The Roberto Flack Chronicles

Besides the big story (which I’ll get to in a minute), there was actually some boxing this weekend.

The Showtime card began with the rematch between Carlos Quintana and Paul Williams. Well, this fight lasted about as long as it takes to go to the fridge to get a drink and sit back down. Paully TKO’d Quintana in the very 1st round to recapture the WBO Welterweight title. Paully immediately called for a match against either Cotto or De La Hoya (as if he’s ready for that). Chances are he’ll face the winner of Joshua Clottey vs Zab Judah which takes place in August.

The HBO card featured Reigning Middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik against UK journeyman Gary Lockett. This was as one sided as it gets. Pavlik’s constant pressure and vicious right hands were just too much for Lockett (who was being trained by Light Heavyweight/Super Middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe‘s father Enzo Calzaghe). Pavlik also hinted at a future showdown with Calzaghe asking the crowd if that’s the fight they wanna see (count me in too).

Also, be on the look out for Juan Manuel Lopez. He was on the undercard of the Pavlik fight going against Golden Boy’s Ponce De Leon winning a 1st rd TKO which rose Lopez’s stock to be considered for a future fight with either Israel Vasquez or Rafael Marquez (which will be insane).

But of course, the big story over the weekend was the retirement of the “#1 P4P Fighter in the World” Floyd Mayweather. With a rematch against Oscar De La Hoya in September on the horizon, Floyd decided to bow out and not take his $20 million. He (or his publicist) put out a press release stating he has found peace and doesn’t wish to fight anymore though he believes he still has the ability to.

So now the Welterweight division has opened up wide with guys like Cotto, Margarito, Mosley, Paul Williams, and up and comers Joshua Clottey and Andre Berto who are set to make a name for themselves this year. Now…anyone who thinks Floyd will stay retired is not looking at the big picture. We all know there’s only 1 guy Mayweather should fight and that’s Cotto.  With Floyd out of the way it opens up Cotto for a super fight against Oscar De La Hoya in December. If Cotto can get passed Oscar (which I believe he will) you cannot sit there and think Floyd won’t come out to take a fight with Cotto which would be literally the fight of the millenium.

But for now, I’m happy watching Cotto fight Margarito and Oscar in December. But you better believe Floyd is watching Cotto closely…