Is Floyd slowing down?

MANILA, Philippines - Boxing trainer Freddie Roach and conditioning coach Justin Fortune agreed that if Manny Pacquiao fought Floyd Mayweather instead of Chris Algieri in Macau last November, the Filipino would’ve beaten the Money Man hands down. Roach even said Pacquiao would’ve knocked out Mayweather.

Roach based his conclusion not only on Pacquiao’s above par performance in flooring Algieri six times en route to a lopsided win on points but also on Mayweather’s slipping pace, evident in his last two fights against Marcos Maidana. It’s clear that Mayweather, who turns 38 next month, isn’t the same fighter he once was.

Mayweather has won seven of his last eight outings by decision and the only exception was his sucker-punch knockout of an obliging Victor Ortiz in 2011. He hasn’t scored a legitimate stoppage since halting Ricky Hatton in 2007 or seven years ago. The Ortiz knockout was dubious because it came during a break. Ortiz had been warned by referee Joe Cortez for a head-butt and reached out to apologize to Mayweather. They touched gloves and before Cortez could signal to resume action, Mayweather unleashed a left hook to end the fight.

Two of those seven distance victories were by majority decision. Mayweather, who turned pro in 1996, hasn’t been too active since the Hatton bout. He didn’t bother to fight in 2008 and saw action only once in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. Mayweather is obviously prolonging his career without accumulating any more wear and tear. He’s carefully choosing opponents to keep alive his dream of eclipsing Rocky Marciano’s unblemished record of 49-0.

Mayweather’s record is now 47-0, with 26 KOs. He has two fights left on his $250 Million Showtime deal – one in May and another in September. Two more wins will match Marciano’s mark. Mayweather won’t be content with just duplicating Marciano’s feat. He’ll want to leave his mark in boxing by going at least 50-0.

Marciano died in a plane crash in 1969 or two years after retiring from the ring as world heavyweight champion. He was 45. Others who ended their careers as unbeaten world titlists were IBF/WBA supermiddleweight champion Sven Ottke of Germany (34-0, 6 KOs), IBF flyweight titleholder Ricardo Lopez of Mexico (51-0-1, 38 KOs), WBC lightweight king Edwin Valero of Venezuela (27-0, 27 KOs), WBF superflyweight ruler Samson Dutch Boy Gym of Thailand (43-0, 26 KOs) and WBC/WBO supermiddleweight boss Joe Calzaghe of England (46-0, 32 KOs). Ottke retired in 1997 at 36, Valero killed himself in 2010 at 28, Samson quit in 2002 at 29, Lopez gave it up in 2001 at 34 and Calzaghe hung up his gloves in 2008 at 36. 

Reigning unbeaten world champions include IBF welterweight king Kell Brook, 28 (33-0, 22 KOs), WBO superfeatherweight titleholder Mikey Garcia, 27 (34-0, 28 KOs), WBA/WBC lightwelterweight ruler Danny Garcia, 26 (29-0, 17 KOs), WBO lightweight titlist Terrence Crawford, 27 (25-0, 17 KOs) and WBC flyweight champion Roman Gonzalez, 27 (41-0, 35 KOs).     

Ron Borges of The Ring Magazine recently reported that the Wall Street Journal conducted a study on Mayweather’s 11 fights before his first encounter with Maidana last May. The research showed that Mayweather took 221 punches from Maidana or nearly 100 more than any opponent over the past eight years. Borges said, “a more flat-footed Mayweather had been hit more and more his last four fights, each opponent landing over 100 punches inside his once-impregnable defense.”

Comparing the two fights against Maidana, statistics confirmed Mayweather’s slippage. In the first bout, Mayweather landed 230 of 426 total punches and 178 of 274 power shots. In the second match, he connected only 166 of 326 total punches and 102 of 177 power shots. Within a span of five months against the same opponent, Mayweather threw 100 less punches and landed 64 less.  In power shots, he unleashed 97 less and landed 76 less. Despite the disparity, Mayweather won the first fight by majority decision and the second by a unanimous verdict. The other difference was Maidana fought worse in the rematch, camouflaging Mayweather’s deficiencies. Of course, it may be argued that Mayweather’s defense had a lot to do with Maidana’s poor performance in the second fight.

David Greisman of The Ring Magazine suggested that Mayweather got a little help from referee Kenny Bayless in the return bout. “The ref allowed Mayweather to hold and hold and hold some more, straightjacketing Maidana in close so that he couldn’t unload his usual barrages,” he said. “And Bayless broke the fighters up even when the clinching still left Maidana with one hand or both hands free, doubly taking away any chance the Argentine slugger had to work where he had his best opportunity to do so. Money has always meant power and influence.”  So to negate Mayweather’s slippage, he was allegedly helped out by the third man in the ring.

Mayweather’s reluctance to fight Pacquiao may stem from his allergy to southpaws. He had a few scary moments in facing lefthanded DeMarcus Corley in 2004 and was floored (it was unfairly ruled a slip) by another southpaw Zab Judah in 2006. Ortiz was another lefty and gave Mayweather some difficulty early in the fourth round before he was sucker-punched. “Floyd Mayweather, Sr. once said his son should never fight a southpaw,” said Boxing News in a special issue on the Money Man.

From all indications, Mayweather is hesitating to fight Pacquiao because the Filipino’s the only real threat to obliterate his goal of eclipsing Marciano’s perfect record. Mayweather is protecting his record selfishly at the expense of the fight game whose integrity he is compromising by refusing to unify the 147-pound championship. But if he’s The Greatest Ever as he claims to be, Mayweather should step up to the plate and come to bat. “The fans, the people deserve the fight,” said Pacquiao. “It’s time to make the fight happen.”