Froch Looking for U.S. Exposure, Weight Tripping Up Mayweather-Marquez

Boxing may be more popular in other countries than it is in the United States in 2009, but it still means something to foreign fighters to make names for themselves in America.

Case in point: WBC super middleweight champ Carl Froch, who recently told London's Daily Mirror that he was looking forward to showing American fans what he can do ("It will be spectacular...") when he takes on Jermain Taylor and could even see himself staying in the U.S. after he wins. Or rather, if he wins.

That article is also worth reading just to see Taylor, a guy not known for his trash talking, throw something that sounds a little bit like smack toward The Cobra. Of course he prefaces it with a respectful quote first. That's telling him Jermain!

It's interesting that even with boxing's low place on the totem pole of American sports, winning fights here is still key to establishing credibility. Boxers who stay close to home for the majority of their careers are looked upon with suspicion.

Examples are plentiful. Recent retiree Joe Calzaghe only received credit for being a top ten pound-for-pound talent once he came across the pond. IBF middleweight king Arthur Abraham still has trouble getting fans to take him seriously.

The biggest fight currently scheduled for this year, the May 2 clash between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, is taking place in the States even though it features no American fighters. The U.S. continues to be the center of the fight game despite the fact that many sports fans here couldn't care less.

It's a strange state of affairs, a bit like the proverbial tail wagging the dog.

Elsewhere, with Floyd Mayweather's return almost assured, and Juan Manuel Marquez looking more and more likely to face him in his return bout, it's almost refreshing to hear that it's not money but weight that might be the sticking point.

BoxingScene.com's Mark Vester says two measly pounds may be keeping the fight from becoming official. JMM tells the site that he can't go up to 147 pounds but could do 143, while Money's camp is apparently floating 145 as a catch-weight.

If more compromising needs to be done, my gut tells me we'll see JMM at 145. Floyd always likes to have things his way and isn't likely to back down.

And in this case, why should he? Mayweather is the draw in this match-up and is the most financially lucrative foe Marquez could ever hope to land... unless Pacquiao decides he wants to tangle with him a third time.

Posted by The Franchise