It’s close to that time when the sour-shoed, swamp-assed members of the Boxing Writers Association of America vote on Fighter of the Decade.
The candidates for this award are Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Wladimir Klitschko, Saul Alvarez, and Andre Ward. But is there even any need to vote, really?
Floyd Mayweather deserves to be named Fighter of the Decade...obviously. Anyone voting otherwise is either harboring some sort of weird grudge against Mayweather or is burdened with two marbles rattling around in their skull instead of brains.
I mean, we can start with the really obvious fact that Mayweather has actually beaten two of the other four candidates. That’s a big “duh,” right there.
We can also talk about the impact Mayweather has made in the sport, financially and in terms of drawing attention from mammoth events. That’s another big “duh” right there as well.
Yet, if social media is any indication of what’s floating in the collective unconscious of the boxing world, there’s plenty of effort being made to try and justify NOT giving Mayweather this honor. There’s lots of mental gymnastics on display out there, trying to give this award to anyone but the much-disliked undefeated five-division former world champ.
Of course, there’s the old routine of discrediting his body of work. Canelo Alvarez was too young when Floyd beat him. Pacquiao was too old when Floyd beat him. Miguel Cotto was past-prime.
None of the above holds water, though. The Canelo that Floyd beat already held victories over top tier talent like Austin Trout and would beat Erislandy Lara just about a year later. Pacquiao and Cotto, meanwhile, would move on to score legacy-level victories after losing to Mayweather, scoring wins over Keith Thurman and Sergio Martinez, respectively.
The critics also point to the fact that Mayweather didn’t compete for the whole decade, eager to mention that he really only competed for six years of the decade.
And that’s true, but guess what? Klitschko also only competed for about six years of the decade. Ward competed for seven years. Alvarez spent the first couple years of the decade fighting off the main stage against second-tier opposition.
So, again, the critics’ point is really no point other than, “we don’t want that guy to get another award.”
I haven’t always been in line with Mayweather, the man, but Mayweather, the fighter, is hard to bash without dipping into fantasy land or screwy, off-balance logic born of intense dislike and frustration. I don’t care if he comes across as a dolt or how pathetic he looks when issuing his “look how rich I am” posts on social media, give the man the awards he deserves and show him the professional respect he has earned.
This shouldn’t be a “how much I like you” contest or a “I don’t think you’ll show up at the ceremony” award, it’s an award based on merit and, honestly, there’s no argument for naming anyone else Fighter of the Decade.
Even the BWAA, with a well-earned reputation for having their heads deeply implanted in their own asses, shouldn’t be capable of screwing this one up. Competitively, Financially, and in terms of overall impact—there’s really nobody else who should win.
Floyd Mayweather is Fighter of the Decade...period, end of discussion. Any other fighter getting that award would be the result of petty, small-minded BS.