Floyd Mayweather Jr. will take on Robert Guerrero on Saturday evening at the MGM Grand Garden Arena as the undefeated Money May tries to retain his WBC Welterweight title.
Always one to stir things up with words in addition to being one of boxing history's premier technicians, the buzz that surrounds Mayweather entering every fight is unavoidable. It will be interesting to see how he bounces back after a year out of the ring, and whether Guerrero can rise to the occasion.
Here is the latest buzz on the reigning champion ahead of Saturday night's marquee bout.
Confident Self-Promotion
Mayweather is a dominant presence on Twitter, and he has been at it again as a social media-savvy individual promoter. Check out some of the most notable statements he has sent out to the masses:
Marketing for a superstar of Mayweather's caliber wouldn't be difficult as it is, but the fighter himself often prefers to enhance his own brand in a self-sufficient manner.
The CNN video on the right showcases how Mayweather is specifically focused on Guerrero and not on any other prospective fight in the future—including the oft-speculated tilt with Manny Pacquiao, who has lost two bouts in a row.
This is a classic expression of eager anticipation from one of the best pound-for-pound fighters the sport has ever seen. Such razor-sharp focus should continue to bode well for Mayweather on this occasion.
Opportunity to Continue Building the Legend
There is every reason for Mayweather to feel good about his chances despite the long layoff—mostly because he has never lost before. ESPN Stats & Info highlights just how significant his current record is:
Boxing expert Dan Rafael of ESPN provides a little bit more historical context:
Guerrero is a grinder who sports a 31-1-1 record himself, which includes 18 knockouts. The more methodical Mayweather is, the more success he will have in this fight.
The key will be to weather the early, aggressive press that Guerrero puts on in an effort to rattle him. If he can simply absorb the early blows, Mayweather should be in prime position to notch victory No. 44.
Retirement Talk
As documented by ESPN's Rafael, the 36-year-old Mayweather has come out and said that he will fight for 30 more months before retiring:
In 30 months my career is over. I want to rack up my six victories and hopefully do commentating and keep the sport of boxing alive. That's what I'm focused on.
...I want to just help clean the sport up. After this fight I've got five more fights. That's all I got to do, finish putting them stamps on my legacy.
By the time those months breeze by, as Mayweather notes, he will be approaching the age of 40. That will give him an even 50 fights, which would be a nice, tidy undefeated record if he continually triumphs.
That's appropriate for a fighter who is renowned for his precision.
What is most impressive about his statement is what he intends to do outside of the boxing arena with regard to cleaning the sport up. Mayweather's role as an ambassador to the sport is critical, and it's good news for boxing that he is looking to the future with that in mind.
But first thing's first: six more epic showcases for Mayweather to do what he does best—starting on Saturday against Guerrero.
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