With reports that both fighters will make $60M, it’s hard to imagine why Floyd Mayweather allowed a deadline to pass to make a fight with Manny Pacquiao. From what I’ve read, Pacman has agreed to be urine tested, blood tested and examined extensively; so why won’t the Pretty Boy sign on the dotted line?….
It can’t be money, because a $60M payday would brek all boxing records. It doesn’t seem to be the drug testing issue, unless Floyd demands around the clock, 24/7 testing all the way up to fight time….
Could it be that Mayweather is so determined to be his own man and call the shots that he will not agree to any deadlines or demands? Or does he simply not want the fight?….
He knows this fight is what boxing needs and evidently is gambling he can stretch this thing all the way to 2011. The problem is neither one of these guys is getting any younger and Mayweather is playing a very dangerous game….
What if Manny loses to either Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto, who are rumored to be in line to replace Floyd? Both are dangerous and it will also be Pacman’s first fight at 154 lbs. A loss and Mayweather can kiss that $60M goodbye….
It’s funny how time changes things, because a year or two ago a Pacquiao-Margarito fight seemed inconceivable. The Tijuana Tornado had just knocked out Cotto and seemed like the strongest man on earth….
When I asked Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach if he’d allow Manny to fight Margarito, he replied “I’m brave, but not that brave.”….
Almost everyone in boxing believed Margarito would crush Pacman and the fight would never happen….
But after Antonio was caught cheating and then knocked out by Shane Mosley, everything changed dramatically. Margarito received a one year suspension for illegally placing plaster in his wraps and fell off the boxing map….
Now, then less than two years later, Pacquiao will be a heavy favorite if they fight….
This should be a lesson and Floyd to sign a contract, collect his $60M and make history. In my opinion, it will be an easy night for Mayweather and he’ll knock out Pacquiao in the late rounds….
The Pretty Boy is too quick, too slick and has too much boxing skill for Manny….
True, Pacquiao is a great fighter, but a look at his record shows no wins against world class, black American fighters. Almost everyone he fights (Barrera, Morales, Cotto, Clottey, etc) come forward and are easy to hit. He’s never seen the side-to-side movement, defense and hand speed Mayweather will display….
Hell, Juan Manuel Marquez gave Pacman two boxing lessons in their disputed fights and both Cotto and Clottey busted up his face….
Memo to Floyd Mayweather:
What if you’re correct about Pacquiao’s steroid use and the truth is revealed after the Cotto or Margarito fight? What if either you or Pacman suffers a career-threatening injury? What if Team Mayweather is on one of their notorious strip club adventures and some Pacman Jones trouble breaks out? What if Manny loses his next fight? What if the economy continues to tank and a year from now people simply cannot afford to buy Pacquiao-Mayweather? What if boxing fans simply lose patience with your stalling, the fight loses steam and interest wanes?
If any of this happens, your chance-of-a-lifetime payday is gone and you’ll be reduced to fighting second-rate fighters for chump change.
Remember the highly anticipated Lennox Lewis-Riddick Bowe heavyweight championship fight, which was supposed to happen around 15 years ago? After endless negotiating and posturing, Bowe called a press conference and threw his WBC Championship belt in a trash can. Both guys would have made $30M, but they threatened, stalled, delayed, fought over money and the fight never happened….
Bowe then slipped into oblivion after his two foul-plagued fights with Andrew Golota, battles with weight and family issues….
Lewis, on the other hand, became the gretaest heavyweight of his era and went on to fame and fortune. But looking back, I’m sure he wishes the Bowe fight happened; because would have won and earned the biggest payday of his career….
All of this should be a lesson to Floyd and his team. Sign the contract, do the fight and make your $60M. Things can change quickly and all this posturing could blow up in your face….
If just one thing goes wrong, your career could disintegrate overnight….
Tremendous win at the British Open for Louis Oosthuizen, as the young South African blitzed the field, finished at -16 and won by seven strokes….
But nobody should finish a major at -16, especially at legendary St. Andrews. This is not the Greater Greensboro or Palm Desert, it’s supposed to be one of the toughest courses in the world with the worst conditions….
Evidently, modern equipment and more athletic players have brought the course to its knees and it’s time for organizers to make some changes. Too many players were posting good scores and -16 is completely unacceptable. And 43 players finishing under par is also troubling….
Majors are supposed to be about the most challenging courses imagineable and par should be an excellent round. Instead, St. Andrews played more like your local public course….
Time to grow the grass, narrow the fairways, lengthen the holes and add more pot bunkers….
I watch majors to see the greatest players in the world struggling to make par, not play pitch-and-putt….
