The past weekend was a relatively quiet one in terms of high-profile ring action but it was the anniversary of an event that affects the ratings of the sport‘s elite boxers.
May 1 marked one year since Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeated Shane Mosley by a one-sided unanimous decision. Mayweather, who was THE RING’s No. 2-rated welterweight and No. 2 in the pound-for-pound ratings, has not fought since the Mosley fight.
The 34-year-old former five-division titleholder has made no serious plans or announcements regarding his immediate future in the ring, and as a result, he has been removed from THE RING’s ratings.
It is THE RING’s ratings policy to drop rated fighters who have been inactive for one year from the rankings unless they have a bout scheduled or they are in serious negotiations for a fight.
“The removal of Floyd Mayweather, who has not fought since May 1, 2010, and has no bout currently scheduled, is not a reflection of Mayweather’s ability,” said Nigel Collins, Editor-in-Chief of THE RING magazine. “However, to keep him ranked at the expense of active fighters is unfair, especially as we have no idea if or when Mayweather will fight again.
"Mayweather has also been dropped from the pound-for-pound ratings for the same reason. If he returns to action, Mayweather’s status will be re-evaluated.”
Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) has been in the magazine’s ratings for 84 weeks, since he ended a near two-year hiatus from the sport with a unanimous 12-round decision over Juan Manuel Marquez in September of 2009.
The dominating victory over his smaller fellow future hall of famer earned him the No. 2 spot in both THE RING’s welterweight and pound-for-pound ratings behind No. 1 Manny Pacquiao.
Mayweather assumed the No. 1 welterweight ranking from Pacquiao by out-classing the then-No. 2-rated Mosley last May. However, Pacquiao regained the top 147-pound position after he dominated Antonio Margarito in a 12-round junior middleweight bout in which he weighed under the welterweight limit.
Boxing fans, and even casual followers of the sport, have clamored for Mayweather and Pacquiao to settle who’s best in the ring but the two superstars were unable to come to terms on a super fight after two bitterly intense negotiations last year.
It is highly unlikely that Mayweather and Pacquiao will hook up this year or even in 2012 for what would be the richest mega-event in boxing history. That’s because Mayweather’s future -- and even his freedom -- is unclear due to criminal charges.
The Las Vegas resident faces eight felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from a domestic violence incident with his former girlfriend. He was charged with felony coercion, grand larceny and robbery, and misdemeanor domestic battery and harassment, among other charges, after a argument with Josie Harris, the mother of three of his children, got out of hand last September.
The court date, which has twice been rescheduled, is currently set for Sept. 1.
Mayweather’s head trainer, uncle Roger Mayweather, awaits his own trial for attacking a female boxer in one of the apartments he owns in August of 2009. His trial for charges of battery strangulation and battery causing substantial bodily harm has been set for August 2.
If either Mayweather is convicted of all of their charges, both could face a significant amount of time behind bars.
Discussion or debate of Mayweather’s pound-for-pound and divisional rankings -- or even his future fights -- is moot until his legal troubles are settled. (source: Doug Fischer / www.ringtv.com)
