Tag: Manny Pacquiao

Analysis: Are Tim Bradley, Carl Froch and Rafael Marquez worthy of Hall of Fame?

Analysis: Are Tim Bradley, Carl Froch and Rafael Marquez worthy of election to the Hall of Fame?

Strong cases can be made that the three male fighters in the International Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2023 – Tim Bradley, Carl Froch and Rafael Marquez – deserve the honor.

At the same time, it isn’t the strongest class in recent years. Bradley, Froch and Marquez were among the most-accomplished fighters of their eras but not obvious choices – like Floyd Mayweather or Bernard Hopkins, for example — for the Hall of Fame.

They had impressive, but far from perfect resumes.

Here are arguments for and against the newest members of the Hall, who will be formally inducted in June at the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, which is in upstate New York.

Note: The Hall made the announcement of their election on Wednesday.

TIM BRADLEY (33-2-1, 13 KOs)

FOR

Bradley wasn’t a powerful puncher but had elite ability, worked as hard as anyone in the sport and was durable. And the only fighter who beat was one of the greatest ever. He won five world titles in two divisions, for what that’s worth in an era of far too many belts. He also defeated a long list of elite opponents. He had an impressive stretch between 2007 and 2013, when his victims included Miguel Vazquez, Junior Witter, Kendall Holt, Nate Campbell, Lamont Peterson, Devon Alexander, Joel Casamayor, a still-formidable Manny Pacquiao, Ruslan Provodnikov and Juan Manuel Marquez. The victory over Marquez might’ve been the best of his career. Few fighters of the generation could match that impressive run.

AGAINST

The vast majority of observers thought Bradley was given a gift split decision against Pacquiao in their first fight (in 2012), which can’t be ignored. The Filipino star deserved the victory. And Pacquiao won both the rematch – which followed the Marquez victory – and their third fight by wide decisions (2014 and 2016). The fact is Bradley was never the same after the Marquez fight (2013), going 2-2-1 to close out his career when he was still young (30-32). He retired after losing his third fight with Pacquiao in 2016. The brutal, toe-to-toe brawl with Provodnikov in 2013 might’ve shortened his career.

IS HE WORTHY OF THE HONOR?

Yes

 

CARL FROCH (33-2, 24 KOs)

FOR

Froch wasn’t exceptionally quick or athletic but he was a clever boxer with formidable punching power and an abundance of confidence, which took the Englishman a long way. He was a three-time super middleweight titleholder between 2008 and 2015, making him one of the most consistent 168-pounders of his era. During that stretch, he defeated Jean Pascal (to win his first title), Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Arthur Abraham, Glen Johnson, Lucian Bute, Mikkel Kessler (rematch) and George Groves (twice). His only losses came against the capable Kessler in their first fight and future Hall of Famer Andre Ward. He delivered a classic mic drop in 2014, when he knocked out Groves with one punch in front of 80,000 at Wembley Stadium and then retired.

AGAINST

Ward exposed Froch’s limitations, outclassing him to win what should’ve been a wide decision in the championship match of the Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament )2011. It seemed in that fight that Ward was great, Froch merely good. Of course, it might not be fair to compare Froch with Ward, who finished his career with a perfect record and arguably is one of the greatest boxers of all time. The loss to Kessler (2010) doesn’t help his case but there’s no shame in it. Kessler was an excellent all-around fighter. And Froch avenged the loss convincingly, meaning he beat everyone he fought except Ward.

IS HE WORTHY OF THE HONOR?

Yes

 

RAFAEL MARQUEZ (41-9, 37 KOs)

FOR

Marquez wasn’t as skillful as his more-celebrated brother and fellow Hall of Famer, Juan Manuel Marquez, but the Mexican was an excellent boxer with a never-say-die warrior spirit and one-punch knockout power to go with it. He had a four-year run as a bantamweight titleholder and also won a junior featherweight belt. He’s best known for his historic four-fight series with Israel Vazquez between 2007 and 2010 – they each won twice — but he had a number of other important victories. Among them: He defeated fellow Hall of Famer Mark Johnson (twice), Mauricio Pastrana (twice) and previously unbeaten Tim Austin (to win his first title).

AGAINST

Marquez didn’t have as many quality victories as some other Hall of Famers. Plus, he and Marquez weren’t the same fighters for their fourth meeting, in part the result of the brutality of the first three. It had the feel of an old-timers game. Vazquez won two of the three meetings that should count most, once by knockout. He stopped Vazquez twice, in the first and fourth fights. He also was only 9-4 in world title fights. And, finally, Marquez, who retired at 34, struggled down the final stretch of his career: He went 4-6 in his final 10 fights. He shouldn’t be judged too harshly because of that; many great fighters have stumbled into retirement.

IS HE WORTHY OF THE HONOR?

Yes

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Fight Week: Terence Crawford, Teofimo Lopez, Josh Warrington, Manny Pacquaio in action on busy Saturday

Fight Week: Terence Crawford, Teofimo Lopez, Josh Warrington and Manny Pacquaio are all in action on a busy Saturday.

FIGHT WEEK

Terence Crawford will face David Avanesyan, Teofimo Lopez will take on Sandor Martin, Josh Warrington will fight Luis Alberto Lopez and Manny Pacquiao will take part in an exhibition on a stacked Saturday.

TERENCE CRAWFORD (38-0, 29 KOs) vs. DAVID AVANESYAN (29-3-1, 17 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 10
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • At stake: Crawford’s WBO title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Crawford No. 1
  • Odds: Crawford 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Arnold Khegai vs. Eduardo Baez, featherweights; Cris Cyborg vs. Gabrielle Holloway, junior middleweights
  • Prediction: Crawford KO 8
  • Background: Everyone expected Crawford to fight Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed championship but, sadly, talks fell apart. Instead, Crawford, 35, will face the rugged, but limited Avanesyan in what amounts to a stay-busy fight. Crawford is coming off the most important victory of his career, a 10th-round knockout of former champion Shawn Porter in November of last year that proved he is still near the top of his game in his mid-30s. “Bud” has indicated that he still wants to fight Spence next year in what would be one of the best-possible matchups in the sport. Fans have their fingers crossed that the sides can come to terms. Of course, Avanesyan intends to spoil the plans. The U.K.-based Russian is a capable, gritty boxer-puncher who has been a contender for seven, eight years and has some notable victories. He retired Shane Mosley by a unanimous decision in 2016, which earned him an “interim” title. He then lost to Lamont Peterson (UD) and Egidijus Kavaliauskas (TKO 6) in a span of three fights but bounced back to score six consecutive knockouts against mixed opposition going into his biggest challenge on Saturday.

 

TEOFIMO LOPEZ (17-1, 13 KOs) vs. SANDOR MARTIN (40-2, 13 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 10
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
  • At stake: No major title (WBC title eliminator)
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Lopez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Jared Anderson vs. Jerry Forrest, heavyweights; Xander Zayas vs. Alexis Salazar, junior middleweights; Keyshawn Davis vs. Juan Carlos Burgos, lightweights
  • Prediction: Lopez UD
  • Background: Lopez continues the rebuilding process after he lost his undisputed 135-pound champion to George Kambosos Jr. by a split decision in a stunning upset in November of last year. The talented 25-year-old New Yorker moved up to 140 and stopped Pedro Campa in seven rounds this past August. He’s now ranked in the Top 7 by all four major sanctioning bodies, an obvious nod to his past accomplishments. Next up is Martin on Saturday. The slick 29-year-old Spaniard took the fight on two weeks notice after original opponent Jose Pedraza became ill. Martin delivered a breakthrough performance when he upset Mikey Garcia by a majority decision in October of last year in Fresno, California, Martin’s first fight outside Europe. He followed that with a unanimous-decision victory over Mexican Jose Felix in April in Martin’s hometown of Barcelona. Martin also is ranked by all four alphabet organizations, as high as No. 5 by the WBC. An upset of Lopez would make him a prime candidate to fight for a major title for the first time. Hot young heavyweight contender Jared Anderson (12-0, 12 KOs) will be featured on the undercard. He will take on Jerry Forrest (26-5-2, 20 KOs).

 

JOSH WARRINGTON (31-1-1, 8 KOs) vs. LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ (26-2, 15 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 10
  • Time: 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: First Direct Arena, Leeds, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Featherweights (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Warrington’s IBF title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Warrington 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Ebanie Bridges vs. Shannon O’Connell, bantamweights (for Bridges’ IBF title); James Metcalf vs. Courtney Pennington, junior middleweights
  • Prediction: Warrington UD
  • Background: Warrington had a rough year last year, getting stopped by Mauricio Lara in the ninth round in a major upset in February of last year in London and then settling for a technical draw after two rounds in the rematch after the Mexican suffered a massive cut in September. in Warrington’s hometown of Leeds. The 32-year-old bounced back by taking Spanish veteran Kiko Martinez’s title by a seventh-round knockout in a rematch this past March in Leeds, making him a two-time 126-pound beltholder. He’ll make his first defense against another Mexican, who is known to British fans. Lopez made a splash when he stopped previously unbeaten Isaac Lowe in seven rounds last December in London. The 29-year-old from Mexicali has won nine consecutive fights since he was outpointed by Ruben Villa in 2019, including a second-round knockout of Yeison Vargas this past August. This will be Lopez’s first shot at a major title.

 

MANNY PACQUIAO vs. DK YOO (EXHIBITION)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 10 (Dec. 11 in South Korea)
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Korean International Exhibition Center, Seoul, South Korea
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view ($29.99)
  • Format: Exhibition (six two-minute rounds)
  • Background: Pacquiao is joining the long list of retired superstars to take part in an exhibition. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer last fought in a sanctioned bout in August of last year, when he lost his welterweight title to Yordenis Ugas by a unanimous decision. One of the faces of boxing retired shortly afterward. He’ll face the 43-year-old martial artist and Korean YouTuber Yoo, who will be making his boxing debut. Proceeds from the event reportedly will go to charity. Pacquiao failed in his bid to become the president of his native Philippines in May.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

FRIDAY

  • Sam Soliman vs. Joel Camilleri, middleweights, Flemington, Australia (FITE)

SATURDAY

  • Michael Conlan vs. Karim Guerfi, featherweights, Belfast, Northern Ireland (ESPN+)

Fight Week: Terence Crawford, Teofimo Lopez, Josh Warrington, Manny Pacquaio in action on busy Saturday

Fight Week: Terence Crawford, Teofimo Lopez, Josh Warrington and Manny Pacquaio are all in action on a busy Saturday.

FIGHT WEEK

Terence Crawford will face David Avanesyan, Teofimo Lopez will take on Sandor Martin, Josh Warrington will fight Luis Alberto Lopez and Manny Pacquiao will take part in an exhibition on a stacked Saturday.

TERENCE CRAWFORD (38-0, 29 KOs) vs. DAVID AVANESYAN (29-3-1, 17 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 10
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: CHI Health Center, Omaha, Nebraska
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
  • Division: Welterweight (147 pounds)
  • At stake: Crawford’s WBO title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: Crawford No. 1
  • Odds: Crawford 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Arnold Khegai vs. Eduardo Baez, featherweights; Cris Cyborg vs. Gabrielle Holloway, junior middleweights
  • Prediction: Crawford KO 8
  • Background: Everyone expected Crawford to fight Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed championship but, sadly, talks fell apart. Instead, Crawford, 35, will face the rugged, but limited Avanesyan in what amounts to a stay-busy fight. Crawford is coming off the most important victory of his career, a 10th-round knockout of former champion Shawn Porter in November of last year that proved he is still near the top of his game in his mid-30s. “Bud” has indicated that he still wants to fight Spence next year in what would be one of the best-possible matchups in the sport. Fans have their fingers crossed that the sides can come to terms. Of course, Avanesyan intends to spoil the plans. The U.K.-based Russian is a capable, gritty boxer-puncher who has been a contender for seven, eight years and has some notable victories. He retired Shane Mosley by a unanimous decision in 2016, which earned him an “interim” title. He then lost to Lamont Peterson (UD) and Egidijus Kavaliauskas (TKO 6) in a span of three fights but bounced back to score six consecutive knockouts against mixed opposition going into his biggest challenge on Saturday.

 

TEOFIMO LOPEZ (17-1, 13 KOs) vs. SANDOR MARTIN (40-2, 13 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 10
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Madison Square Garden, New York City
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Junior welterweight (140 pounds)
  • At stake: No major title (WBC title eliminator)
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Lopez 5½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Jared Anderson vs. Jerry Forrest, heavyweights; Xander Zayas vs. Alexis Salazar, junior middleweights; Keyshawn Davis vs. Juan Carlos Burgos, lightweights
  • Prediction: Lopez UD
  • Background: Lopez continues the rebuilding process after he lost his undisputed 135-pound champion to George Kambosos Jr. by a split decision in a stunning upset in November of last year. The talented 25-year-old New Yorker moved up to 140 and stopped Pedro Campa in seven rounds this past August. He’s now ranked in the Top 7 by all four major sanctioning bodies, an obvious nod to his past accomplishments. Next up is Martin on Saturday. The slick 29-year-old Spaniard took the fight on two weeks notice after original opponent Jose Pedraza became ill. Martin delivered a breakthrough performance when he upset Mikey Garcia by a majority decision in October of last year in Fresno, California, Martin’s first fight outside Europe. He followed that with a unanimous-decision victory over Mexican Jose Felix in April in Martin’s hometown of Barcelona. Martin also is ranked by all four alphabet organizations, as high as No. 5 by the WBC. An upset of Lopez would make him a prime candidate to fight for a major title for the first time. Hot young heavyweight contender Jared Anderson (12-0, 12 KOs) will be featured on the undercard. He will take on Jerry Forrest (26-5-2, 20 KOs).

 

JOSH WARRINGTON (31-1-1, 8 KOs) vs. LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ (26-2, 15 KOs)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 10
  • Time: 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: First Direct Arena, Leeds, England
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Featherweights (126 pounds)
  • At stake: Warrington’s IBF title
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Warrington 1½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Ebanie Bridges vs. Shannon O’Connell, bantamweights (for Bridges’ IBF title); James Metcalf vs. Courtney Pennington, junior middleweights
  • Prediction: Warrington UD
  • Background: Warrington had a rough year last year, getting stopped by Mauricio Lara in the ninth round in a major upset in February of last year in London and then settling for a technical draw after two rounds in the rematch after the Mexican suffered a massive cut in September. in Warrington’s hometown of Leeds. The 32-year-old bounced back by taking Spanish veteran Kiko Martinez’s title by a seventh-round knockout in a rematch this past March in Leeds, making him a two-time 126-pound beltholder. He’ll make his first defense against another Mexican, who is known to British fans. Lopez made a splash when he stopped previously unbeaten Isaac Lowe in seven rounds last December in London. The 29-year-old from Mexicali has won nine consecutive fights since he was outpointed by Ruben Villa in 2019, including a second-round knockout of Yeison Vargas this past August. This will be Lopez’s first shot at a major title.

 

MANNY PACQUIAO vs. DK YOO (EXHIBITION)

  • When: Saturday, Dec. 10 (Dec. 11 in South Korea)
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Korean International Exhibition Center, Seoul, South Korea
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view ($29.99)
  • Format: Exhibition (six two-minute rounds)
  • Background: Pacquiao is joining the long list of retired superstars to take part in an exhibition. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer last fought in a sanctioned bout in August of last year, when he lost his welterweight title to Yordenis Ugas by a unanimous decision. One of the faces of boxing retired shortly afterward. He’ll face the 43-year-old martial artist and Korean YouTuber Yoo, who will be making his boxing debut. Proceeds from the event reportedly will go to charity. Pacquiao failed in his bid to become the president of his native Philippines in May.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

FRIDAY

  • Sam Soliman vs. Joel Camilleri, middleweights, Flemington, Australia (FITE)

SATURDAY

  • Michael Conlan vs. Karim Guerfi, featherweights, Belfast, Northern Ireland (ESPN+)

Referee admits he ‘prolonged the count’ for Manny Pacquiao to recover from knockdown during win in 2000

One of Manny Pacquiao’s early career victories in the Philippines is suddenly tainted.

One of [autotag]Manny Pacquiao[/autotag]’s early victories in the Philippines is suddenly tainted.

Referee Carlos Padilla, a Filipino, recently said on the WBC’s YouTube channel that he gave his countryman a long count after he went down against unbeaten Australian Nedal Hussein in 2000.

Pacquiao went down in Round 4 but beat the count and went on to score a 10th-round TKO. Three fights later, he upset Lehlo Ledwaba in Las Vegas, which was his springboard to superstardom.

Padilla said, per Bloody Elbow: “That fight, I’m about to go and leave the following day, and they told me, ‘Carlos, please … this is an important fight for Manny Pacquiao, because the winner will have the chance to fight for the world championship.’ So, you know the opponent, Hussein, or whatever his name was. He is taller, younger, stronger, and (a) dirty fighter managed by Jeff Fenech. So in the seventh round, I think, Manny got knocked down. I thought he was going to get up, but his eyes were cross-eyed (laughs). I am Filipino, and everybody watching the fight is Filipino, so I prolonged the count. I know how to do it.”

Hussein wasn’t happy to learn of Padilla’s comments. He also wasn’t surprised.

“Honestly, after watching the referee video, it really hit a nerve,” Hussein told World Boxing News. “I was upset for a full 24 hours. It’s not the fact that he said what he said. It’s more because we already knew it. But the way he said it with a smirk and a smile, like he was proud of what he had done, like the depth of corruption, it’s obviously in his veins and his heart.

“So he had obviously done it before, because it was nothing to him.”

Boxing Junkie timed the knockdown from the above video. He was on the canvas for almost exactly 10 seconds, meaning he could’ve been counted out depending on when Padilla began the count.

Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) put together a Hall of Fame career. Hussein (43-5, 27 KOs) never won a major title.

Like boxing? Be sure to visit Boxing Junkie for all your coverage of the sweet science and follow @BoxingJunkie2 on Twitter.

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Referee admits he gave fallen Manny Pacquiao long count during early victory

Referee Carlos Padilla admitted that he gave Manny Pacquiao a long count during a victory early in his career.

One of Manny Pacquiao’s early victories in the Philippines is suddenly tainted.

Referee Carlos Padilla, a Filipino, recently said on the WBC’s YouTube channel that he gave his countryman a long count after he went down against unbeaten Australian Nedal Hussein in 2000.

Pacquiao went down in Round 4 but beat the count and went on to score a 10th-round technical knockout. Three fights later he upset Lehlo Ledwaba in Las Vegas, his springboard to superstardom.

Padilla said, per Bloody Elbow: “That fight, I’m about to go and leave the following day, and they told me, ‘Carlos, please … this is an important fight for Manny Pacquiao because the winner will have the chance to fight for the world championship.’ So, you know the opponent, Hussein, or whatever his name was.

“He is taller, younger, stronger, and [a] dirty fighter, managed by Jeff Fenech. So in the seventh round, I think, Manny got knocked down, I thought he was going to get up, but his eyes were cross-eyed (laughs). I am Filipino, and everybody watching the fight is Filipino, so I prolonged the count. I know how to do it.”

Hussein wasn’t happy to learn of Padilla’s comments. He also wasn’t surprised.

“Honestly, after watching the referee video, it really hit a nerve,” he told World Boxing News. “I was upset for a full 24 hours. It’s not the fact that he said what he said. It’s more because we already knew it. But the way he said it with a smirk and a smile like he was proud of what he had done, like the depth of corruption, it’s obviously in his veins and his heart.

“So he had obviously done it before because it was nothing to him.”

Boxing Junkie timed the knockdown from the above video. He was on the canvas for almost exactly 10 seconds, meaning he could’ve been counted out depending on when Padilla began the count.

Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) put together a Hall of Fame career. Hussein (43-5, 27 KOs) never won a major title.

Referee admits he gave fallen Manny Pacquiao long count during early victory

Referee Carlos Padilla admitted that he gave Manny Pacquiao a long count during a victory early in his career.

One of Manny Pacquiao’s early victories in the Philippines is suddenly tainted.

Referee Carlos Padilla, a Filipino, recently said on the WBC’s YouTube channel that he gave his countryman a long count after he went down against unbeaten Australian Nedal Hussein in 2000.

Pacquiao went down in Round 4 but beat the count and went on to score a 10th-round technical knockout. Three fights later he upset Lehlo Ledwaba in Las Vegas, his springboard to superstardom.

Padilla said, per Bloody Elbow: “That fight, I’m about to go and leave the following day, and they told me, ‘Carlos, please … this is an important fight for Manny Pacquiao because the winner will have the chance to fight for the world championship.’ So, you know the opponent, Hussein, or whatever his name was.

“He is taller, younger, stronger, and [a] dirty fighter, managed by Jeff Fenech. So in the seventh round, I think, Manny got knocked down, I thought he was going to get up, but his eyes were cross-eyed (laughs). I am Filipino, and everybody watching the fight is Filipino, so I prolonged the count. I know how to do it.”

Hussein wasn’t happy to learn of Padilla’s comments. He also wasn’t surprised.

“Honestly, after watching the referee video, it really hit a nerve,” he told World Boxing News. “I was upset for a full 24 hours. It’s not the fact that he said what he said. It’s more because we already knew it. But the way he said it with a smirk and a smile like he was proud of what he had done, like the depth of corruption, it’s obviously in his veins and his heart.

“So he had obviously done it before because it was nothing to him.”

Boxing Junkie timed the knockdown from the above video. He was on the canvas for almost exactly 10 seconds, meaning he could’ve been counted out depending on when Padilla began the count.

Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KOs) put together a Hall of Fame career. Hussein (43-5, 27 KOs) never won a major title.

Floyd Mayweather won’t risk fighting legit boxers: ‘I’m not what I once was’

Floyd Mayweather said he won’t risk facing legit boxers in exhibitions: “I’m not what I once was.”

Editor’s note: This article was originally published at MMAJunkie.com

Floyd Mayweather has no problem making his intentions clear.

The 45-year-old Hall of Famer is coming off a knockout win over Mikuru Asakura in an exhibition bout Sunday in the Super RIZIN headliner in Saitama, Japan. It was his fourth exhibition bout since retiring from professional boxing in 2017 with a record of 50-0.

At the Super RIZIN post-fight news conference, Mayweather was asked if he’d fight former rival Manny Pacquiao, who was in attendance. Mayweather said he wouldn’t face Pacquiao or any high-level boxer – just YouTubers or MMA fighters.

“I retired from the sport, and I didn’t let the sport retire me,” Mayweather said. “I’m always going to put myself in a position now to where I, just like I was doing, fighting at the highest level. I was dictating and being in control.

“I’m not going to go in there with no former fighters, former world champions, putting more abuse on my body. I retired for a reason. I’m here to have fun and enjoy myself, sometimes three rounds, sometimes eight rounds, with guys that are going to help me entertain people.

“I’m not going to take punishment to the point to where I can barely walk or barely talk. Manny had a great career, but boxing retired Manny, Manny didn’t retire from boxing. There’s a difference. Of course, if I were Manny Pacquiao, would I be chasing an exhibition with Floyd Mayweather to get a payday? Absolutely I would.

“But at this particular time, I love fighting guys that are 15-0, 8-0, guys that are older, like myself, or YouTubers or MMA guys. I will continue to do what I do and dictate and control.”

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But it’s not just about refusing to take bigger risks against legitimate threats in the ring. Mayweather is not afraid to admit he’s not the same fighter he used to be.

Despite dominating in his exhibition bouts, Mayweather knows his days of high-level boxing are in the past. He sees this part of his career more as entertainment and not competition.

“That’s what it’s about, excitement and the people getting a chance to just see a glimpse of me,” he said. “I already know I’m not what I once was as far as what I’m talking about. I’m not ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd or ‘Money’ Mayweather. But I’m still able to go out and entertain the people.”

Floyd Mayweather won’t risk fighting legit boxers: ‘I’m not what I once was’

Floyd Mayweather said he won’t risk facing legit boxers in exhibitions: “I’m not what I once was.”

Editor’s note: This article was originally published at MMAJunkie.com

Floyd Mayweather has no problem making his intentions clear.

The 45-year-old Hall of Famer is coming off a knockout win over Mikuru Asakura in an exhibition bout Sunday in the Super RIZIN headliner in Saitama, Japan. It was his fourth exhibition bout since retiring from professional boxing in 2017 with a record of 50-0.

At the Super RIZIN post-fight news conference, Mayweather was asked if he’d fight former rival Manny Pacquiao, who was in attendance. Mayweather said he wouldn’t face Pacquiao or any high-level boxer – just YouTubers or MMA fighters.

“I retired from the sport, and I didn’t let the sport retire me,” Mayweather said. “I’m always going to put myself in a position now to where I, just like I was doing, fighting at the highest level. I was dictating and being in control.

“I’m not going to go in there with no former fighters, former world champions, putting more abuse on my body. I retired for a reason. I’m here to have fun and enjoy myself, sometimes three rounds, sometimes eight rounds, with guys that are going to help me entertain people.

“I’m not going to take punishment to the point to where I can barely walk or barely talk. Manny had a great career, but boxing retired Manny, Manny didn’t retire from boxing. There’s a difference. Of course, if I were Manny Pacquiao, would I be chasing an exhibition with Floyd Mayweather to get a payday? Absolutely I would.

“But at this particular time, I love fighting guys that are 15-0, 8-0, guys that are older, like myself, or YouTubers or MMA guys. I will continue to do what I do and dictate and control.”

Related

Jake Paul: Floyd Mayweather wasting fans’ money, ruining legacy by fighting no-name guys

Yoel Romero warns Anderson Silva not to go toe to toe vs. Jake Paul: ‘This young man could hurt him’

But it’s not just about refusing to take bigger risks against legitimate threats in the ring. Mayweather is not afraid to admit he’s not the same fighter he used to be.

Despite dominating in his exhibition bouts, Mayweather knows his days of high-level boxing are in the past. He sees this part of his career more as entertainment and not competition.

“That’s what it’s about, excitement and the people getting a chance to just see a glimpse of me,” he said. “I already know I’m not what I once was as far as what I’m talking about. I’m not ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd or ‘Money’ Mayweather. But I’m still able to go out and entertain the people.”

Floyd Mayweather, 45 years young, knocks out MMA star Mikuru Asakura

Floyd Mayweather, 45 years young, knocked out MMA star Mikuru Asakura on Saturday (in the U.S.) in Japan.

Floyd Mayweather is 45. He could probably do this when he’s 75.

The unbeaten Hall of Famer knocked out Mikuru Asakura in the second round of a scheduled three-round exhibition on the Rizin 38 card in Saitama, Japan.

The 30-year-old Japanese mixed martial artist was game and had his moments, landing a few eye-catching punches.

However, no MMA fighter has the boxing skills to compete on an even level with one of the greatest practitioners of the sweet science, even one who’s in his mid-40s.

And that’s by design. Mayweather has said he doesn’t want to trade punches with anyone who has a good chance of hurting him. Asakura couldn’t.

The first round was uneventful, as both fighters regularly poked out their lead hands to find their range and threw power shots only here and there, mostly to the body.

They picked up their pace in Round 2, though. Mayweather, still quick, still clever, began to land right hands to the Asakura’s head and added more body shots.

Asakura had difficulty hitting the great defensive fighter but he did land a few blows that snapped Mayweather’s head back, which was an unusual sight. His problem was that he was getting the worst of the exchanges.

Finally, after a number of accurate shots to the head laid the ground work, Mayweather landed one more right that put Asakura onto his back and hurt him.

He got up to his knees, where referee Kenny Bayless had a good look at him and decided he was in no condition to continue.

Could this version of Mayweather beat a top welterweight contender? Probably not at this point. However, he’s going to continue to dominate the fighters with whom he’s been tangling in exhibitions, YouTubers, MMA fighters and non-active boxers.

Indeed, Asakura, an MMA star, had no chance.

Mayweather collected another big payday and seemed to enjoy himself, graciously expressing his gratitude to the Japanese crowd afterward.

“I’m happy we were able to give the people excitement tonight,” he said. “Thanks for having me . I’ll be back.”

The question is against whom?

Perhaps not coincidentally Mayweather rival Manny Pacquiao was invited by the organizers of the show and spoke in the ring both before and after the main event.

Could they be setting up a Mayweather-Pacquiao exhibition? Maybe Pacquiao, 43, provided a clue.

“Hopefully,” he said, “this is not the last time you’ll see me.”

Yes, we almost certainly will be seeing more of the legendary boxers.

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Floyd Mayweather, 45 years young, knocks out MMA star Mikuru Asakura

Floyd Mayweather, 45 years young, knocked out MMA star Mikuru Asakura on Saturday (in the U.S.) in Japan.

Floyd Mayweather is 45. He could probably do this when he’s 75.

The unbeaten Hall of Famer knocked out Mikuru Asakura in the second round of a scheduled three-round exhibition on the Rizin 38 card in Saitama, Japan.

The 30-year-old Japanese mixed martial artist was game and had his moments, landing a few eye-catching punches.

However, no MMA fighter has the boxing skills to compete on an even level with one of the greatest practitioners of the sweet science, even one who’s in his mid-40s.

And that’s by design. Mayweather has said he doesn’t want to trade punches with anyone who has a good chance of hurting him. Asakura couldn’t.

The first round was uneventful, as both fighters regularly poked out their lead hands to find their range and threw power shots only here and there, mostly to the body.

They picked up their pace in Round 2, though. Mayweather, still quick, still clever, began to land right hands to the Asakura’s head and added more body shots.

Asakura had difficulty hitting the great defensive fighter but he did land a few blows that snapped Mayweather’s head back, which was an unusual sight. His problem was that he was getting the worst of the exchanges.

Finally, after a number of accurate shots to the head laid the ground work, Mayweather landed one more right that put Asakura onto his back and hurt him.

He got up to his knees, where referee Kenny Bayless had a good look at him and decided he was in no condition to continue.

Could this version of Mayweather beat a top welterweight contender? Probably not at this point. However, he’s going to continue to dominate the fighters with whom he’s been tangling in exhibitions, YouTubers, MMA fighters and non-active boxers.

Indeed, Asakura, an MMA star, had no chance.

Mayweather collected another big payday and seemed to enjoy himself, graciously expressing his gratitude to the Japanese crowd afterward.

“I’m happy we were able to give the people excitement tonight,” he said. “Thanks for having me . I’ll be back.”

The question is against whom?

Perhaps not coincidentally Mayweather rival Manny Pacquiao was invited by the organizers of the show and spoke in the ring both before and after the main event.

Could they be setting up a Mayweather-Pacquiao exhibition? Maybe Pacquiao, 43, provided a clue.

“Hopefully,” he said, “this is not the last time you’ll see me.”

Yes, we almost certainly will be seeing more of the legendary boxers.

[vertical-gallery id=32988]