Come Back, Pretty Boy: Why I Miss Floyd Mayweather

I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Floyd Mayweather. He may be arrogant, brash, combative, and divisive, but the man can put on a show. Don't get me wrong, there are many great fighters today I enjoy watching.

The dominance Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, and Manny Pacquiao displayed in each of their respective fights this year was truly incredible. Any yet, I never felt the pre-fight excitement like I do before a Mayweather fight.

Most of the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of HBO's "24-7" series, which I watch religiously before any majorfight. Most recently, HBO gave us a glimpse into the lives of Pacquiao and De La Hoya as they prepared for "The Dream Match." While both fighters came off as good-hearted, caring, family men, neither fighter reached out to me and demanded I watch the fight.

More importantly, neither fighter seemed overly worried about losing. That's why when De La Hoya lost, there was less pain in his voice, than admiration for his competitor.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with respect and admiration for one's competitor. A few years ago, when boxing felt more like a circus than a sport, and every other weigh-in started with shoves and thrown chairs, I dreamed of the day when fighters would simply shake hands at the press conference, then pound gloves before each round.

But as much as I love cordial boxers, I love charismatic ones more. And no current day boxer is more charismatic than Pretty Boy Floyd.

Whether it be wearing a sombrero before the De La Hoya fight, or continuously promoting himself before the Hatton match, it's hard to keep your eyes off Floyd Mayweather. He's the most entertaining man in a sport that desperately needs to entertain, especially now that MMA has become so popular.  

More than any other sport, boxing is about pride. A loss is more than just a loss. It's a defeat. That is why we love it so much. When Mayweather fought Hatton, there were very few people rooting equally for both fighters. Mayweather brings that love/animosity out of people. You either love him or hate him, but you have to watch him.

If you happened to watch "24-7" before the match, you knew how badly each man wanted to win. On the final episode before the fight, Ricky's trainer Billy Graham repeated the phrase "Got to win" over and over again, as if his very existence depended on the outcome of the fight. Sadly for Hatton fans, he did not win. And the loss hurt. Much more than a Malignaggi loss would have.

Why?

Because Mayweather made us care. He angered us or delighted us. He inspired thousands to cross the Atlantic, hoping to see Hatton shut up the trash-talking American once and for all. He caused his own fans to smile and cheer at both his wit and athleticism.

Most of all though, he made the average sports fan give a damn about a boxing match, something that appears to be happening less and less often nowadays. Oh how I miss Pretty Boy Floyd.