Pretty risky for Floyd

Nov 4 2006 By The Journal

Floyd Mayweather is intent on taking the hard route to boxing greatness as he prepares to challenge Carlos Baldomir for the WBC welterweight title tonight.

Not content with cleaning up at a lower weight, the outstanding and unbeaten `Pretty Boy' will take a calculated risk against the much heavier Argentinian champion.

And he will do so without the help of his uncle Roger, who had been suspended for his part in a ring brawl during Floyd's fight against Zab Judah in April, and is now in prison on an unrelated matter. Mayweather said: "I don't take any fighter lightly and I know he is going to be strong. It is a fight that the fans want to see and I am going to give him blood, sweat and tears."

Mayweather is right not to underestimate Baldomir, who emerged from relative obscurity with excellent victories over Judah and Arturo Gatti earlier this year.

What he lacks in natural star quality he makes up for in sheer solidity, while he could enter the ring up to 20lbs heavier than Mayweather.