The news of Floyd Mayweather's surrender date being postponed, allowing him to fight on May 5, sent shockwaves throughout the boxing community, sparking a ton of reaction from fans and media alike. The emails have not stopped pouring in with questions about how this will affect Mayweather's career, a potential showdown with Manny Pacquiao, and who he might face when he steps back into the ring. Although I don't have all the answers, I do have an opinion, so check out what I had to say to inquiring minds who want to know.
Hey Ben, I just want to say I admire your work and really appreciate the up to date information you provide on a daily basis. Happy New Year to you also. I hope this year you give less attention to some of these haters that wrongfully bash you without reason or cause. I know most of it comes from Pacquiao fans whom have a sickening hatred for Mayweather. That is another story, so let me get to the point. I read your most recent article and I do believe you make a compeling point with regards to Marquez having more star power than bradley and peterson, but I think we have to remember that Manny Pacquiao fought Clottey and he really does not have a strong fan base and if I am not mistaken the PPV numbers did farely well. I will also admit i am a little bias since i come from the same hometown as Peterson, but the tale of the tape is this: (1) Peterson has only one defeat to Timothy Bradley, whom Bradley has stated that Peterson is his toughest challenge ever (2) Peterson fought Victor Ortiz to a draw after being knocked down twice in that fight, which soon after Victor Ortiz got the blessing to fight Mayweather for his biggest pay day (3) Peterson beat Amir Khan hands down!!! Peterson did exactly what you are suppose to do and that is to take the fight to the champion. And might I add he had the champ doing sprints around ring!!! I think Peterson is more deserving of a title shot against the Pacaman. Plus I think it will not only be a compeling story in terms of each fighters background, but these two fighter will bring it. They both come forward and i think this will definitely be fight of the year, but i also believe Lamont Peterson can once again shock the world!!! I would love to get your take on this Ben. Oh yeah, Happy New year to you again and thanks for caring to provide us fans with access to our favorite fighters. - Brian
BT: Thanks for the props, Brian. If memory serves me correctly, I believe Pacquiao vs. Clottey did somewhere around 700,000 PPV buys, which isn't bad at all for any fighter, but after a year of supposedly doing 1.3 million buys against Mosley and another 1.4 million buys against Marquez, I just don't see Bob Arum wanting to go backwards. Peterson's a good fighter, no doubt, but personally, I don't think he's more deserving of a showdown with Pacquiao than the man who actually beat him, Timothy Bradley. Although I did have Peterson beating Khan by a score of 113-112, I wouldn't necessarily say he beat him "hands down". It was a close fight, an extremely close fight, that could have gone either way depending on a round or two. I'm not convinced that his performance against Khan was enough to make a fight with Pacquiao must-see TV for diehard fans, let alone casual fans who don't know him. Victor Ortiz got his shot at Floyd Mayweather coming off of a Fight of the Year candidate that featured multiple knockdowns. Peterson, on the other hand, is coming off of a razor-thin victory that's surrounded in controversy due to the referee, the miscalculated scorecards, and now the "mystery man" at ringside. I just don't see Arum making that fight based on those factors alone. Not to mention, not too long ago, Lamont Peterson actually was a Top Rank fighter until they decided to release him. Obviously they weren't too interested in his performances before, so I doubt that the braintrust at Top Rank are convinced that he'll put on the Fight of the Year performance against Pacquiao that you think he will. Again, it's no knock on Peterson, but realistically, I just don't think that's the route they're looking to take. Happy New Year man, and thanks again for the support.
Floyd jail is delayed and now they are considering Canelo or Guerrero? No Floyd don't do it! Both of them are a NO. Ben you talk to Floyd tell him the fans don't approve those two. I talked about Cotto but fans will be more willing for a Cotto fight than those 2. How about giving Matthew Macklin some step aside money so Floyd can fight Sergio. If no Pac Man then its either Cotto because of the name or Sergio because of the danger. Nobody knows Guerrero and american fans hardly knows Canelo. Its sad there is really no one for Floyd to fight but Cotto or Sergio are the fights for May 5th. Berto/Ortiz are busy. Alexander/Maidana are busy. Khan just lost.Lamont Peterson is a worst fight than Canelo. He already beat Marquez. Come on Ben you know Canelo and Guerrero are not good fights. Tell him Ben! Margorito is done. Shane done. Nobody knows Kirkland or Angulo. Morales is old. Paul Williams need to retire. Bradley is with Top Rank. Cotto or Sergio are the fights. Its sad that Pac can't speak for himself and say he wants Floyd. Arum speaks and tricks Pac. Is there anyone around Pac that can stand up for her against Arum? Get an interview with Arum!!!!!! - D. Weeks
BT: D, Floyd is his own boss, so I can't tell him what to do. LOL. Personally, I think the PPV numbers he did in his fight with Ortiz proved that he can pretty much fight whoever he wants so long as there is a perception that he might be beat. In Canelo, the perception exists. In Guerrero, not so much. That being said, I don't think Floyd Mayweather, Al Haymon, or Leonard Ellerbe ever mentioned Canelo or Guerrero as possibilities. I know Richard Schaefer did, but that's only because they are. Technically speaking, everyone is a possibility. Obviously Schaefer is going to suggest two of his own fighters. He's supposed to. That doesn't mean, however, that Team Mayweather is actually considering them. I think far too many people are assuming that it's going to be a Mexican fighter simply because he's fighting on Cinco de Mayo. If memory serves me correctly, the last time Floyd fought on the week of Cinco de Mayo, he was in the ring with Shane Mosley, who is DEFINITELY not a Mexican. As you mentioned, there are other names floating around out there for Mayweather to consider, Miguel Cotto being one of them. Lamont Peterson is another one, as I'm sure they can play off of that "heated" sparring session he had with Floyd. Like I said, everyone is pretty much a possibility, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they're being considered, and just because the fight is on Cinco de Mayo, that doesn't mean there will be one standing opposite of Floyd Mayweather. Will there be Mexican fighters on the card? Absolutely! For all we know, they might just do another split-site PPV, or simply put Canelo on the undercard. We'll find out soon enough though as Ellerbe said they'll be solidifying an opponent very soon. Whoever it is, I'm sure it will be a fight that all diehard boxing fans will want to see.
Hi Ben, Just wanna say I love the website & I think your really good at what you do man. I'm just after reading your article about the courts delaying Mayweather's jail sentence. I'm a massive fan of Mayweather and was heart broken when I heard the news about his 87 day incarceration. i think its awesome how you work closely with him and that's one of the reason's I'm such a fan of the website. How do you think this news will effect Bob Arum's next move? What excuses could he possibly use now? If anything, I think this incarceration business add's value to the fight, think about how 24/7 could work with the fact that he's delaying jail time for this fight ect. Thanks for your time Ben. Kind Regards. - Ciaran.
BT: I didn't expect this news to affect Bob Arum's next move at all, and judging from some of his comments since the announcement, it clearly hasn't. In my opinion, since November 13, 2011, the only fight he was ever really interested in was the fourth fight with Marquez, and since then, it's the only fight he's been working towards. Like I've said time and time again, everything that's been said to the media regarding a potential clash with Mayweather has simply been a facade to keep the public's opinion on their side. The excuse he's using now is the exact same excuse he used prior to Mayweather getting sentenced: Pacquiao's cut won't be healed in time to allow him to fight on May 5. Ironically, that very same excuse is the reason why boxing scribes like Dan Rafael are FINALLY following my lead and placing full blame on Bob Arum, because once Mayweather was sentenced, all of a sudden, Bob Arum was extremely interested in staging a May 5 showdown between Pacquiao and Marquez. Arum is also using the excuse that the MGM Grand Garden Arena is too small for a fight of this magnitude, therefore he supposedly wants to construct an outdoor arena that unfortunately won't be ready by May 5. I find that absolutely ridiculous considering that the MGM Grand Garden Arena wasn't a problem 2 years ago when they agreed on the venue and the drug testing was the only problem. Excuses, excuses, excuses. Arum always has an excuse in his back pocket as to why this fight can't be made. The good news is that most people are finally starting to see through those excuses. The bad news is that it doesn't really matter, as Arum is still going to do whatever he wants to do. Next week, he'll present a list of four names - Marquez, Bradley, Peterson, Cotto - to Pacquiao, allowing him to choose his next opponent. In my opinion, even that's a lie, as from what I'm hearing, it's always been Marquez. As for Mayweather's fight, obviously the impending incarceration will add intrigue and value to the promotion. It's definitely something that will be touched on in 24/7, so expect it to work in their favor when it comes to PPV buys.
Oh Shit !!! What will Bob Arum and Pacquiao excuse be now. Floyd is fucking clever in proving to the public they never wanted to fight him in the 1st place. Hey Bob, Floyd is playing Chess not checkers with your old ass. - Game
BT: See above for the excuses. As for Floyd, I don't think he really had to do anything to prove something that he's been openly saying from the start: there's been no negotiations because Bob Arum doesn't want to make the fight. His sentencing and the subsequent postponement of his surrender date was in no way a chess move made by Floyd. It's just something that happened. It was Bob Arum himself who tripped up in the eyes of those who actually still believe in what he says. Before the sentencing, when Floyd was available to fight on May 5, Arum told everyone that the date was too soon and Pacquiao wouldn't be ready to fight in May due to a cut that apparently takes 6 months to heal. Once Floyd was sentenced and it looked like he wouldn't be fighting on May 5, Arum changed his tune, telling everyone that a May fight was a possibility for Pacquiao, especially if he would be fighting Marquez, as the May 5 Cinco de Mayo date would be perfect for that fight. Then, once the surrender date was postponed and Mayweather was allowed to move forward with a May 5 fight, it was back to the same excuse for Arum. Basically, Arum got caught in his own lie. Like my man Bill Duke said in Menace II Society, "You know you done fucked up, don't you? You know it, don't you? You know you done fucked up."
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