Mayweather Vs. Marquez: The Best Mismatch Ever

Big-time boxing finally returns this Saturday and coincidentally or not, it is Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. who is leading the way. Boxing fans and media alike, rejoice, for the summer of our discontent will at long last be over. Hallelujah.

After what seemed to be the worst summer for boxing in recent history, one replete with injuries, postponements and straight-up cancellations, we’ll be treated to what should be a very entertaining pay-per-view.

If not for a late cancellation (yes, it seems that some of the bad chi from the summer actually spilled over into the grand autumn renaissance) of the fight between Zab Judah and Antonio Diaz, we’d be looking at four very entertaining fights this week. Folks, this is what we should demand of every pay-per-view.

As pumped as I am for the undercard, I’m exponentially more excited for the return of Mayweather. As game as his opponent, Juan Manuel Marquez is, it’s what lies ahead that is more enticing.

Marquez is everything that is good about boxing, but he’s no Floyd. Yes, die-hards like me love watching Marquez and appreciate his skill and determination, but Mayweather is the show this weekend.

A Mayweather victory brings the hope of fights against Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto or Shane Mosley and a loss, well, I can’t even entertain the notion.

One can argue that his biggest fights, money wise of course, were against two bigger box office draws: Ricky Hatton and Oscar De la Hoya. But, I ask with haste, how many people tuned in because they wanted to see one of those guys shut Mayweather up?

Would those guys have done the same amount of revenue if, for instance, Hatton had fought Marquez, or if De la Hoya had fought the late, great Vernon Forrest? I bet not.

Don’t undervalue the role of Mayweather as the villain, either. He loves to be the heel. He’s also stated in the past that it helps sell pay-per-views and I believe that’s true as well. It’s a role that I believe he believes he’s suited for.

I’m not so sure of that, but it’s worked for him so far. With his skill set, charisma and cross-over appeal, I believe he could’ve been our generation’s version of “Sugar” Ray Leonard. He could be, but he doesn’t want to be “Sugar,” he wants to be “Money.”

For the fight itself, I see this as a mismatch. I hate putting that in print, hell I even hate thinking it, but I can’t wrap my mind around the possibility of a Marquez victory.

Mayweather is bigger, faster, stronger and flat-out better. He’s one of the few in history who have elevated the Sweet Science to an art form. He’s Beethoven, he’s Van Gogh, he’s Bruce Lee. He’s that good at what he does.

The only fight that I’ve ever seen in which Mayweather was in a real test was the first fight with Jose Luis Castillo. Castillo is legendary for his rugged, brawling tactics and people thought this was the blueprint. That logic was more like wishful thinking.

In the rematch Mayweather, won handily. It was a strategy that Hatton tried to employ in his match-up with Mayweather. It didn’t go so well for him, did it?

This is a tactic that Marquez may try early. He may even be more effective than the practitioners who came before him, because he is such a superior boxer.

But, as with all fights we see Mayweather in, there comes a point where it seems like everything slows down for him and he’s one or two steps ahead of his opponent. He makes adjustments and surgically cuts his opponent to shreds.