One Sweet Fight, One Sour

There are sweet words and there is the sweet science. But they don’t always mesh.

For Floyd Mayweather Jr., life outside the ring has been bitter, angry, unfulfilling. Once he steps between the ropes, however, life can be a breeze, all sweetness and satisfaction as it was on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

For Wladimir Klitschko, life outside the ring has been a publicist’s dream, a journey that has taken him from the bleakness of the Ukraine to the bright lights of a world stage where he has become a powerful spokesman for needy children around the globe. Inside the ropes, however, the promise remains unfulfilled, a work in progress that still needs lots of work, as was demonstrated even in victory Saturday.

Mayweather, who spent the days leading up to the fight feuding with everyone from his promoter to television officials, put on a masterful performance in front of a crowd of 6,580, defending the World Boxing Council lightweight title he won last spring from Jose Luis Castillo with an impressive performance that earned him a unanimous decision in Saturday night’s rematch.

Klitschko defended his World Boxing Organization heavyweight title by stopping Jameel McCline on a 10th-round TKO in a dull, unimpressive performance that elicited boos from the crowd.

In improving to 29-0 with 20 knockouts, Mayweather was smoother and more effective than in his first meeting with Castillo (46-6-1, 42), running circles around his slower, more methodical opponent.

The judges didn’t seem impressed, scoring it as a close fight. Daniel Van De Weile and Ken Morita both scored it 115-113, while fellow judge Larry O’Connell had it 116-113.

The Times scored it 117-111 for Mayweather.

As the fight wore on, Castillo, his nose bloodied from the fourth round on, labored to merely lay a glove on Mayweather. A punch seemed out of the question -- though he did hold his opponent repeatedly, even after referee Joe Cortez warned him.

“I told you it would be easier this time,” Mayweather said.

“I never figured him out,” conceded Castillo. “I couldn’t find him enough.”

Afterward, Mayweather brushed off his problems.

“I’m happy with life, man,” he said. “I don’t have any problems.”

Before Saturday, Klitschko and McCline were being sold as the future of the heavyweight division. What they showed, however, was that they are not even as good as past-their-prime fighters such as Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.

Klitschko (40-1, 37) lacked movement, aggressiveness and any concept of defense. McCline (28-3-3, 16) blew his 15 minutes of fame by coming out tight and looking intimidated throughout the bout.

“He was tough, but simple,” Klitschko said, diplomatically.

Finally, at the end of the 10th round, Klitschko put together a flurry of five punches that knocked McCline down in his own corner. McCline struggled to his feet just before the bell rung to end the round.

Before the 11th round could start, McCline’s trainer, Jimmy Glenn, told referee Jay Nady, “He’s taken enough.... It’s over.”

Afterward, Klitschko conceded, “Maybe it was a little bit boring.”

More than a little.