Floyd Mayweather Jr. is still scorching hot following his dominant win over Robert Guerrero in Las Vegas back in May. The undefeated veteran looked rejuvenated in the unanimous decision victory, and now appears set to improve to 45-0 with a win over Saul "Canelo" Alvarez this September.
But Money won't just scrape by like he has in previous fights, he'll send a message to the rest of the boxing world with another stellar showing.
Alvarez, who is 13 years younger than Mayweather, has fought in nearly as many professional bouts as his legendary opponent, but the quality of Money's opponents greatly outweigh that of Alvarez's.
Aside from beating Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather has very little left to accomplish in the sport. Beating Alvarez wouldn't make his resume any more eye-popping than it already is, but it would remind boxing fans and experts that despite nearly two decades in the sport, Money is still the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.
The superior speed and nearly impenetrable defense he displayed in his win over Guerrero made him look 10 years younger, but a lot of the credit has to go to Floyd Mayweather Sr., who returned as his son's trainer earlier in 2013 and helped him rediscover how to win with defense and counter punches.
In May, Money utilized that game plan to perfection against Guerrero, leaving the boxing world abuzz in the days after the fight.
Expect something similar when Mayweather takes on Alvarez at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino next month. He'll have had four months to recover, prepare and add to his game. And as his resume proves, no one is better when it comes to putting one result behind them and gearing up for the next.
When you consider Mayweather's history, his almost unbeatable style and the legacy at stake each and every time he enters the ring, it's not difficult to see why he's always the favorite.
During his prime, Money's wins quickly piled up without much notice from outside the boxing community. But nearing age 37, recent matchups have carried added weight while generating more and more conversation. And so will every win for Money from here on out.
For Mayweather to have experienced the level of success he has up to this point is impressive. But a 45th consecutive victory over one of the top fighters in the world would send a message that the boxing world wouldn't soon forget.
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