Dave Smith

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….

Going in to Saturday night’s Floyd Mayweather-Shane Mosley fight, I thought the Pretty Boy was just a little bit better in every department and would win a unanimous decision. But Floyd’s complete dominance of Shane strengthened my belief that he is going to destroy Manny Pacquiao if and when they meet….

I had Mayweather winning all but one round and scored it 119-109….

In the second round, there was a scary moment for Floyd as Mosley landed a hard right cross that stunned Mayweather. Moments later, Shane landed another cross, this time on the temple, that rocked the Pretty Boy and nearly sent him to the canvas….

I’d never seen Floyd hurt before, so it would be fascinating to see how he responded….

From that point on, Mayweather proceeded to deliver a 10 round beatdown which answered a lot of questions about his chin and heart….

Round after round was a replay, as Floyd’s superior handspeed, reflexes and boxing skill dominated the fight….

Shane hits hard and has fast hands, but doesn’t possess Mayweather’s skill and was taught a boxing lesson….

So here we are again, waiting for Team Mayweather and Team Pacquiao to come to an agreement about drug testing and give boxing fans all over the world the fight they’ve been waiting for….

We almost had a fight in April, but Mayweather insisted on Olympic-style drug testing; which means 24/7, unannounced, around the clock blood and urine testing….

Team Mayweather claims they suspect Manny of being a steroid user, but I believe it’s Floyd playing mind games and trying to give himself an advantage….

Even though the Nevade State Athletic Commission doesn’t require blood testing, Pacquiao agreed to three tests; one 30 days out, one 10 days out and one immediately after the fight. This should have been enough to satisfy Mayweather’s ridiculous demands, but Team Mayweather insisted on Olympic testing and cancelled the fight….

I thought he was crazy to walk away from more than $20M, given his recent tax problems, but it turns out Floyd might have been crazy like a fox….

Now that the Pacman dominated Joshua Clottey and Floyd has dismantled Mosley, the fight is bigger than ever and both fighters could make more than $30M. Hell, they could make a lot more than that if the Pay-Per-View goes as expected….

And since I’m expecting this fight to shatter the PPV record, the sky is the limit for both of them….

I can’t imagine Mayweather walking away again, even if Pacquiao does not give in to Floyd’s demands….

In reality, Team Mayweather is playing on Pacman’s well know fear of needles and old school belief that withdrawing blood weakend a fighter. They feel any doubt they put into Manny’s mind will work to their advantage and increase their chances of winning….

Prediction: There is too much money at stake and the sides will come to some kind of compromise. It would be a shame if this didn’t happen and both fighter’s careers would be incomplete. And in my opinion, Mayweather would be thought of as a coward….

Prediction #2: If the fight does happen, Floyd would take Manny apart and knock him out in the middle rounds. Yes, Pacman is an amazing fighter with incredibly fast hands and always entetaining; but he’s never fought an elite, black American fighter and will get schooled. Pacquiao’s face was busted up after both the Miguel Cotto and Clottey fights, neither of whom possess the skill of Mayweather. I see Manny coming out fast, throwing bombs and maybe winning an early round or two; but after that Mayweather will counter the defensively-challenged Pacman and deliver a beatdown.

Best quote I’ve read about the blood testing controversy came form Sugar Ray Leonard, who was aksed by Maxboxing.com’s Steve Kim if he would leave $40 million on the table over steroid testing….

“No, no; in fact, I would’ve gave him the enhancing drugs,” said Leonard with a laugh….

When Floyd Mayweather first signed a contract to face Juan Manuel Marquez, I wrote that it was a stroke of genius by the Pretty Boy, because he needed a stiff test before taking on the challenge of Manny Pacquiao….

While Marquez is a tremendous talent and one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, he’s too small and too slow to handle Mayweather….

It would be a tough test for Floyd, but he figured to dance around Marquez and win easily….

This is why Marquez was a great choice for Mayweather; JMM is universally recognized as one of the world’s best fighters and an impressive qin for Floyd would accomplish two things: 1) Give Mayweather a good win and some quality rounds against a world class opponent 2) Set up a huge pay-per-view buy for the Pacman fight….

As expected, Mayweather won easily; outboxing the game but small Marquez over 12 easy rounds. To JMM’s credit, he fought hard, survived a knockdown and was still coming forward in the the 12th round. But coming up two weight classes was too much and he had no chance last Saturday night….

So now the question is this: Just gow good is Mayweather and how does he stack up against the all-time greats?….

There’s no doubt he has tremendous skill, hand speed and reflexes. He also trains hard takes his business seriously. Obviously, his talent is unquestioned….

But there’s an adage in boxing which holds true: To be great, you have to beat great opponents. And that’s where the Pretty Boy falls short….

His recent conquests have a familiar ring: outsized or washed up opponents who come forward and take a beating….

Let’s look at his last four wins:

Movember 4, 2006: An easy win over a club fighter from Argentina named Carlos Baldomir. Yes, Baldomir is a tough guy, but had no chance against Floyd. He is slow, plodding, comes straight forward and it was target practice for the Pretty Boy.

May 5, 2007: A split decision win over an over-the-hill Oscar De La Hoya. Floyd shoud have taken Oscar apart, but instead chose to lay on the ropes, fight defensively and bore everyone to death.

December 8, 2007: A 10th round knockout over Ricky Hatton, who moved up a weight class for the fight and was severely outgunned. Hatton also has a weak chin, which was exposed in round 10. Another small, come-straight-forward opponent.

And last Saturday it was Marquez, another little guy without the firepower to challenge Mayweather…..

And Floyd’s previous three fights? Wins over washed up Sharmba Mitchell, over-the-hill Zab Judah and a shot Arturo Gatti….

Not exactly Tommy Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler….

So what’s my prediction for Mayweather-Pacquiao, assuming the Pacman gets past Miguel Cotto on November 14?….

I know Manny has looked awesome lately and has beaten down De La Hoya and Hatton in his last two fights, but he’s not a true welterweight and Floyd will outbox him over 12 exciting rounds….

Pacquiao has had a steady diet of Marquez, De La Hoya, Hatton, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and defeated them all; with the exception being a loss to Morales in their first fight….

But Manny is not a true Weterweight and will get outboxed by Mayweather….

Question: How many in-their-prime, world champion black fighters has Manny beaten?….

Okay, I’ll wait while you think about it….

Give up? Okay, I’ll you the answer….

None….

It’s one thing to take apart tough guys who come straight at you, quite another to beat a great athlete who is going to move, dance and throw lightning-fast combinations….

I know it’s not politically correct, but great black fighters present a whole different challenge; especially when you’ve never faced one….

In my opinion, Mayweather gives the smaller Pacman a boxing lesson over 12 rounds….

So does that make Mayweather an all-time great? Not yet….

On my opinion, here’s what he needs to do:

1) Accept Shane Mosley’s challenge and fight him before the Pacquiao match. For once, Floyd will be in there with someone bigger and stronger than him and nearly his equal in hand speed. Sure, Shane isn’t as young as he used to be, but the way he destroyed Antonio Margarito showed he’s still a great fighter and ready for Mayweather. Sugar Shane also has a great chin, a big heart and knockout power. A win for the Pretty Boy over Shane would be impressive and prove he can defeat someone his own size who poses a real threat.

2) Assuming he wins against Pacman and Mosley, he should seek out Paul “The Punisher” Williams, who throws over 100 punches a round and is a Hearns clone. A win over a 6’2″ southpaw who can fight like hell would propel Floyd into all-rime great status.

Just my opinion….