If Floyd Mayweather can maneuver two fights against top-tier talent within the calendar year, the boxing legend is setting 2013 up to be the most successful period of his career.
Mayweather and his camp have claimed that May 4 will be the next fight on the superstar’s schedule (h/t Los Angeles Times), but a confirmed opponent has yet to be named for the bout.
According to Lance Pugmire of The Los Angeles Times, the next challenger to Mayweather’s perfect record will reportedly be budding young star Robert Guerrero.
Guerrero is one of the brightest young stars in the sport, boasting an impressive record of 31-1-1 over his career. The 29-year-old has used a great mixture of size (5’8”) and power (18 knockouts) to overcome some of the best in the sport.
As well as Guerrero's fights, it is the hype that surrounds the younger fighter that makes Mayweather want to square off with him. The hope of a superfight with Manny Pacquiao are gone, so Money must continue to make a name for himself by beating the best up-and-coming stars in the sport.
While a victory over a young phenom like Guerrero would boost Mayweather’s legacy, two victories over two of the best fighters in the division would be epic.
That’s where Saul “Canelo” Alvarez comes into play.
There is no question that beating Guerrero would be a great victory for Mayweather, but taking on and beating a prospect as vaunted as Alvarez in the same year would give credence to the claims that this could be the pinnacle of the fighter’s career.
Alvarez is the more skilled of the two fresh faces, and his trainer is already teasing a possible meeting between Mayweather and Canelo in September, according to Miguel Rivera of notifight.com (h/t Boxing Scene.)
In another Los Angeles Times article, it is being reported that there is a chance Alvarez would be on the same card as Mayweather and Guerrero, likely setting the stage for a face off at the end of the night if both men were victorious:
Golden Boy Promotions Chief Executive Richard Schaefer told The Times on Tuesday that attorneys could finalize details this week for Mayweather Jr.’s likely bout against Robert Guerrero.
Schaefer added Alvarez “will be fighting May 4, and so will Mayweather, but I’m not saying they’re fighting each other and I’m not saying anything more until we’ve finalized the agreements.”
Mayweather has fought bigger names over the course of his storied career—huge pay-per-view bouts against legends like Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Shane Mosley—but from a technical standpoint, two fights within a few months at the veteran’s age (will be 36 for both rumored fights) would be an incredible task.
Add in the fact that both Guerrero and Alvarez are considered top prospects in the welterweight division, and this could be Mayweather’s final chance to prove he can be just as dominate in the twilight of his career as he was in his prime.
There will undoubtedly be less money taking two fights against younger talent instead of bona fide draws, but the difficulty of this challenge will only cement Mayweather's legacy as one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters that ever lived.
That is if he can stay undefeated through both fights.
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