Boxing

Above the Fray

Even a brief midfight melee didn't upset a newly calm, genial Floyd Mayweather as he delivered a pounding to Zab Judah

Floyd Mayweather may have finally turned the corner, settling into adulthood just in time to enjoy his stardom. Though long regarded as boxing's best, pound for pound, he had not, until last Saturday night in Las Vegas, performed with the grace and maturity that bring as much affection as respect.

And it wasn't only in his easy win over Zab Judah, who stood in the way of a fourth title for the 29-year-old Mayweather. That title is dubious anyway, given that Judah, 28, had retained the IBF's welterweight crown on a technicality. (Formerly the undisputed champion, Judah saved this credential only because Carlos Baldomir, who beat him in January, failed to pay a sanctioning fee.) Mayweather's 12-round decision win at the Thomas & Mack Center was a near shutout and did little more than stamp him as a force in yet one more division.

But Mayweather (36-0, 24 KOs) did use the bout as a platform to declare a certain kind of citizenship, which had been lacking in almost all his civic and personal relationships, and which had seemingly doomed him to a career of grudging popularity. Even before the fight he had shown the manners of an Eton schoolboy, his familiar churlishness replaced with a graciousness that was almost as astonishing as his hand speed had always been. Then, late in the 10th round, when all about him lost their heads, Mayweather, of all people, kept his.

It was then that Judah (34-4), suffering a beatdown, belted Mayweather way below the belt and followed that with a rabbit punch. Mayweather had been warned by his corner to watch for just such a ploy. But before Mayweather could even get to a neutral corner for some recovery time, his uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, stormed into the ring. During the mini-melee that ensued, Judah sneakily circled behind Roger and landed a few more extracurricular shots.

Had referee Richard Steele disqualified Mayweather for his uncle's trespass--as was his right but not, according to rules, his obligation--a mega-melee certainly would have ensued. And tossing Judah might have escalated matters as well. So Steele ruled wisely to continue the fight, and Mayweather sustained his dominance to the final bell. What was so remarkable was Mayweather's composure throughout and his total lack of spite after. "Things happen," he said, adding that he and Judah had always been nothing but friends and, moreover, it was only a business, not something to get all that excited about.

If this former poster boy for surliness can be that genial in a postfight interview, then maybe he really is on his way. Ever since he started winning titles at 130 pounds (then 135, 140 and now 147), Mayweather has been projected as the kind of skilled, good-looking star who could save boxing. But he undercut all efforts to promote him, getting into scrapes with the law, lashing out at his promoter and his father, Floyd Sr., and dissing his network, HBO. As a result, Mayweather remained box-office poison.

Lately, though, he has shed the chip on his shoulder, embracing the media and anybody else within reach. His cool reaction to the thuggery that surrounded him in the ring last Saturday night is particularly encouraging. Perhaps Mayweather could yet be as loved as he's always been admired, and if he doesn't save boxing, he at least won't willingly preside over its demise as he once seemed to promise.

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