Floyd Mayweather, considered one of the best boxers in the world, had his supposed final career fight against Andre Berto on Sept. 12, solidifying a 49-win streak.
However, opinions are up in the air about whether or not this truly was Mayweather’s last fight. Many agree that he will actually retire. One of those is Derek Frazier, who is the son of the famous boxer “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier.
Some suggest that he will indeed return to the ring.
Frazier, a senior com- munications major that has personally met May- weather said, “I think that he’s going to stay retired but I think he was kind of foolish to retire at 49 wins instead of retiring at 50. He should have gotten his 50th win and then retired.”
“I think it’ll be tough to stay retired because he’s one fight away from having the longest undefeated streak, and as an athlete that’s a tough thing because he’s so close to being the best,”Megan Kelly, a sophomore exercise science major who competitively boxes and teaches lessons on Tuesdays at Cabrini, said. “I think he should stay retired and his managers will probably want him to because he’s not really going out on a great note so he shouldn’t draw more attention.”
Reportedly, 38-year-old Floyd Mayweather referred to boxing as a “young man’s sport,” supporting his decision to retire by saying that he is growing older and needs to be more at- tentive to his health.
In reference to health his health, Frazier said, “I don’t know if it’s his health, it could be, because he does these fights. My father said that he’s never met a fighter that could party and do all that stuff and then fight. My father said when you become a fighter, you cut everything out. So for somebody like him, I feel like he jumps back and forth. Maybe that’s what he can do and he’s the type of athlete that can party, and then when its time for a fight to come up, start training and be ready for it. But maybe it is his health, maybe it is his time. He should stop, raise his kids, be a father, do his thing, focus on his brain, his money, his marketing. He’s got clothing lines and commercials. He should focus on that. Just like Mike Tyson did, and the rest of them, do that.”
Ryan Taylor, sophomore English major, said, “I don’t expect Mayweather to stay retired. He is one of the most talked about box- ers on social media. I think he will be urged by social media to continue fighting and as a result of that he will come out of retirement. I think, however, that he should stay retired. If he stays retired he will be able to maintain his 49-win streak and retire undefeated. His retirement will bring winning opportunity to the new era of the boxing community and will produce a new champion. If Mayweather doesn’t stay retired he will jeopardize both his title and record, and the sport’s popularity.”
Only time will tell if Floyd Mayweather will return to the ring, but what is known for sure is that he has left behind a legacy that even late “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier’s son recognizes.
Frazier said, “Stay retired. Take your 49 wins, your belt, and go. That’s what I think is the best thing for him to do. He is a great fighter, I’ll give him that. He’s a humble type of guy. We gave him his credit, he’s one of the best fighters in the game, and he needs to take his credit and go.”
