TalkingBoxing Articles
Rightfully So, Mayweather Has a Chip on Shoulder
TUE June 21, MONTY McMAHON - Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the bad guy. The boxing media says so, so it must be true. Floyd Mayweather Jr. doesn’t care. “They need a bad guy and I understand,” Mayweather said. “When Bernard Hopkins fought Trinidad, Hopkins was the bad guy. When Oscar De La Hoya fought Trinidad, then Trinidad was the bad guy. So that’s how it works, you have to have a bad guy and a good guy. At the end of the day, if my kids are happy, I’m happy, no matter what the media says about me.” Video: Floyd Mayweather Presser from March
Perhaps it’s why he’s so easily labeled the bad guy, but going into his fight against WBC Junior Welterweight champion Arturo Gatti, 39-6, 30 KOs, this Saturday, Mayweather, 33-0, 22 KOs, is what he always is – supremely confident.
“I’m going to be a technician then I am going to mix it up. I am going to box him then I am going to destroy him,” Mayweather said.
To the contrary of Mayweather, Gatti is the everyman. He’s built his career on the heart and determination that fans love and has two slugfest victories over Mickey Ward they can’t forget. Gatti carries the lunch pail. Mayweather was born with the gift.
“Floyd Mayweather is the kind of fighter that comes along once in a generation, he is extremely, extremely talented and he’s something special,” said Bob Arum, Mayweather’s promoter.
It’s talent versus determination; the rightful air to the throne versus the people’s ruler and it’s been a fairly contentious ride thus far. Not only is Mayweather taking shots from the media, but he’s also taken some from the Gatti camp. They would only schedule the fight in Jersey City, New Jersey-based Gatti’s backyard – Atlantic City – something Floyd has been happy to point out. On top of that, there was Mayweather’s legal wrangling – a misdemeanor battery charge and a twice-changed court date – which caused friction between the camps and almost killed the fight entirely.
Since promotion for the fight has begun, neither fighter has appeared in the same place at the same time.
“Whoever set up this fight, everything they’ve done has leaned towards Arturo Gatti. For instance, the things going on in my personal life had to be taken care of just so Gatti can feel comfortable. Then I said lets make the fight in Vegas or New York and they said no, it has to be in Atlantic City. It has to be in Atlantic City because it has to be on his turf. We had the press conference on Wednesday and he was sick, so they had it on Thursday,” Mayweather said. “As far as the fight? That’s the easiest part.”
It’s easy to see why Mayweather might have a chip on his shoulder going into this fight, which was only saved after the WBC intervened and threatened to strip Gatti of his title. Since the fight was officially set, the Gatti camp has taken to questioning Mayweather’s chin, but Mayweather, long known for his superior defensive game, isn’t fazed.
“I’m not in this sport to see how hard I can get hit or to see how many big punches I can take. I am in this game to fight as long as I can. I am trying to dish a lot of punishment,” he said.
Never at a loss for words, ‘Pretty Boy’ is more than happy to throw the verbal jabs right back at his opponent. “The truth is he’s not a good fighter and he’s not on my level and I’m going to show you,” Mayweather said. “He’s a guy that all of his shots are wide. He’s flat-footed… He’s a club fighter and they put him on HBO. He’s a C+ fighter and they put him in there against C- fighters and they have a war and a good fight.”
In fact, Mayweather believes that Gatti, who seems to have gone out his way to avoid this fight, is already mentally beat. “I’ve got a hundred and some fights in my whole career. I know when a guy is scared and he’s scared. He didn’t even want the fight. The only reason he’s fighting is because he was going to get stripped of the WBC title. I am going to put him into retirement after this one.”
Mayweather is also quick to point out, among other things, how Gatti picked up the WBC title after an injured Kosta Tszyu was
stripped of the belt. “Are you going to tell me it’s fair to strip him of his belt and then let Gatti fight a guy from Italy
(Gianluca Branco) that we know nothing about? (Branco is) not a major guy and they let them fight for the title? Then become
world champion? That’s not right. Fair is fair. If Arturo Gatti was going to win the belt, he should have beat Tszyu fair and
square.”
It’s clear that Mayweather isn’t giving a lot of respect to Gatti. He’s already said the fight won’t go the distance and has
started naming a laundry list of potential future opponents – Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya.
“You have to realize that most of these guys get in there and fight on heart. I fight with smarts. There is no fighter that
is smarter than me,” Mayweather said. “Most of these fighters are ABC, 1-2-3. I am like 4-5-6 levels above them, that’s why
I’m able to beat them.”
