It's Showtime or Maybe HBO: Floyd Mayweather vs. K.J. Noons, MMA vs. Boxing

K.J. Noons made it clear a couple months ago on Inside MMA that he wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather. Of course that is met with the instant reality of MMA's financial limitations when thinking about getting a matchup with one of the two highest paid fighters on the planet. Then K.J. somehow gets the idea that he should challenge Mayweather to a boxing match.

Is K.J. Noons completely insane? Or does he know when he sees an opportunity?

Manny Pacquiao is already looking for opponents other than Floyd Mayweather Jr. and even if he wasn't, let's be realistic. Mayweather is currently undergoing serious legal problems.

Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, defended Floyd Mayweather Jr. against claims that he has been ducking Manny Pacquiao in an interview from mpboxing.com:

“People should be smart enough to realize that he’s in the middle of legal proceedings,” Schaefer said. “Anything else would be disrespectful to a judge or the legal system…He could say, OK, let’s fight Pacquiao in May or whenever and make a deal. How would a judge feel about that? You just don’t do that,” he added.

To fight the pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao, already arguably one of the greatest boxers of all time, he may need to take a fight to sharpen up, but Schaefer is right.

What would a judge think about the defendant taking on the biggest challenge and how would he take it? That cannot possibly help Mayweather's case. It would also be unwise to fight Pacquiao or any top contender unprepared. So who does that leave and who would watch him fight anyone else?

Would the judge care about something that is basically a match which Floyd wouldn't have to train for any more than he probably trains for exercise or leisure? Only in the case that they couldn't make the fight before January 24 when he faces an arraignment.

This fight could even be after Pacquiao vs. Mayweather, but here is a way for Mayweather to get back in the ring risk-free, prepare for Manny Pacquiao and make history. All he has to do is show up.

Floyd Mayweather would absolutely destroy K.J. Noons with or without training. No boxer at that skill level would dare even think about getting in there with Floyd Mayweather Jr., but MMA champ K.J. Noons would. 

For Noons boxing was a dream denied. He has been boxing since the age of five and hoped to one day be the champion. Although unclear, poor management amongst other unfortunate circumstances were mentioned in his interview with Bas Rutten on Inside MMA. MMA became his career path and he would have to give up boxing temporarily. He became the champion of Strikeforce, which is one of the largest mma organizations on the planet and believes he has earned the right to take a shot at making his dream a reality. As well as the fact that Floyd needs someone to beat before he jumps in with Pacquiao with no risk of loss.

According to Noons in his Inside MMA interview, he is in talks with Mayweather's camp. In a more recent fighthype.com, Noons made it clear he is serious about the fight now more than ever. Now that Pacquiao is moving on and Floyd can't devote the proper focus for a real fight, this could be a great option.

Obviously, he is concerned about his legacy. What better credit to add to his resume than to be the first boxer to beat an MMA champ. That's something that not even Pacquiao has done, even though Pacquiao used to practice Muay Thai back in the day.

I have been wanting to see boxing's answer to UFC 118 after seeing James Toney get taken down in seconds. Personally, I admire and respect Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s defensive skill and athletic ability but as a fighter, but I'm not a big fan. If Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought Noons I would definitely root for him. I might even become a huge fan and I imagine other true boxing fans would as well.

Despite his villain-like persona/character he plays in the boxing world, he would be a huge hero to boxing fans. I cannot tell you in words how disappointed I was with James Toney's performance. Not only because he let us down, but he didn't seem to even try and was out of shape. He looked awful and I was embarrassed for him.

All MMA fans would disagree with me when I say I'm still not convinced that a top boxer wouldn't stand a chance against an MMA fighter. Let's face it, they put UFC's best against boxing's fat and forgotten.

For Floyd, this would be the biggest draw outside of Pacquiao vs. Mayweather, only he wouldn't have to worry about actually getting caught in a real fight. Boxing fans are sick of MMA and UFC's lack of respect for boxing. Which is why you can watch The Ultimate Fighter and see Freddie Roach spend a few moments with them holding the pads and these kids say, "Wow he really knows his stuff."  

You think? It's time for a little redemption for boxing.