WBC Super Welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. was victorious over Oscar De La Hoya in Saturday’s mega-pay-per-view fight in Las Vegas.
He was also humble in victory, apologizing to the UFC ownership group for comments he made during the past few weeks. Mayweather had stated any boxing champion could easily transition into MMA and become a champion.
That prompted UFC president Dana White to issue a challenge for Mayweather to fight UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk.
Unfortunately, it appears the bout won’t happen. Mayweather, after all, won’t be competing in MMA anytime soon.
From Fightnews.com:
“I apologize to the UFC, sometimes we say things that we shouldn’t have said and I’m man enough to admit that. I apologize to the Fertittas, Lorenzo and Dana White (UFC owners). I respect MMA fighters and what they do in the UFC. I have no plans of fighting in mixed martial arts.”
Hopefully now, this little tiff can be put to rest — though some told-time boxing analysts will never let it go.
Case in point: Jim Lampley of HBO Boxing.
From USA Today:
With mixed martial arts cutting into boxing’s appeal, HBO is negotiating to air some of that sport’s action. But after Floyd Mayweather Jr. beat Oscar De La Hoya in Saturday’s much-hyped HBO pay-per-view fight, HBO’s Jim Lampley suggested mixed martial arts fighters “are light years away from the skill level we saw in the ring tonight.” HBO will show the fight replay Saturday.
It’s no wonder the UFC has stated that Lampley (and cohort Larry Merchant) will, in no way, be associated with the UFC’s events on HBO.
In any manner, the sooner we can get past the idea of “MMA vs. boxing,” the better off we’ll be. It’s not an either-or proposition; people can like both. And besides, there’s no reason for the UFC and other MMA organizations to even care what the boxing world thinks. MMA long ago surpassed boxing as the combat sport of tomorrow.
NOTE: What I mean by this is... is Pretty Boy Floyd referred to as Floyd Mayweather OR Floyd Mayweather Jr.? As in... his official name... you know!
