Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Turns 34 Years Old This Week

As Floyd Mayweather, Jr. turns 34 years old this upcoming week (Thursday, February 24), the questionable inevitably arises: How much longer will he stay as an active fighter?

Certain fighters, like a Bernard Hopkins or Evander Holyfield, seem to be able to go on forever. But there are two reasons why Floyd might hang them up sooner rather than later.

1. Floyd Mayweather relies on his speed, quickness and reflexes more so than some other fighters. Guys like Hopkins were never speed merchants to begin with, so a gradual decline in hand- or foot speed isn't going to have the same effect on their boxing ability that it would for, say, a Mayweather, Jr. or a Roy Jones, Jr.

Floyd does not have the same ability to move around the ring he once did. Nor does he throw in combination much any longer. Both of these things were in evidence in the Shane Mosley fight.

What this means is that should Floyd continue to fight as he ages, he is likely to be in more "war"-type fights like the one he found himself in against Mosley. Which leads to the second point.

2. Floyd Mayweather does not want to suffer a professional loss. This isn't exactly breaking news, and no fighter wants to suffer a loss, of course. But much of Floyd's ability to market himself is built around his being undefeated. That means that not only does he not want to suffer a loss, he can't really afford to lose, either. Most people don't watch Mayweather fights because they like how he fights. They watch because they either want to see him win or they want to see him lose. If Mayweather suffers a loss, then that appeal is out the window.

The problem for Mayweather, as he ages and he slows down, is that his fights become increasingly dangerous for him and his unblemished record. An opponent that could not have "caught up" to a 25-year-old Mayweather may be able to do so with a 34-year-old Mayweather. And this means that there is increasing likelihood that Mayweather can be beaten.

There are fighters who have relied on speed and quickness and fought well into their mid-30's. Joe Calzaghe, for one.

Still, given that there already seems a slight decline in Mayweather's abilities and that he wants to avoid a loss at all costs, it seems likely that the man known as "Money May" may not be much longer among the ranks of active fighters.

 

We're trying to give the benefit of the doubt here, however hard it may be. :hey

 

That is true.

Still, Father Time is constantly working the body, even if one is on the sidelines and not taking punches from a real opponent.

 

The smaller guys have to be faster. It's like a guard in basketball vs a center. The bigger guys can hang around longer because they rely more on bulk instead of speed.

 

I personally think he has slowed down some. But maybe it's just inactivity.

I will say this for him, though: He has a lot of skill. Roy Jones didn't have the same skill set to fall back on that Floyd does when Roy started to lose his speed. But, Floyd still relies a lot on his speed with how he fights. Maybe he changes his style as he ages?

 

That fight will never happen, because each side is too smart to let it happen unless they get it on their own terms. Which means it will never happen.

The only way Pac-Floyd gets done is if one of them loses and needs "redemption" and the other guy thinks they will be able to win. So, for example, say Pac lost to Shane. Then Arum and Pacquiao seek Mayweather out to try to get Pac's heat back. And Mayweather thinks he can take out a diminished Pacquiao.

I cant see the fight being made under different circumstances. At least not right now.