's too much man for a guy who calls himself "Money"."

That brings me to my next point: Sugar Shane Mosley. Kudos to Mosley for challenging Mayweather to a fight. He did more than challenge Mayweather last night. He shut him up. The usually unflappable Mayweather was left speechless by Mosley's challenge. Mayweather was like a deer in the headlights, looking for someone, anyone to come to his rescue but no one did. Mosley also exposed Mayweather: Visibly shaken up and with quivering lips he gave his best Ralph Kramden imitation "homina, homina, homina". Unable to speak coherently he took out his anger on Max Kellerman and left. His greatest moment ambushed by Mosley, a la Kanye West. Unlike Kanye West, Mosley wasn't picking on a 19 year old girl. Kudos to Max Kellerman for asking the questions and to Sugar Shane Mosley for stepping up! It's my guess Mayweather will never have the stones to fight Sugar Shane Mosley.

To my way of thinking a fight with Manny Pacquiao is not as attractive as it once was. There is no doubt Manny would fight Mayweather, just as there is no doubt Manny would ask for all the concessions in weight as he does in every fight. Both of these guys do their best to ensure they have every advantage in a fight. Why would I want to spend ten cents to see Mayweather fight another little guy?