Floyd Mayweather Jr. can take the rest of the year off from the boxing ring. However, many are wondering who is next on his list as the 36-year-old unbeaten champion continues to work on his perfect record. Many blame Mayweather Jr. for setting up his fights, so as long as this is the rumor, does Danny Garcia fit the mold or is he too big of a threat?
Garcia is coming off a fight many thought he would lose. He was in trouble early as Lucas Martin Mattysse (32-3-0, 30 KO) kept landing punch after punch. However, after getting slapped in the face by his father, Garcia turned up his performance in the second half of the bout, immediately swelling Matthysse's right eye. Garcia almost ended the bout in the 11th round, knocking out Matthysse after a flurry of punches, but Garcia wound up winning in 12 rounds via unanimous decision.
Mayweather Jr. is not intimidated by age. If anything, the 17-year veteran wants to prove that he truly is the best boxer in the history of the sport. At 36, Mayweather Jr. has beaten 23-year-old Canelo Alvarez and a 30-year-old Robert Guerrero in his last two bouts. Mayweather Jr. dominated a boxer that was 13 years younger, proving skill and smarts can outbox power any day at any time.
The Shortcomings
Unlike Canelo, who analysts believe has yet physically blossomed, Garcia is entering the prime of his career. Garcia has only 27 professional bouts in his career, which might turn Mayweather Jr. away. To find he last time the best pound-for-pound boxer fought somebody with less than 25 bouts in there career, you would have to go back to 2005, when Mayweather Jr. beat Henry Bruseles. Bruseles was 21-2-1, totaling 24 bouts at the time. Since then, Mayweather Jr.'s opponents have fought at least 31 times in their career. The most inexperienced boxer to meet Mayweather Jr. in the ring was Victor Ortiz.
Also, Mayweather Jr.'s team is pretty smart. They matched him up against Canelo, who was over 10 pounds heavier than Mayweather Jr. the night of the fight. Garcia is naturally right around Mayweather Jr.'s weight range, making it tough to imagine the Money Team picking a boxer who can probably keep up with their boxer's agility and stamina.
If the fight does happen, don't be surprised. Canelo has been in undercards before Mayweather Jr. fights in the past. Now, it was Garcia who preceeded a Mayweather Jr. fight in the undercards. Hmmm, consider it a pattern?
Do you think Mayweather Jr. should meet Garcia or should the next challenger be a little more seasoned?
