While no fighter has ever been able to step into a ring and defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr., let alone take a title from him, the WBC is more powerful than a single man with gloves on. The powerful sanctioning body has informed "Money" Mayweather that he must choose between the welterweight and junior middleweight divisions by December 15th, and he will lose his strap in whichever one he leaves.
Mayweather has the WBC belt in both divisions, and will likely choose to remain at 147 lbs. He is naturally smaller than the 154-lb. fighters, and although he's shown himself to be more than capable of dismantling larger and stronger opponents, it simply makes more sense to face men his own size.
Mayweather's nickname is "Money," though, and dollar signs could also dictate his choice. His skills allow him the luxury of eschewing common sense and letting the money do the talking. If he remains at 147 lbs., his options for future fights include Danny Garcia, Amir Khan, Timothy Bradley and Manny Pacquiao. Down the road, up-and-comers Kell Brook and Keith "One-Time" Thurman may become factors.
At 154 lbs., a rematch with Canelo Alvarez down the line could make some money. In addition to Alvarez, Austin Trout and Miguel Cotto loom as potential opponents.
Remaining at 154 lbs. opens up a third possibility, one that his camp has waved off in the past-a move to middleweight. Mayweather has cleaned out both the welterweight and junior middleweight classes, and might struggle to attract viewers anymore who are bored by his dominance.
At middleweight, exciting fighters like Gennady "GGG" Golovkin and Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin would likely jump at the opportunity for a Mayweather payday. Also, a dream fight pitting the world's pound-for-pound champion, Mayweather, against the consensus No. 2 Andre Ward would likely break the internet.
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