DON’T believe it right away when boxers tell you they’re retiring.
All the great ones, even long after their skills have ebbed and age has been unforgiving, have believed they have one more fight in them and would like to leave the ring in an arena of cheering fans bidding him adieu.
Only the fictional movie hero Rocky can do what he wants to do with his career. Creator Sylvester Stallone has done so much reengineering with his mythical character that The Italian Stallion can live forever. Rocky will even surface as a supportive mentor to the son of his first foe, Apollo Creed, in an upcoming installment of the series.
But let’s get back to the real world of sports. Undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. has declared that his fight with Andre Berto will be his swan song, his final performance in a sport that has given him wealth and a fair degree of respect from boxing pundits who acknowledge his savvy and smarts in the ring.
Maybe Mayweather feels that there’s nobody else left to challenge him. Oscar De La Hoya couldn’t beat him and neither could Juan Manuel Marquez or Manny Pacquiao.
Anyway, there’s enough money for him to last a lifetime and, unless he messes up his finances, there’s really no need to fight anymore.
But wait, this is boxing.
Reports about Mayweather illegally getting an intravenous injection to prevent dehydration for the Pacquiao fight have surfaced. There is a strong call from camps of promoter Bob Arum and Pacquiao to declare the fight invalid because of the alleged violation. Pacquiao fans aching for a rematch are abuzz with the possibility of one more chance for the Filipino star.
The reports may not be enough for Mayweather to step into the ring anew with Pacquiao.
Mayweather will brush them all aside unless it can be clearly proven he has committed a violation. Try outtalking the loquacious Mayweather and you’re in for a knockout.
But perhaps another opportunity to make a killing at the box office might be too irresistible for Mayweather. The chance to finally silence Pacquiao fans with another dance in the square ring is tempting in an environment where rematches are staged because the first match was inconclusive in showing who the winner was.
Mayweather won the unanimous decision but here’s something to think about: Neither fighter was at his best during the anxiously anticipated battle. Pacquiao had the shoulder injury that his camp tried to conceal and hoped would heal in time for the fight. Mayweather refused to really engage and hurt Pacquiao, sensing perhaps that simply parrying off Pacquiao’s flurries and just scoring with simple combinations would be enough to win.
With this in mind and the immense amount of cash that can still be earned for a rematch, we can expect Mayweather to stop talking about retirement. A tempting purse and plenty of cable sign-ups for the fight can cure his possible boredom with a sport that can’t seem to offer new challengers.