Kukulcan said:
JD186, what do you mean that welterweight division was never considered important! The fights between Hearns, Sugar Ray Leanord and Duran were at this weight.
Alot of members forget the PBF started out at 130 lbs. He as done well, lets be honest. He has been smart in selecting the fighters he has beat. He will never take on Margarito or possibly Cotto.
We should stop looking or excuses for Hatton. PBF was the better fighter period. Hatton lost his cool and didn't conserve his energy for the last two rounds. His corner let him down. He got reckless and got caught.
The only fighter who started out at 130/135 lbs and won the middleweight title was the great Roberto Duran in 1989. I am sure PBF is well aware he could never compete nor have a chance in hell of beating Pavlik or any other competent middleweight.
Mayweather simply filled out physically as he matured during his twenties like a lot of people do, and naturally, gradually moved up to higher weights. Mayweather has a frame that can easily hold 160 lb without his being overweight! Duran had the same reach disadvantage as Hatton went he moved from lightweight, but Mayweather had an exceptionally big frame for a 130 or 135 lb fighter. Mayweather has a longer reach than heavyweight David Tua!
I agree Mayweather has been smart in choosing his opponents, and wise in demanding the fight with Hatton was in his hometown, has an American referee and judges, and was at 147. He will never fight another prime age top welterweight like himself - his opponents are carefully chosen! Baldomir was old and had 10 losses, Gatti was a shot fighter and had the same reach disadvantage as Hatton, N'Dou was limited, etc. He would have difficulty with Cotto or Williams but he will never fight them.
In the past, the most important division was heavyweight - most of the media coverage had always been focused on that division until a few years ago. It wasn't until the 80's that the lighter weights started getting more mainstream media attention, yet even in the late 80's and 90's the average person didn't know who Tommy Hearnes, Roy Jones, James Toney, or Iran Barkley were, but everyone had heard of Holyfield, Tyson, and Lewis.
Now, the heavyweight division is ignored - everyone knows who Mayweather is, but most people have never heard of Ibragimov, Maskaev, and Chagaev and it is surprising how many have never heard of Wladimir Klitschko. Wladimir should be getting more attention to Mayweather, but he's not BECAUSE HE"S WHITE!