The announcement was made once again this past Friday. It is an announcement we have heard before. The
announcement that boxing's pound for pound numero uno
is retiring once again.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. said that his heart
wasn't in it, and that he felt sad about retiring
again. This saga is becoming more and more familiar to
all sports fans.
I mean how many times did Michael Jordan retire?.
How many summers did we hear about the possible
retirements of football greats John Elway and Brett Favre?
Heck, even in mixed martial arts, Randy Couture
retired, only to come back months later and win the
heavyweight title.
Oscar De La Hoya talked frequently
of retiring nearly four years ago, yet he's still
going strong. When we, as boxing fans, heard of
Mayweather's announcement on Friday, we were reminded of
the old children's tale of the boy who cried wolf. We
just simply don't truly believe it, because we have been
duped too many times.
It's getting to the point nowadays where athletes
at the top of their game retire conveniently as a way
of taking a break, a way to wait around for the ultimate
payday or ultimate challenge. Maybe they get bored,
who knows? More than likely neither you nor I will ever be in
their position.
I just wish they'd say they're
taking a break until something better comes along, but
until then don't be upset when the general public is
so cynical over your sad speeches.
Remember the last time Floyd said he was going to
retire? It was before his fight with De la Hoya,
saying that he would retire after the fight. Yet
something, likely money, drew him out of his prolonged
retirement to fight Ricky Hatton. We've heard this too
many times before, Floyd, so don't expect us to believe
you.
Actually, we believe it as much as we believed your joke of
a wrestling match with the WWE's "Big Show" was
anywhere close to real. Why wouldn't we believe it? Just look at any of your pre-fight press conferences,
where you go on and on disrespecting your opponents,
and acting as if you want a piece of them right there
and then. You think we can't see that that is as
staged as a junior high school rendition of the
"Nutcracker".. We don't believe the pre-fight hype. We
didn't believe the WWE garbage. We didn't believe the first
retirement speech, so why should we believe this one?
I would even go so far as to bet you one of your
100 hundred dollar bills that you like to flaunt
around so much, that you are in the ring with Oscar de
la Hoya sometime within the next year.
If Mayweather could actually stay retired, and not
let the lure of money suck him back into a fight, then
he would go down as one of the all time greats. A pristine 39-0
record and
various titles, attest to Mayweather's coronation as the
best
pound for pound boxer
today. However, the outside garbage is going to be what
he might end up being remembered for if he keeps this up. He will be
remembered for his pre-fight antics, his big mouth, his
false retirements, and his laughingstock venture in
the WWE. If this continues, Floyd, you will be
remembered like your WWE nickname, Money Mayweather, in
that you do it all for the money. No one doubts your gifts, your ability, and your talent. But, don't expect
us not to doubt you when you give us yet another
retirement speech.
