The Neutral Corner

BY MARCUS HENRY

If we've learned anything about boxing, it's that boxers rarely leave the sport on top or on their own terms. (Apologies to Rocky Marciano and Lennox Lewis). If Floyd Mayweather is indeed done with the sport, I'm not mad at him. He's made enough money for his grandkids to live on. And let's face it, too many boxers leave the sport broke and in poor health. If he isn't finished and makes a comeback within the next 10 to 12 months, I wouldn't be surprised either, because money talks. If Top Rank or Golden Boy Promotions comes forth with a $30-plus million offer for Mayweather to return to the ring, could he say no to that? Few of us, if any, could turn down that kind of money.

Assuming Mayweather is really retired it will open the door for top spot in the sport. WBC and WBO middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik, who had no problems taking down Gary Lockett last Saturday, is primed for a big-ticket event in the near future. Joe Calzaghe (a bout which could be announced in the coming weeks, if not days), Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins (yeah, I know, wishful thinking) are the likely candidates for Pavlik. No, Jermain Taylor fans, the boxing world doesn't want to see Pavlik-Taylor part III. I know I don't.

A Pavlik-Calzaghe fight would draw big viewership and big money. A Pavli-Jones or Pavlik-Hopkins fight could, too, but to a lesser extent. A Pavlik-Calzaghe matchup would bring in the big European audience and big European dollars that Jones and Hopkins couldn't. To be honest, Calzaghe, fresh off his defeat of Hopkins, is the hottest fighter of the three.

Miguel Cotto is also on the short list of fighters who could emerge as the next big name in the sport. If he can get by Antonio Margarito, Cotto will have his choice of who to take on next. Oscar De La Hoya is probably on the top of his wish list. Top Rank hasn't made any official announcements regarding Cotto's future since Mayweather's announcement, but any reasonable boxing fan can assume that Bob Arum and his crew will work hard behind the scenes to set up a Cotto-De La Hoya thriller. While I wouldn't necessarily call that fight the passing of the torch in terms of popularity (Cotto doesn't have the charisma, charm or crossover appeal De La Hoya has), it would cement Cotto as one of the top two fighters in the world.

The winner of that fight could lure Mayweather out of his so-called retirement. Stay tuned.