All Roads Lead Where?

"In the sport of boxing, all roads lead to Floyd Mayweather."

"I don't care what fighter your going to name, I'm the best. Throw a name at me and I'll break his stats down. Whatever they've done I've done it quicker and with no losses."



These two recent lines highlight the caricature which has replaced the reality of Floyd Mayweather.

The point at which Floyd Mayweather, boxer, transformed into an ill-conceived self-parody can be pinpointed to his decision to change his nickname from "Pretty Boy" Floyd to "Money"Mayweather.

He is ostentatious and difficult to like, yet one has to admire grudgingly his phenomenal athletic ability. But hand in hand with this go serious questions over Floyd's commitment to fighting the best.

I will address tomorrow's fight, Floyd's shortcomings and delusion and where he stands in the pantheon of boxing greats.

Ahead of his super-fight with Shane Mosley, most boxing scribes have arrived at the same conclusion: Floyd wins this fight every time.

Mayweather is coming off the back of an utterly dominant performance against Juan Manuel Marquez. At the time, the Mexican was in every pound for pound top five list and Floyd dissected his style and delivered a punch perfect display.

It is easy to forget that Marquez was a blown up lightweight that night and Mayweather took a $600,000 penalty in order to ignore the 144 pound limit.

So an impressive comeback, albeit, on his terms against a bloated lightweight champion.

Mayweather v Mosley is very different. Mosley destroyed the myth surrounding Antonio Margarito in beating him by a 9th round TKO.

"Sugar" Shane's performance dispelled the memories of two defeats to both Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright.

Mayweather has risen to the pinnacle of the sport through a combination of astonishing natural talent and dedication in the gym and careful matchmaking. "Money" has never fought a professional bout he didn't know he would win.

He has fought a succession of very good fighters who fell below genuine pound for pound status. Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah and Ricky Hatton all fall into this category.

Whilst accumulating his "perfect" record, Mayweather consistently dodged Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto. I have no problem with this; after all, this skillful matchmaking has made Floyd a very successful and rich man.

But, to call himself "The greatest boxer of all time" is delusional.

Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson are rightly revered for their sublime ability in the ring. However, it was their willingness to consistently fight the best boxers around which has guaranteed their place in boxing folklore.

Ali's legend was established by his bouts with Frazier, Liston and Foreman and Leonard's name is synonymous with his carousel of great opponents such as Benitez, Hearns, Hagler and Duran.

These men didn't just proclaim their greatness, they dared to prove it. And this is where "Money" falls short.

If all roads led to Floyd Mayweather then he would have fought a prime Oscar De La Hoya, would have challenged the Lightweight version of Shane Mosley and would not impose unreasonable drug testing demands in order to duck Manny Pacquiao.

But now fight fans can watch Floyd test himself against a live contender. Mosley is the naturally bigger man and carries notable power, speed and reflexes.

Has Floyd finally made a mistake? I think Mosley will adapt to Mayweather's elusive style and will outwork him over the course of the fight.

For all his mastery of defensive boxing, Mayweather has two weaknesses: his safety first approach can lead to him being outworked and he can be troubled by a solid jab.

Both De La Hoya and Zab Judah gave Mayweather problems for six rounds by using a stiff jab to nullify "The Pretty Boy's" usually unparallelled defence.

I believe that Mosley is both intelligent and athletic enough to beat Mayweather over 12 rounds. Mosley by decision is my prediction.

We mustn't forget that Mosley compiled a record of 38-0 with 35 knockouts. An undefeated record counts for little if that record does not include "live" opponents.

Most fans judge fighters past on their historic matchups and their ability to rouse themselves in the wake of defeats. Muhammad Ali did this, as did Sugar Ray Leonard. It remains to be seen whether Floyd Mayweather can do the same.

With the prospect of consecutive fights against Shane Mosley and a possible matchup with Manny Pacquiao, we may finally see how Mayweather responds to adversity.

Kessler v Froch

This looks set to be a typically absorbing Super Six bout. Carl Froch secured a questionable split decision over Andre Dirrell in his first fight, as Mikkel Kessler succumb to the astonishing speed and skill set of Olympic gold medallist Andre Ward.

I am a big fan of Froch due, in main, to his relentless pressure fighting and astonishing ability to absorb punches to the chin.

Froch's win over Dirrell followed up his stunning 12th round knock out of former undisputed Middleweight Champion Jermain Taylor.

However, Dirrell's subsequent impressive victory of Arthur Abraham renders Froch's performance slightly more impressive.

Kessler has the undoubted edge in skill and ability, relying as he does on a piston-like jab and good lateral movement to set his opponent up. However, Froch has built his recent career on overcoming superior opponents and unfavourable odds.

His unanimous decision over Jean Pascal was a fight of the year candidate and the knockout of Jermain Taylor was as impressive as it was timely.

The knockout of Taylor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYcGdQdoUbc

Let's not forget that Kessler was comprehensively beaten by Andre Ward (my pick for the tournament) last time out.

I'm backing him to walk Kessler down incessantly, whilst falling behind on the score cards. However, his willingness to walk through shots to land huge shots of his own will tell. We mustn't forget that his recuperative powers are second to none in the sport of boxing.

Just watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89TARUBb0XM&feature=related

So, behind on all three scorecards as the fight enters the later rounds, I expect "The Cobra" to seriously test Kessler's resolve. I'm backing the Nottingham man to stop Kessler in the 10th or 11th round.

A lot has been made of Kessler's undefeated record in Denmark (37 fights). However, such is Froch's mental fortitude, that I don't see this as a major factor. I wouldn't be surprised if Kessler wins a unanimous decision, but I think Froch's underrated ring smarts and aggression will prove decisive.

N.B. The failure of Sky to pick up the rights to the bout is as baffling as it is disappointing. Froch does not take a backward step and his first line of defence (literally) is his chin. He is deserving of a better platform than Primetime.

Top 10 Underrated Premiership Players

Here are my top 10 underrated players in the Premiership. Let me know what your list is.

10. Mikel Arteta - It is hardly a secret that the Spaniard is Everton's talisman. Sky Sports and Match of the Day regularly tell us how clever and subtle his play is. So why underrated? Because few people, besides Everton fans, realise quite how good he is. A metronomic passer of the ball with very quick feet, dangerous set pieces and an eye for goal. Man Utd and Liverpool are crying out for a midfielder of his quality. Next season he will probably continue to be the best midfielder outside the top four. Oh, and do you know how much he cost? £2 million.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zjC0raztco

9. Paul Scholes - A contentious inclusion this one. For 15 years he has been a regular for Man Utd and is rightly regarded as a fabulous midfielder. But, like Arteta, few regard him as highly as they should. Scholes is the most naturally gifted midfielder in Premiership history. Giggs may have the edge in trophies and longevity, but it is not for nothing that Zinedine Zidane, Brian Kidd, Xavi and Darren Fletcher say he is the most talented footballer they have seen. He has long since lost any semblance of pace which he might have had. But the result has been a deep lying playmaker whose range of passing and ability to retain possession can match that of Xavi and Pirlo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjnQad_ulgQ

8. Jamie O'Hara - With just four games to go, Spurs are in prime position to capture football's "holy grail" - fourth spot. If they hadn't loaned O'Hara to Portsmouth, perhaps they could be all but guaranteed Champions League football next season. Despite Portsmouth's dismal form and embarassing financial problems, O'Hara has been their best player by a wide margin. A combination of good vision and an underrated ability to support both defence and attack has caught the eye of Giovanni Trapattoni. The 23-year-old is torn between declaring for the Republic of Ireland and waiting for an England call up. There is one certainty, he will be putting serious pressure on Tom Huddlestone and Wilson Palacios for a starting spot next season.
Not strictly a video of his elegant passing, but: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyd1SV2fXFc

7. Scott Parker - It is very easy to overlook Scott Parker given West Ham's dismal season and his relative failure at Chelsea. But the former Charlton man has demonstrated over the past two years the qualities which led Claudio Ranieri to shell out £10 million for him. He is an excellent tackler (Martin Keown and Stan Collymore called him the best in the Premiership) and provides an excellent screen for his defence with his positional awareness and neat passing. It's a shame that the rest of Gianfranco Zola's side don't perform with the same quiet efficiency.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1NIbVYVzMohttp:// and Parker demonstrating his tidy approach to winning the ball http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_tdBdoCA5s&feature=related

6. Kevin Doyle - So non-descript are Mick McCarthy's Wolves side, that I would forgive anyone for understimating them. However, this season Doyle has quietly and doggedly reminded the Premiership of his debut top flight season with Reading. The Irish striker has few notable weaknesses: he is fairly quick and strong and blends a decent ability in the air with a natural striker's instinct. His tally of seven goals this season is underwhelming, but he has selflessly lead the line and his performances have helped propel Wolves clear of relegation trouble.
Worth watching for a hilarious aside from the journalist about Liam Hunt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezIti82nLKA&feature=related

5. David Dunn- Does anybody remember how good David Dunn was supposed to be? Around 11 years ago he was touted as the future of England's midfield alongside the prodigiously talented Joe Cole. Of the two "New Gazza's", it is Cole who has since done most to deserve the moniker. Dunn has always been a decent midfielder but nothing more. This season though, Dunn's memorable goals and technical ability have been at the fore during Blackburn's impressive season. He might not be the answer to the Gerrard-Lampard "equation", but he is finally delivering on his rich promise.
Look how much he's improved http://www.blogger.com/www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4fsLeCjB4s&feature=fvsr

4. Aaron Ramsey - If you cast your mind back to the pre-season forecasts for the Premiershipseason, you will well remember the hype that surrounded Jack Wilshere - "The heir apparent to Paul Gascoigne", "the best English player since Rooney". Funny then that it is the Welsh teenager Ramsey who seems to be Arsenal's most promising youngster. In the injury-enforced absence of Cesc Fabregas, Ramsey seamlessly filled the midfield playmaker's position and turned in a string of eye-catching performances. No doubt Wilshere is a fantastic prospect, but Ramsey is better. When he returns from his broken leg he will surprise everybody all over again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuzbOpgiJ7c


3. Damien Duff - Surplus to requirements in his final year at Chelsea, part of Newcastle's "would have challenged for the title five years ago" side, Duff's star had fallen since his memorable time at Blackburn. However, the man who was arguably the best left-sided midfield player in the world in 2002 (Pires and Giggs may disagree) has been back to his best at Fulham. Injuries have sapped his once blinding pace and the plaudits don't come as often as they did during his 2002 World Cup campaign ( watch those Youtube videos). But nine goals this season and an innate ability to beat a full back mean the winger is once more a force to be reckoned with. N.B. Has anybody else noticed how Duff always looks so out of breath he could keel over at any moment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYogG8x_im0&feature=related

2. Lee Bowyer - While he was at West Ham, I had more than one conversation which started with "remember when Bowyer used to be good". At Leeds he was an angry, aggressive but deeply talented footballer. But he was so spectacularly rubbish at West Ham that he makes Kieron Dyer look like a decent signing. So imagine our surprise when he strolls back into the Premiership with Birmingham City. Surely they'd be going straight back down if they relied on duds like Bowyer. Wouldn't they? But, whisper it, he's actually good - really good in fact. Five goals, four assists and numerous "Leeds-like" performances.
What a nice guy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFLeTm46CqQ

1. Rory Delap - He is number one on the list due to his actual abilities as a footballer being completely ignored. Yes, we all know Rory Delap has a long throw in. It has regularly been compared to "a howitzer", "a missile" etc. So prodigious a skill is Delap's, that he could carry on until his mid-40s and still be a considerable weapon for Stoke. Did you know he has 20 assists from throw in's over his last two Premiership seasons. But the former Southampton man is actually a decent midfielder. He's no Lampard or Fabregas, but nor is he just a "throw-in merchant". 73 appearances in the last two years for a gradually improving Stoke side is testament to that.
Oh all right here's his monster throw in against Man City http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFGgeor351g

Let Me Bend Your Ear

Darren Bent's stock fell during his spell at Tottenham - there is no denying it. After shelling out £16.5 million, Spurs were hoping for a rather more sizeable return than 25 goals in two seasons across all competitions.

However, with 23 league goals this season, the former Ipswich and Charlton striker has firmly punctured any doubts about his ability. The front man's achievements are made all the more remarkable when set against Sunderland's determined mediocrity.

And yet, with more Premier League goals to his name than any English player, bar Wayne Rooney, the 26-year-old looks set to miss out on Fabio Capello's World Cup squad. With the alternatives out of form, lacking goals or losing early season momentum, why won't Mr Capello pick him.

Capello has always maintained that he will only pick players who are fully fit and playing regularly for their clubs. The appointment of an England manager who picks on form, and not reputation, was welcome relief to those sceptics of the boys club mentality of the England camp under both Sven Goran Eriksson and Steve McLaren.

However, he seems to have gradually diverged from this initial promise. The repeated selections of Theo Walcott, David Beckham, Emile Heskey and, more understandably, John Terry disproves the notion that form is the decisive factor behind selection.

Having watched Jermain Defoe's early season form stall and Carlton Cole pik up niggling injuries, Fabio Capello has some questions to answer before picking his squad.

And so to Bent. His £10 million (possibly rising to £16.5 million) move to Sunderland raised eyebrows at the time. Steve Bruce, it seemed, wished to continue the same lavish, scattergun approach to transfers as his predecessor.

But Bent has outshone Kenwyne Jones in a very average Sunderland side. Whilst his club have underachieved, he has consistently been Sunderland's best performer.

He blends genuine pace and a keen eye for goal with a willingness to harry defenders. Indeed, after Michael Owen and Jermain Defoe, Bent is probably the most natural English goalscorer around.

These qualities led The Daily Telegraph's Henry Winter to identify him as an England star of the future by naming him in his 2006 squad of the year.

It doesn't take a genius to identify his pedigree - 141 goals in 336 appearances highlights a striker who has scored regularly at every club he has played for. That ratio is second only to Defoe of the current Premiership strikers eligible for England (and that includes Rooney).

The central criticism is a straightforward one: In five international appearances he is yet to score. This cannot be ignored, but with only two starts amongst those caps it is hardly worrying form.

He is by no means an established international forward, but nor is he less experienced than Agbonlahor or Cole. Lest we forget, Jermain Defoe's England career was largely unremarkable until the past 12 months.

A football phone in show this week criticised Bent for failing to shine against the big teams. This, it was said, was why Capello has overlooked him.

But hang on! Let's examine that argument.

This season he has scored in a 2-2 away draw against Manchester United, the opener in a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in addition to winners against Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs. Any reputation he has earnt as a flat-track bully is at best undeserved and at worst woefully ignorant of the facts.

He does not offer defences the same physical challenges as Peter Crouch, Emile Heskey or Carlton Cole, but he is quicker and a more potent goalscorer than all three. Both Gabriel Agbonlahor and Theo Walcott have electrifying pace without the inherent footballing intelligence to go with it.

Whilst Bent does not offer the same obvious qualities as some of the other candidates, he represents a useful blend of all of them. Strikers with pace, strength, a natural eye for goal and a willingness to work for the team and bring others into play are all too rare. Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba are the high end examples.

I would have Bent in South Africa ahead of Heskey, Cole and Agbonlahor. Assuming Rooney and Defoe are certainties, I would bring Crouch and Bent as impact substitutes. This leaves a possible spot for a fifth striker. Perhaps Theo Walcott, as overrated as he is quick.

The case for Bent's inclusion is a strong one:

1. Second highest English Premiership goalscorerthis season.
2. An impressive mixture of pace, strength, work ethic and goals.
3. Has sustained a high level of performance for the last eight years.

So surely a coach who picks on form and not reputation would take him. Wouldn't he?

On Saturday I will be compiling my World Cup 23 and my predictions for Capello's 23.