The 3-4 Fights That Floyd Takes To End His Career

Floyd currently is 33 years old. Realistically, I say he has about 2 years left at peak condition. Some are saying he's starting to lose a little already and that much is probably true, but he has SO MUCH that he can lose a little. Here are my thoughts for the final fights of his storied career in the order which they should be taken

Manny Pacquiao -
This fight is so big right now and it's the right time for it. Both are coming off of big victories after having squandered the opportunity to fight each other. Both have immense support from their fan bases. Both are available this fall. Furthermore, the welterweight limit is within reach for both fighters. Sooner or later, Floyd is going to be uncomfortable making 147 and for all of Pacquiao's accolades, I don't think now is this time to expect him to come up to 154 to fight Floyd. Let's get this done at 147 in the fall of 2010.

Paul Williams / Sergio Martinez rematch winnner -
There isn't enough time to take out both men. I believe he could beat either opponent, but we all know how Floyd likes to pick and choose his spots and not waste his precious time fighting fighters when they can fight between themselves and then he takes on the winner. In a sense, he's earned the right to a "bye" in these fights much like a top seed in a tournament gets a bye into the next round. In any event, I think Floyd should challenge himself and move up to 154 to take on whomever wins this rematch (there should be one, right?). By moving up to 154 and taking on either of these guys, his credibility increases and legend goes. If Martinez were to win and maintain his middleweight crown, then I say Floyd allows the fight to happen at 160 and he takes that belt. He'll have the skills and moxy to beat Martinez at 160, but I don't think that would be the case with a 160 lb P-Will. Too much man at too much weight.

Andre Berto -
After Floyd dabbles in the 154/160 fight, he'll want to stay at the higher weight, but still take fights where he feels he has an advantage. What better way to do that than invite the young lion (and still presumably undefeated Berto) up to the 154 class. Although he'll take plenty of heat for fighting "a smaller man", he'll also gain favor by taking on an undefeated champion. Again, this is a very, very winnable fight for Floyd and adds to his legacy in the sense that once he beats Berto, Andre will still go on to be a formidable champion for many years.

Finally, the final fight in Floyd's career....

Manny Pacquiao @ 154
As I mentioned earlier, now is not the time for a fight at 154 between these two, but about two years from now, absolutely. Floyd will have been campaigning as the 154 kingpin for awhile. Manny will have cleaned out all of the division (possibly even including Berto after he drops back from 154 after his Floyd fight). The excitement for this bout will be equal to what it is today, however, Floyd will have a little more say as no reasonable mind will expect him to drop back down to 147 and/or take a paycut to a man he already (narrowly) beat. This fight will be the culimantion of Floyd's career and I honestly don't know if he wins it. I do know, however, that he'd walk away with almost $50M.

So that's how I see it (or how I'd like to see it) over the next couple of years. Floyd fights 3-4 times, makes about $175M and then doesn't fight again.

Thoughts?