Skip Bayless got it right, Floyd Mayweather was shamed into a fight he is deathly afraid of. In the six-year buildup fans have been feted with every imaginable excuse why Little Floyd could not and would not make the fight.
While many blame Pacquiao for sabotaging the original negotiations it is important to remind fans that the blood tests first requested by Team Mayweather were so demanded and made non-negotiable in response to their understanding that it could prove a deal breaker. At that time Manny Pacquiao himself was concerned with what he felt would be the debilitating effects of a blood draw so close to a fight. Mayweather knew this going in and played on Pac’s concerns.
As Pacman became more educated on the matter he made concessions in this regard and as future negotiations commenced the issue went away. Curiously however, or better put, conveniently, Money May then came up with a range and litany of various and sundry demands that no reasonable fighter would concede to ranging from dropping his current promoter and signing with Mayweather Promotions to dumping HBO for Showtime, et cetera, et cetera, ad-nauseum. What became clear to the objective observer was that Mayweather did not want the fight and would find any excuse not to make the fight happen.
In an unusual moment of candor Floyd Sr. and Jr. both admitted that they were afraid for little Floyd’s health and as such a fight with Pacquiao would prove too dangerous. Despite Money May’s attempts to walk this admission back the public relations damage was done. As late as this past December the self-styled best ever admitted that the term chicken might apply to his fight-seeking strategy and that he was happy being, what he referred to as, “a wealthy chicken.” According to Oscar De la Hoya, echoing Skip Bayless’ view that Mayweather felt shamed into a fight he is clearly, and as evidence suggests, deathly afraid of, he was clearly pressured into the fight.
Apparently the pressure to make this fight was so intense that Mayweather felt cornered and despite, as many boxing outlets have chronicled, his attempts to escape the fight, Floyd realized that in not making the fight his reputation would be soiled forever putting his best-ever moniker at risk. Top brass at CBS/Showtime and specifically Les Moonves were not prepared to take no for an answer and despite their recent testimony to the effect that Mayweather had been pushing for this fight from the moment he signed with Showtime it is clear, from Mayweather’s own mouth, that he was not only trying to avoid the fight but was actively sabotaging it by incessantly accusing Pacquiao of using Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) as well as demeaning Pacman’s fitness and worthiness to share the ring with him. If this represents Floyd Jr’s desire to make the fight then perhaps, CBS/Showtime brass notwithstanding, observers might want to rethink his business acumen. Behavior like that kills a fight, it does not make them.
At the end of the day, despite the chorus of would-be experts on why Mayweather is the odds-on favorite to beat Pac, the details that actually matter are being ignored or misrepresented. While it is true, as Roach has indicated, Mayweather’s skill-set presents his charge with significant challenges, the passage of time has actually been kinder to Pac than to Money May. Make no mistake, as Roach suggested to Bayless of ESPN, Pacquiao not only wants this fight more than Mayweather but he is experiencing a level and quality of motivation unprecedented even by his high standards. Pacquiao has stated that this is for him, the biggest fight of his career. Mayweather on the other hand is saying it is just another day at the gym, code for, I am still afraid but do not want others to see the fear.
What will be on full display come May 2 is Mayweather’s formidable skill-set, a bit diminished by time, being offset by a quality of will, determination and heart that will, together with Pac’s unique and world-class skill-set, overwhelm Mayweather. Those that have followed Pac’s career realize that he not only matches up unusually well with Mayweather but that his heart is like that of a lion and with regard to this particular fight nothing on heaven or earth will upend him. This will be a fight of contesting wills and, as Mayweather has clearly demonstrated, his heart is simply not in a fight he had to be shamed into taking and is deathly afraid of. Muhammad Ali said it best: “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them-a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” Pacquiao by will-imposed, trench-warfare induced decision.
Commentary By: Matthew R. Fellows
ESPN
Photo By: Sunriserjay – License
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25 Responses
MAYWEATHERS PvP numbers are only high because of the Latino fighters he fights not because of MAYWEATHER because if u look it up paquiao numbers are down but he fought a black guy and a white guy but if u look at paquiaos numbers when there up he’s fighting a Mexican fighter so it has nothing to do with paquiao slipping why doesn’t MAYWEATHER fight a black guy like keith Thurman because he knows if there not Latin it wont sale and he does t want to look bad if you look at who’s going to win look at there last two fights MAYWEATHER fought maidana who is a one demecianal fighter who only comes forward and he had trouble and the second fight he held the whole time now paquiao fought a young tough boxer in Bradley and dominated him then in the second fight he fought a six foot long reach young boxer again that he knocked down six times all MAYWEATHER fans are stuck in the past and yeah paquiao got knocked out against a fighter he fought four times but let MAYWEATHER fight someone that many time which he wont and the same will happen.the ONLY time MAYWEATHER has connected on a good shot is when its a woman
again this moron show his ignorance…to whom oppenent mayweather the cheater get the bulk guarranted fight price of 120k dollars except pacquiao…make sense dude
I have to ask this.Floyd calls Pacquiao,’Pochiao’,sushi maker,or other names.
But i wonder why he does not have the nerve to call Pacquiao—– “Coward”!! Just wondering.Even Dad and Uncle could not call Pacquiao ‘coward”.But they can call the Filipino other labels.
Is Floyd cautious to make Pacquiao mad? Is Floyd afraid of Pacquiao?
A lot of bloggers,posters call Floyd “coward’.Hmmmmm…..
Now that the contract has been signed, the time for name calling is over. We will all know soon enough come May 2nd.
Silly, biased article. Because of Mayweather, we now have the biggest fight of all time and Pacquiao finally gets a paycheck commensurate to his efforts. To that end, Pacquiao (and his fans) need to be thanking Mayweather unless satisfied with 300K PPV victories against the likes of “Bam Bam” Rios and Algieri in Macau, China. But, oh, I forgot, hating is more fun. Smh!
Go kiss his butt then, for us.
and suck his oten dude!!!!
Best commentary online about this. Floyd has been avoiding the perfect antidote for his defensive shell: the southpaw power-puncher with better footwork and a higher work-rate. And worse for him, Manny will be so motivated for this fight that it may be scary to behold.
I already place a $2000 bet online! Floyd you accused Manny of steroids, you called him a dog, bankrupt and desperate no skills easy work go make me sushi little Pilipino. Guess what Floyd.. Manny will give you the worst beating in your life comes Cinco de mayo!
Hell yeah a grade A beating is coming to Floyd!
Floyd got no shame in him… Cause if he does, fight had happened long time ago.
Just like hitting the right chords.
watch out for the terrible punishment, a horrible beating with vengeance for all the insults you did mr. racist….
mayweather fans would still defend their idol because of their blind love of the rich coward..mayweather should conquer his fear of manny pacquiao before the fight or he would lose big time..
So it is safe to say “Will pays the bill better than Skill”.
even Stevie Wonder sees Floyd as afraid of pacquiao, only Floyd fans fool themselves that Floyd ain’t afraid.
they are shouting to the world the floyd is not afraid of pacman but deep inside their hearts they are all trembling with fear.
VEry well said.. I admire the ideas of this author..
MAYWEATHER The Boring Ever (TBE)….
LADIESSSSS AND GENTLEMENNNNNNN, THE WINNERRRRR BY KO, STILLLLLLL THE 8th WONDERRRRRR OF THE WORLDDDDDDD, MANNYYYYYY PACMANNNNN PACQUIAOOOOOOOOO!!!! floydddd, floyddddddd, wake upppppppppp!!!!!!!!
When Pac was KO by Marquez in just 1 sec. left in the 6th rd. when Manny got hit by Lucky Punch because of his carelessness, when Manny hastily attacked Marquez for a kill but, it turned other way around. Thus, Manny must be very careful this time, in his coming fight vs Floyd in May 2 that, Floyd May employ a Victor Punch vs Manny.
There is no turning back Floyd, you have a deal. Just show your worth, and if it is not, its time to give up as you cannot always find yourself on top.. SAme is true with Pacquiao.if he topples Mayweather, pretty soon he cannot hang on to it as someone a good one must takeover.
for your info Floyd.. this Triple A-side meath is like a bullet vest..only given to chosen few by a hermit..this will make pacman like superman on May 2..the only antidote of this is to fight pacman toe to toe..
Floyd be careful..according to my reliable source pacman will be utilizing the triple A-side meath plus voodoo of Dionisia Pacquiao on May 2..
Totally Agree. Time to fry this chicken.