Floyd Mayweather is out there making his usual headlines by saying some stuff that is designed to make headlines, this time about who he might fight next. Some of the potential opponents have put their own names in the mix. Let’s consider the contenders. And let’s rate them on a scale of one to five stars in both likelihood and whether whether they’re worth a damn as Mayweather opponents.
Andre Berto
Mayweather recently threw this name out alongside Karim Mayfield. No chance this happens. It doesn’t fit the Mayweather M.O. He likes guys who have at least a modicum of credibility as opponents for him, usually because they have a recent win of note, and some palpable popularity at least somewhere. Berto has neither (a win over Josesito Lopez doesn’t count). I’m not sure why he even brought their names up, unless it’s to troll Amir Khan, who wants the fight so bad.
Floyd Mayweather next fight odds: *
Floyd Mayweather next fight desirability: *
Kell Brook
Brook is just a touch too dangerous to be terribly likely, which is exactly why he’s one of the best options. He’s young, he’s explosive and he’s undefeated. That he has some fans in the U.K. would bring some additional marketability to the fight; Mayweather is usually fond of taking on opponents with an ethnic or regional constituency, up to and including the U.K. with Ricky Hatton. But his combination of “good” and “hasn’t fought in the U.S. much” handicaps him as the guy to get the call.
Floyd Mayweather next fight odds: **
Floyd Mayweather next fight desirability: ****
Gennady Golovkin
Mayweather is at least indulging the fight, which is weird. Mainly he’s indulging it by saying Golovkin is unknown, isn’t smart enough, would have to have some additional weight restrictions. Make no mistake, were Mayweather to take this fight even with some unusual limitations at 154, we’d be talking about one of the ballsiest moves he could make — Golovkin is huge compared to Mayweather, skilled and powerful. He’s also been doing solid ratings on HBO. But he’s just too risky for Floyd’s final fight.
Floyd Mayweather next fight odds: *
Floyd Mayweather next fight desirability: *****
Amir Khan
One gets the impression Mayweather enjoys tormenting the especially thirsty Khan, and right now he’s got him cottonmouthed and dehydrated. It’s too bad Khan struggled against Chris Algieri, even if Algieri deserves more credit than Khan deserves blame for that. Before that showing, Khan’s length and speed figured as an interesting theoretical challenge for Mayweather, if not one in reality. Still, it’s credible enough-ish.
Floyd Mayweather next fight odds: ****
Floyd Mayweather next fight desirability: ***
Karim Mayfield
You can at least kind of understand how Mayweather could throw out Berto’s name. He’s been a TV staple for forever. Mayfield? He’s practically been banished, owing to the kind of outings that make boxing’s bloodlust crowd screech like they just hopped up on a chair after seeing a mouse. Plus, losses to Thomas Dulorme and and Emmanuel Taylor in two of his last three fights — that’s such a bad look. Is there such a thing as half a fist? Would it look like a middle finger?
Floyd Mayweather next fight odds: *
Floyd Mayweather next fight desirability: *
Shawn Porter
Last weekend, Porter beat Adrien Broner, who had played Mayweather’s “little brother” in a past life, owing to his talent, flashy/obnoxious personality and winning ways. So we got a storyline. It was also a good win for Porter, elevating his profile before 2.4 million viewers. Stylistically, it’s one of the more interesting possibilities, since Marcos Maidana’s pressure gave Mayweather some trouble, and Porter pressures. But Porter doesn’t hit all that hard, and has been outboxed, so it’s not as risky.
Floyd Mayweather next fight odds: ****
Floyd Mayweather next fight desirability: ****
Errol Spence
OK, this one wasn’t actually serious. Spence mistakenly said this weekend that he wanted Mayweather next, when he meant Keith Thurman. Spence is just a prospect, albeit a damn good one, or else this would get more fists for “desirability.” Mayweather is talking up Spence as facing some of the guys who are targeting him, like Porter and Thurman. (Maybe this should be four fists, if you believe Spence gave Mayweather a black eye in sparring, as he allegedly did.)
Floyd Mayweather next fight odds: *
Floyd Mayweather next fight desirability: ***
Keith Thurman
Thurman would promote the fight well with his talkativity; he’s riding a reputation of punching power; he can box; and he’s a rising name. And he’s not as threatening as he once seemed, with his power fading in recent fights. So he’s got that mix of vulnerability and a perception of being really good, and the ability to market a fight. That makes it confusing that Mayweather seems to be talking him down.
Floyd Mayweather next fight odds: ****
Floyd Mayweather next fight desirability: ****
(Photo: Floyd Mayweather watches Porter vs Broner; credit, Steve Marcus, Getty Images)
