Floyd Mayweather Sr. in Las Vegas (Photo: Chris Robinson – www.HustleBoss.com)
By Chris Robinson
According to a BoxingScene.com report from Miguel Rivera over the weekend, there appears to be a weight issue that must be worked out before a super fight between Floyd Mayweather and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez can come to fruition.
The WBC and WBA champion at the junior middleweight limit of 154 pounds, Alvarez is coming off of a hard-fought unanimous decision over Austin Trout on April 20th in San Antonio, Texas.
Mayweather (44-0, 26 KO’s) is also coming off of a decision victory, having outclassed Robert Guerrero on May 4th to defend his WBC welterweight title.
Alvarez’s manager Jose “Chepo” Reynoso claims that Mayweather is insisting that Alvarez come down in weight from 154 pounds if the fight were to happen, this despite Floyd also holding a WBA title of his own in the junior middleweight division.
Catching up with Mayweather’s outspoken father and trainer Floyd Joy Sr. recently inside of the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, he confirmed Rivera’s report and insists the match must take place at 147 pounds.
“If they do fight, that’s where it’s going to be,” stated an adamant Mayweather Sr. “I suggested that’s where it’s going to be. Alvarez already is a big guy. He aint no f*cking 160-pounder. I would bet you he is somewhere around 170 pounds [by fight night]. Maybe more than that.”
Having no praise for Alvarez’s victory over Trout, Mayweather Sr. is certain that his son could still defeat ‘Canelo’ at 154 pounds, yet prefers not to give the 22-year old champion any advantages.
“Don’t get me wrong, Floyd can beat him,” said Mayweather Sr. “From what I’ve seen with Trout, there is no chance of Alvarez whooping Floyd. But the only thing I’m going to say about the weight, the weight can make a difference.
“It’s the only thing that can make a difference,” Mayweather Sr. added. “But I’m just saying, Floyd will probably still whoop him with the weight, but that aint the way the game is going to go today.”
When informed that Alvarez likely can’t squeeze himself down to 147 pounds, as he hasn’t made the welterweight limit in over 3 years, dating back to his March 2010 victory over Brian Camechis, Mayweather Sr. seemed dismissive.
“Look here, that’s on them,” he continued. “We are not concerned about his weight. We are not concerned about how they train, what they do and how he makes the weight. We don’t give a damn about them. All we want them to do is come in like we tell them, if they want to get paid.”
In May of 2012, Mayweather wrestled the aforementioned WBA junior middleweight title away from Miguel Cotto with a spirited 12-round victory. Mayweather, who came into the ring weighing 151 pounds on that evening, insisted during the lead up to the fight that he wanted to face Cotto at his most comfortable weight instead of eyeing a catch weight.
A little over a year later and Mayweather Sr. is expressing a different kind of logic.
“Let me tell you something,” said Floyd Joy. “He aint speaking for himself now. I’m the head coach. To tell you the truth, Lil Floyd aint nothing but a 140-pounder. Floyd came in at 146 [for his fight with Guerrero] and Lil Floyd had to eat to make it to 146.”
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Ronad ‘The Thrill’ Gavril: Behind the scenes in Las Vegas during his 3rd round TKO over Roberto Yong
Jeff Mayweather speaks on Floyd facing Canelo and Freddie Roach’s comments that his legs were gone
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Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com