By Dennis "dSource" Guillermo - Believe it or not, once upon a time, Floyd Mayweather Jr. spoke highly of Manny Pacquiao. That time of course was when Pacquiao was destroying legends in the lower weight classes but wasn't really considered as a logical threat to Mayweather's throne.
In an interview with FightFan.com a couple of years ago, Floyd hardly flinched when saying Pacquiao was the best pound for pound fighter in the business next to him.
In a footage below of Pacquiao's second match with Erik Morales, Mayweather is seen on camera next to his adviser Leonard Ellerbe get up from his seat, pumping his fists and even acknowledging Pacquiao fans as the Pac Man finally slew the dragon that was Erik Morales.
My, my how things can change. Of course nowadays, Mayweather is singing a different tune. A few years later and a couple of dominating performances against two of his former opponents, somehow Mayweather has turned from a Pacquiao fan to a critic. I wonder what made him switch. Before he fought Juan Manuel Marquez in September, Mayweather even hinted that Maquez was better than Pacquiao. Of course we all know that it's Floyd's ego talking, but it's just funny what insecurity does to some people.
On the other hand, Pacquiao never really dissed nor trash talked anybody on his way to the top. Even after several tirades against him by Mayweather and his father, Pacquaio kept silent and simply looked forward to their meeting in the ring. In his last statement against Mayweather however, Pacquiao finally took the gloves off and challenged Mayweather to stop yapping and do his talking in the boxing ring where Pacquiao can hit him back with his fists.
Will Mayweather give Pacquiao that opportunity? Or is this mega-fight truly going to go down the drain because of baseless steroids claims? If you have followed my column, you probably know what my take is on all this. I never was convinced Floyd truly intended to fight Pacquiao in March. I still believe though that this fight will happen later on this year.
Check out the video below showing better times between Pacquiao and Mayweather.
With time running out to save a potential March 13 megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., the camps are heading to mediation on Tuesday in an effort to work out their differences.
Mediator Daniel Weinstein will preside over the meeting in Santa Monica, Calif. Weinstein, a retired federal judge, also mediated the acrimonious dispute that kept Top Rank, Pacquiao's promoter, and Golden Boy, which represents Mayweather, from doing fights together for almost two years.
"We're going into mediation," Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, told ESPN.com. "This guy was successful resolving our nutty problem before and hopefully he can be successful this time. He's a guy who is a big fight fan and loves the sport, and I found him last time to be a delight to deal with. Everybody did."
In a statement Monday to ESPN.com, Weinstein said the sides accepted the mediation without any conditions.
"After discussions with representatives of all parties I am satisfied that the parties are approaching the mediation in good faith," he said. "Neither side is insisting on pre-conditions to its participation in the mediation, and both sides will present their positions in an effort to resolve the dispute."
At the time of the previous mediation, the companies had several ongoing lawsuits, including the one at the center of the bad blood: ownership of the promotional rights to Pacquiao, who had signed contracts with both companies before eventually pledging his loyalty to Top Rank.
When the disputes were settled in June 2007, Arum and Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer both credited Weinstein's steady hand for getting them to reach an accord. Under the global settlement, Top Rank retained Pacquiao's promotional rights with Golden Boy receiving a percentage of Top Rank's profit from his future bouts.
The hope is that Weinstein can once again help the sides see their way through what has become an increasingly nasty battle in an effort to finalize the bout between welterweight titlist Pacquiao and Mayweather, the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, in a fight many believe will break the pay-per-view record of 2.44 million buys. Mayweather's 2007 fight with Golden Boy president Oscar De La Hoya set the record.
Weinstein said both sides have agreed not to comment until after they meet with him.
AOL Fanhouse first reported the mediation plans Sunday night.
Top Rank and Golden Boy have agreed on all points on the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight except for one: The protocol for drug testing.
Even though the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would oversee the bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, doesn't require blood testing, Mayweather has insisted on random blood testing. Both sides have already agreed to unlimited random urine testing.
Pacquiao has refused training camp-long random blood testing, agreeing only to three tests, one during the week of the kickoff news conference, which would take place in the next week or so if they finalize the fight, one random test to be conducted no later than 30 days before the fight and a final test in his dressing room after the fight.
Mayweather would be subject to the same testing procedures.
One issue sure to be discussed in front of the mediator is the impact of the defamation lawsuit Pacquiao filed last week in Nevada U.S. District Court against Mayweather Jr., Schaefer, De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Sr., Roger Mayweather and Mayweather Promotions.
In the suit, Pacquiao alleges they made false and defamatory statements and sullied his reputation by accusing him of taking performance-enhancing drugs. Pacquiao denies he has ever used PEDs and has never failed a drug test.
If mediation fails, and the fight does not get made, Arum said he will match Pacquiao with junior middleweight titlist Yuri Foreman, whom he also promotes, on March 20 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas so Pacquiao could attempt to win a title in a record eighth weight division.
Mayweather could still fight on March 13 at the MGM and potentially face former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi.
By Marv Dumon - Intro: There is one singular strategy that has never been employed against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Using it would leverage the element of surprise - which is a critical variable in war.
It is a tactic that has been successfully used before, and a technique that plays to Floyd's weaknesses. We believe that this plan will also be employed by Freddie Roach to play to Mayweather's massive ego. We find historical examples of this warplan, including a technique that Hannibal used against several ancient Roman generals which wreaked havoc around the Italian Peninsula over 2,000 years ago.
Secondly, we continue an analysis of four boxers who (temporarily) outfought Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Undoubtedly, "Money" will be the most prolific defensive and counter-punching opponent both Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach will ever face in their hall of fame careers. That Mayweather is an early slight betting favorite in this fight is the correct initial position from the gambling marketplace.
Do not be distracted by all the name-calling and trash-talking. That is mere noise. The movers and shakers of the world dig beneath the surface. A saying in investment banking: "(Believe) half of what you see, none of what you hear."
Fact: Floyd is a terrifc machine. His talents are a significant variable in determining the outcome of this showdown. However, the blueprint for his defeat is laid out in three fights: the first Jose Luis Castillo fight, the early rounds of Zab Judah (covered in the first part of this article), and the second and third rounds of the Oscar de la Hoya fight in 2007. All three fights involved Floyd Mayweather.
We juxtapose these with five of Manny Pacquiao's bouts with two great (and smaller) counter-punchers - Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez - to see if we can gather any insights. (The second fight with Marco Antonio Barrera fight also saw a fighter that tried to counter Manny for all 12 rounds.)
No forward-looking analysis is 100% accurate. There is no Merlin with a magic crystal ball. However, we explore any habits from trend-analysis as well as prospective gameplans from each fighter in order to maximize each's probability for success. Additionally, Freddie Roach has implied a strategy against Mayweather, Jr.; that his team would "set up traps." Roach is already working hard on setting up smokescreens and mirrors for this fight, and in laying down his camp's deceptions. We explore what "traps" may mean.
In the words of Winston Churchill:
"In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies."
# 3
2007: Oscar de la Hoya
Rounds 2 and 3
Rounds 4 and 5
The Oscar de la Hoya fight reveals a few insights. The bigger man (Oscar) was able to back up and over-power Floyd in spurts, often pinning him against the ropes. Oscar often stepped on Floyd's foot to keep him in place. That allowed de la Hoya to throw in bunches, while Floyd concentrated on accuracy and points.
Floyd does not like being pressured, and when he gave openings, he showed vulnerabilities to being hit, especially when his feet and shoulders squared up to face de la Hoya. Manny Pacquiao's explosiveness will have enough power to force occasional and tactical retreats by Floyd. Unfortunately for Oscar, he did not throw body punches when Floyd did square up to face him, to leave openings to the body. Roach and Pacquiao will capitalize on what Oscar did not.
As mentioned in part one, we believe that Manny Pacquiao has the first four rounds - the first 12 minutes - to "fully make his impression," and to effect Roach's gameplan (or several gameplans).
Lesson 3.1: Floyd takes about two to three rounds in order to figure out his enemy, and to adjust to his strategy. He can back up and retreat early on - but he is actually studying and observing his opponent, before figuring out how to win on points. (See rounds 4 and 5 of the de la Hoya fight where Floyd beautifully crafts his attack and adjusts to Oscar's style.)
Also, when Oscar tried to bully Floyd in the middle and late rounds, Floyd simply grappled, clenched, and tied up Oscar. We believe Mayweather can do the same to Manny. Floyd can hold him up when Manny tries to get inside. Roach and Pacquiao will work hard at the gym to counter this, perhaps by throwing combinations right before Floyd tries to clench. A weakness of Pacquiao, however, is that he is not particularly good at fighting inside.
Lesson 3.2: If Floyd is ahead on the judges' scorecards for most of the first four rounds, then this fight will likely be over. Mayweather, Jr will play keep away, and with his highly accurate pot shots (as we see below), he will cruise on to a 12-round decision.
Lesson 3.3: The early rounds are testing ground for Mayweather to study his opponent's movements, measure his physique and power, and analyze his style and tactics - so that he can figure out how to win on points. (As stated, it takes him three-plus rounds to figure out an opposing force.) While he is brilliant at this, it also reveals a major flaw and systematic weakness on his part. Against a super fighter like Pacquiao, this is Floyd's best chance to win. When Mayweather was forced into a firefight against then-lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, Floyd's brittle hands and suspect chin saw him out-gunned several times during that fight. The same happened early on with the Judah fight.
These three lessons will factor into how Freddie Roach formulates his customized strategy against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Might we be so bold as to suggest that we know what that gameplan will be.
In the words of Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz:
"If the enemy is to be coerced, you must put him in a situation that is even more unpleasant than the sacrifice you call on him to make. The hardships of the situation must not be merely transient - at least not in appearance. Otherwise, the enemy would not give in, but would wait for things to improve."
According to Pacquiao sparmate Shawn Porter: "If the referee lets them fight inside a lot, Mayweather could be in trouble. If he allows Mayweather to tie Manny up without warning and deductions he (Floyd) will win a very easy fight. But if he lets them fight it out? It could be a war and go either way."
In the chart below, we explore six fights between a puncher and counter-puncher, all involving either Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather, Jr. There is no time limit to this exercise. Thus, you are invited to review the statistics below for a few minutes. Take your time.
The numbers with the plus (+) sign reveal how many more punches were thrown or landed, or reveal how much more accurate a fighter was against his opponent. The plus (+) sign is the differential, or the margin.
Styles make fights, sure. And you cannot compare apples to oranges. Still, working with limited data we are forced to extrapolate a few key observations from the above chart:
Chart Lesson 1: Against de la Hoya, Floyd threw much fewer punches (106 less) than Oscar. Why? Floyd does not like opening himself up to being countered. Floyd spent the first three rounds studying Oscar. He became much more effective and accurate from the fourth round on after learning de la Hoya's style and timing. Floyd learned to read and telegraph Oscar's punches. His adjustments allowed him to land 7+ more punches per round. Over the course of 12 rounds, that led to 85 more landed punches for Floyd. He also was an incredible 22% more accurate. More landed punches won him the decision victory.
Implication: Freddie Roach stated that Manny and himself will set up "traps" for Floyd. Many boxing observers will take that to mean that Pacquiao will work on getting Floyd to attack, so that Mayweather will be open to counters. That would be similar to what they did to Miguel Cotto. As soon as Cotto grew confident in his left jab, Manny lunged forward with his blinding combinations.
Wrong! Do not be mistaken, Roach's "trap" is not a physical trap. It is a mental trap. Think back to Churchill's quote. Roach wants Camp Mayweather to think that Manny will start the fight like he did with Cotto - slow and cerebral, that way the bigger man thinks the "smaller man" is vulnerable. And that Floyd can pick Manny apart with accuracy in the early rounds, and score points with the judges. Pure deception from Roach.
What is the real trap? What is the real strategy? What did Germany do in World War II that worked while being surrounded by enemies on all fronts?
Once Floyd believes these deceptions, the Roach-Pacman tandem will execute their true strategy. An unforeseen, unpredictable Blitzkrieg from the opening bell. Full assault. No holds barred. Roach and Pacquiao will go for an early KO, if they can get it. From now on, we refer to this strategy as the "Blitzkrieg Strategy."
If an early KO does not materialize, the plan still serves two benefits: it will soften up Floyd for a later-round breakdown. He does not take punches well. Secondly, it may put Pacquiao ahead on the scorecards, which would force Mayweather to fight aggressively later on to try and win back points. And we saw in the Judah and Castillo fight that Floyd is not an excellent fighter when forced to go on the offensive. His bread and butter is his shoulder roll defense, which allows him to score points with a very short left hook, or a lightning quick straight from his right. If someone goes inside, Floyd clenches and ties him up.
"Infantry must move forward to close with the enemy. It must shoot in order to move... To halt under fire is folly. To halt under fire and not fire back is suicide." - General George S. Patton
Chart Lesson 2: Manny threw about 100 punches more per fight against Juan Manuel Marquez. These were two hotly contested bouts. Despite being much more active, Marquez always landed more punches than Pacquiao. JMM landed 10 more in the second fight, and 15 more in the first fight. Manny threw more, JMM landed more. JMM was more accurate.
Implication: The theory that Pacquiao will beat Floyd on high work rate is a misleading and incomplete story. As both JMM fights show (and Floyd is much better than JMM), Manny Pacquiao executing a high work rate does not work over the course of 12 rounds. In Pacquiao's last loss in 2005, to the counter-punching Erik Morales, Manny threw 180 more punches over 12 rounds, but El Terrible landed nearly 50 more blows. Morales was more accurate. Again, for Pacquiao, high work rate over 12 rounds does not work against counter-punchers. Roach knows this. He was there working the corner.
This supports the Blitzkrieg Strategy. Pacquiao will have a high work rate against Floyd - but in the early rounds - as he goes for an early stoppage and/or for early points.
A second theorem. You cannot succeed as a formulaic fighter against Floyd. You need multiple strategies. After the early Blitz, and if Floyd is still standing (most likely he will be), Pacquiao and Roach can execute a more "normal gameplan."
If he trails on the judges' cards, Floyd will be forced to fight more aggressively (to try and win by decision).
But Marco Antonio Barrera did say that Manny will need to lunge to his left in order to land a left hook to Floyd's face or body - he believes that is how you beat his tight shoulder roll defense. We would only add that Pacquiao could also throw uppercuts when he does move to his left. Additionally, he can throw right hooks to Floyd's left side of the body , as well as, counter Floyd when the latter comes in. When Floyd attacked Judah early on (Floyd was being egoistic), the latter timed him with a quick right that sent Floyd's gloves grazing on the canvas (technically a knockdown).
Chart Lesson 3: The third Morales fight shows that the Blitz can shock an opponent. In under three rounds, Manny threw nearly as much as Morales (175 punches). However, Pacquiao landed 94 punches to only 44 for Morales. An incredible 54% vs 26% connect rate in favor of Manny.
Implication: The third Morales fight shows that Manny Pacquiao can throw in blinding bunches but still achieve high accuracy. If the Blitz strategy works, that means he will blast all kinds of powerful barrages at Floyd in the first three to four rounds (it takes Floyd three rounds to adjust to a gameplan), and potentially still be accurate. The high work rate combined with high accuracy will translate to points racked up on the judges' scorecards.
It is important to note that Ricky Hatton applied the full court press on Floyd early in their fight, which bothered Mayweather. A big left from Hatton sent Floyd tumbling back in the early rounds, which forced Mayweather to grab the ropes to maintain his balance. However, we can suggest that no one has ever tried a "shock and awe" Blitz attack on Floyd, which means there is still a critical element of surprise in this plan of attack.
In the words of General George S. Patton:
"It is only by doing things others have not that one can advance."
If the Roach-Pacquiao team tries something cute or fancy early on, it may be something that Floyd has already seen and/or something that Floyd can easily adjust to with his superior boxing skills. Blitzkrieg - the Manny Pacquiao version - is something Floyd has not yet experienced, and thus have not learned to deal with. And if Roach succeeds in his mind games, Floyd (and his camp) will not be expecting it either.
# 4
2004: DeMarcus Corley
Rounds 3 and 4
Round 5
From rounds three to five, Floyd Mayweather, Jr stood toe-to-toe and went offensive against DeMarcus Corley in a 140 lb bout in 2004. Not using his shoulder roll defense as much in these early rounds, Floyd's stance allowed him to be countered by the spirited Corley. The latter's power also appeared to affect Floyd in certain spurts, and Corley landed hooks by way of counter punches. Floyd became effective when he in turn countered Corley.
This fight is important for a reason. In the speculations and pre-fight analyses that will circulate in the weeks leading up to the Pacquiao vs Mayweather showdown, many will note that Roach will somehow try to open up Floyd early in the fight by getting him to throw his jabs and right straights.
Freddie Roach's Gameplan:
If you buy into (and believe) the above arguments, then we believe the optimal strategic warplan for defeating Floyd Mayweather, Jr (40-0) is in the following:
1. "Shock and awe" Blitzkrieg attack in the first four rounds. Go for early stoppage, and at the very least, earn points from judges.
2. The critical element for #1 is Manny's ability to be accurate despite throwing high volumes of punches. High work rate (in the early rounds) by Pacquiao must be accompanied by accuracy (i.e., third Morales fight). If Pacquiao is not accurate, Floyd will make him pay dearly with counters that will be accurate and highly effective - particularly in the form of a straight right that will travel so fast Manny will not see them coming.
3. Manny Pacquiao has four rounds to swarm Floyd. He must force his enemy to be incapable of thinking. The clever smarts of Mayweather must be rendered incapacitated. That is the art of warfare. In past fights, Roach and Pacquiao have taken away the physical arsenal of opponents - i.e., they took away Oscar's left hook. For this fight, Roach and Manny will focus on taking away their enemy's mental prowess.
4. To overwhelm Floyd, Roach and Manny will work daily on honing the ability to cut off the ring, so that Pacquiao can fully leverage his explosiveness. The big weapons will be the lunging left hook, a right hook to the body, and the occasional "Mt. Pinatubo" uppercut. Blows to the body also cannot be underestimated in significance. Floyd hates being hit in the face - he is "Pretty Boy" - and that may leave openings to the body.
Historical Perspective:
Nazi Germany laid the modern template for Blitzkrieg during World War II. Time was the critical factor in their war, as they were completely surrounded by opposing or neutral forces by land and by water. Thus, they had to win quickly. Similarly, Roach will prefer to not let the fight drag out. That would increase the chance of Floyd being able to dictate the tempo and pace.
In the ancient world, Hannibal (one of the ancient world's greatest military commanders) had an interest in directly engaging with the Roman legions (so long as landscape and weather conditions were favorable). Several Roman generals had particularly massive egos. Hannibal tailored his strategy to play these egos like strings on a guitar. To show nearby towns that Rome was no threat to the invading Gauls, Hannibal marched his armies in clear view of fortified cities, taunting the generals - to get them to come out and fight.
One general set up camp near a river. Hannibal attacked them in early dawn, knowing the commanding general was hot-tempered. The general ordered his troops to chase Hannibal's forces across the river. The Roman legions, early in the morning, crossed the ice cold river. The Romans got surrounded and was slaughtered on the other side. In one direct engagement, the Gauls (Hannibal's side) slaughtered over 60,000 Romans in six hours.
The lesson? Military commanders throughout history have shown that there is a way to make a smart enemy (temporarily) mentally incapable. You do that by removing information or by supplying false data (deception). You keep him guessing. Your forces become unpredictable, with no trace of trend or habit. Make sure he cannot think properly. In boxing's setting, that is accomplished with the Blitz. Commanders have also played to their opponent's ego; getting them to make mistakes based on emotion and/or sense of self-importance. In thousands of years of warfare, there have been thousands of opposing commanders with a personality trait similar to Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Conclusion: When the scrolls are written, there will be a story to this Blitz strategy. And it is symbolic. If Pacquiao can pull it off, he will have come full circle in his life and in his boxing career. A street brawler from the alleys of General Santos. To an evolved two-fisted boxer. And back to brawler.
Final Lesson: When you have a clever, smart fighter, do not fight him in games requiring cleverness or smarts. Fight him in areas that require strength and brute force. In school, there is a way to defeat the smartest guy in class. You beat him into submission in basketball or football. You give him a bloody nose. You taunt him. Make him feel like coming from a privileged background somehow takes away from his manhood. You break his will and morale. If, however, you allow a smart fighter and / or student to oppose you in ways of the books, poetry, the arts, you are dead. You have played to his strengths, and in the art of warfare that is suicide.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr is undefeated at 40-0 in part because he has out-thought and out-adjusted his opponents. By way of the same analogy, why would Roach want to give him a chance to think? Why would "Master" Freddie give Mayweather the opportunity to study his opponent, and to adjust to a formulaic style?
There is a final and dark reason from Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao to implement an early Blitzkrieg: respect. Floyd is dismissive of Manny and considers him "easy work." The Mayweathers have been insulting "joke coach" Roach. We believe that Freddie wants to sadistically exact revenge, and that Manny wants to force Floyd to respect him, not in a good way, but by way of savagery. Muhammad Ali incessantly taunted Joe Frazier, calling him an "ugly gorilla." Only when Frazier brought him to the brink of death, in 14 rounds of hell, did Ali finally respect him inside and outside of the ring. Ali himself said that he felt he was going to die in "Thrilla in Manila." Both men reportedly pissed blood after the fight.
Manny grew up with nothing. Floyd flaunts his material excesses and ego. That provides combustible material. In human psychology, you do not gain an egoistic person's respect by beating him in material excesses or prestige. They will only get envious and try to one-up you. The way to earn an ego-driven person's respect is to give him a busted lip. Some people cannot be reasoned with. They only respond to force (pain). Floyd - like the Batman and Joker dynamic - is such a personality.
The Blitz as a plan by "Master" Freddie Roach is customized for his graduating pupil - a special lesson for the valedictorian of the class. Manny Pacquiao has already executed the Blitz in his old days, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as a one-armed brawler. He closes off his career against a prolific boxing wizard - a pugilistic Merlin.
Returning to his roots, but this time armed with two-equally deadly arms, on March 13 Roach reveals a strategy, and Manny Pacquiao discloses his awesome firepower early, early, and early. Pressing the action... always pressing the action. Forcing an indomitable will. Taunting Floyd. Like in a schoolyard bullying session, trying to get him to drip blood...
By Dennis "dSource" Guillermo - Pardon me, but allow me to spit some wisdom right quick. Sometimes the only difference between a hero and a bum is press coverage. We all know the heroic exploits of CNN's Hero of the Year award winner Efren Penaflorida now but before all the media coverage and hype he received, you probably would've just snubbed him as he walked past you in the streets. But now, the truly admirable guy gets praised and lauded everywhere he goes.
So when Floyd Mayweather Jr. asked the world where Manny Pacquiao was 15 years ago when he was beating up people and being considered as one of the great prospects in the sport, well the answer is, he was grinding just like Floyd. Truth be told, Manny and Floyd are two of the most dedicated and hardest working boxers to ever laced them gloves up and for all its worth, they do deserve to be where they're at in their careers- on top. No need really to discredit the other based on where they came from. Pacquiao did not have the privilege to be under a decent amateur boxing program like Floyd did and if you pitted them against each other 15 years ago, Mayweather definitely would've made quick work of Pacquiao. But that is why he deserves all the credit in the world for working on his craft under the guidance of the great Freddie Roach. Incidentally however, Floyd has six losses as an amateur.
But to say Pacquiao was a nobody back then when Floyd was already the man is simply a matter of geography and logistics man. Floyd enjoyed the luxury and privilege of being in America and having better opportunities and exposure. Just like my case for example: There are many other far more talented Filipino writers out there who are not only better than me but can definitely hang with the Thomas Hausers of pugulistic journalism that just need to be given a chance but because of their situation, you haven't read a word from them yet.
Back in '95, Pacquiao and Mayweather were already beginning to carve a name for themselves in the professional boxing ranks. Actually, Pacquiao turned pro in January of 1995 and amazingly fought 11 pro fights in a year until he first tasted defeated after being dehydrated and not having the proper diet and training due to poverty and his lifestyle back then. But even then, Pacquiao already displayed the speed, punching power and that lethal left of his which is now being considered as the most potent weapon in boxing.
Floyd on the other hand made his pro debut in October of '96 and also impressively went 11-0 in his first year as a pro. Even back then, Floyd already displayed flashes of his brilliance by knocking down Roberto Apodaca with a beautiful liver shot in the first round.
Check out the earliest pro boxing videos caught on tape of these two brilliant fighters who are on a collision course in one of the most anticipated boxing match-ups in history.
Mayweather's debut fight vs. Roberto Apodaca (10/11/96)
Pacquiao's fourth fight vs. Dele Decierto (7/1/95)
By Ted Gambordella - Here is some great news for all real boxing fans and especially for fans of the Mighty Manny Pacquiao. It is being reported that Pacman will get more than the 50/50 split as originally reported for his fight vs Floyd Mayweather. Here is what boxing.fanhouse.com reports,
Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank's Bob Arum, will give his fighter a larger guaranteed purse than originally agreed upon, and Arum has been contacted by the Atlanta Falcons' Georgia Dome regarding the potential for being a site for the bout.
The Filipino icon's adviser, Michael Koncz, told FanHouse on Monday that Arum has sweetened the deal for Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts),
"Arum presented a package to us, and we did some minor modifications to it. One of the points that we brought up was the guaranteed purse," said Koncz, referring to their interaction during a two-hour meeting involving Pacquiao, Arum and himself, late last week.
"Bob came to us with an offer, we countered it, and we got what we requested," said Koncz. "That [purse] was the major one, and there were some minor issues -- not so much revolving around money, but with other aspects of the fight."
Although there are reports that the combatants agreed to a 50-50 split, and that Pacquiao, at least, was originally guaranteed $20 million -- plus their shares of any upside to the pay per view revenue -- Koncz said that a gag order is in place for both sides and that, under the circumstances, it would be inappropriate to address any numbers.
There are also reports that Mayweather has been guaranteed at least $20 million, that his name will lead the promotion as "Mayweather-Pacquiao," and that the revenue could push each side's earnings toward the $45 million mark.
"The only ones who know the figures are Manny, myself, Bob Arum, [Golden Boy Promotions'] Richad Schaefer and Floyd Mayweather. So there are other figures floating around out there that may or not be accurate," said Koncz, referring to Schaefer, who is representing Mayweather's side.
"In relation to any figures, I will not substantiate them," said Koncz. "There are gag orders in place, and I don't think that it's appropriate that any deals or negotiations should be negotiated in the press."
This is great news for real boxing fans and it is fair, because Manny is the "reason for the season" and will soon be beating Mayweather's butt.
By Dennis "dSource" Guillermo - WARNING: This is not intended for the old and the uncool. Just kidding. It's just that all this excitement and tension from Pacquiao-Mayweather finally happening has gotten me flipping like a flipping Filipino kid in a Chocnut shop. It's like a sugar high, a dream come true and that feeling you get when you are about to open a large present under the Christmas tree. And frankly, it is what it is- an early Christmas gift from boxing to it's loyal fans after years of testing their resolve. If you are a Knicks fan, it's something kinda close, except that only one dude named LeBron James coming to the Bronx can give them the same sense of redemption.
So allow me to unload some of the random things that I've been thinking about and feedback from fight fans since this morning upon hearing about this proposed bout almost finally getting sealed and finalized.
If Pacquiao's new "meteor descending from outer space tattoo" on his left forearm makes contact on Floyd's chin, it would definitely leave a trail of destruction on Planet Mayweather and leave "Money" looking like 2012.
We already know Mayweather will box, dance, avoid and run all night against Pacquiao which could very well mean a unanimous decision victory for him, BUT, you got to understand, Pacquiao is a southpaw, so that shoulder roll defensive technique won't be as effective. And somehow, people still haven't learned their lesson and still underestimate Pacquiao's intelligence in the ring. And can you imagine how loud the "boos" will be once Floyd goes on his skates against Manny? Manny will eventually force Floyd to fight. This won't be a repeat of "The World Awaits" trust me.
A lot of people are worrying about Pacquiao's health, well, honestly I think he was in worse shape after his rematch against Marquez and fought Diaz just 3 months after. Word from my insiders tell me Manny is feeling brand new these days. The busted ear drum will heal and the cauliflower ear is no big deal. Just ask all the high school wrestlers and MMA fighters out there. Pacquiao is built from sterner stuff. Actually a fight before the elections to me is more favorable than doing it after. Pacquiao will be drained by the campaigning process in the Philippines. Trust me, I know. I got family inside politics. It could be more punishing than 2 months of training at the Wild Card Gym. Plus, Pacquiao's body is still in good shape from his Cotto training. Didn't Freddie Roach himself say not too long ago that he prefers Manny to stay active rather than take long breaks? And at the end of the day, Pacquiao will not agree to fight on March 13 if he didn't feel like his body wasn't up to it. End of argument.
Have you heard Money May's most popular rap single titled "Yep"? Well it goes something like this:
Well the video proved two things: 1) A nice beat isn't enough to make a talentless wannabe rapper sound good. 2) Floyd Mayweather Jr. knows how to count to 10 - Yep!!!
Not that Pacquiao is any good at singing either. But heck, how fun would it be to see these two go on a rap battle? And I got the perfect track and lyrics for Pac to spit at Money.
I Got Money To Blow (originally by Bird Man feat. Drake and Lil Wayne - if you don't know, you're too old! Kidding, kidding... I don't want to offend my buddy Marley in NYC. But then again, that guy is more up to date than most cats my age. Shoot, only Marley can talk about writing a crossover article about Lady Gaga and get away with it.)
Lyrics:
[Intro - Pacman & Drake]
Yeah Coming to you live from City of… GensanHollywoodVegas So what it do young pinja? (pinoy ninja), 100
[Verse 1 - Pacman] I am on a 24 hour Tinola diet, hookin’ while I’m slippin’ I encourage you to try it I’m probably just sayin’ that cause I don’t get hit by it Hatton and Cotto went down like a Vegas chic Boy I’m on that fly sh%t I am what everybody in my past don’t want me to be Guess what I made it I’m the motherlovin’ man I just want you to see Come take a look, get a load of this slugger Quit fronting on me Don’t come around and try to gas me up I like runnin’ on E I… I… I… I’m ready to chase Floyd all night He can be Peter Pan Imma be Captain Hook And my new Ferrari faster than Floyd's Bentley He can try to run but Imma out-quick him quickly
Damn where my roof just go? Just like Money when he feels my Marco Bolo He gon lose his thoughts and repeat "damn where my roof just go?" Top slipped off like Janet at the Superbowl I got ‘em
[Chorus - Drake] They can’t help it and I can’t blame them Since I got famous They ducking me like Donald... On March 13, I got "Money" to blow Gettin’ it in Letting these bums fall Be cutting his skin I got "Money" to blow-oh oh ohh Oh oh ohh, oh oh ohh, I got oh oh ohh I got money to blow-oh oh ohh Oh oh ohh, oh oh ohh, got "Money" to blow
From the forums:
Poster "Perro" at boxingscene.com wrote:
VS Hatton, Floyd only landed 129 in 10 rounds; Manny landed 73 in two! For you geniuses, that's...
Pacquiao - 37 punches per round @ 57%
Mayweather - 13 punches per round @ 39%
And against Oscar, Manny out-landed Floyd, 224 to 207 in only 8 rounds to Floyd's full 12 rounds.
And lastly, short and sweet. Don't expect this fight happening anywhere else other than Las Vegas. nufsed!
There you go... Just some random thoughts. I know some of you might not be able to relate, but hey, at least you can say you are a tad bit "cooler" now. You know them haters hate cause they simply can't relate. I take risks like Pacquiao, unlike others I don't play it safe. Love it, hate it, it's all good. Let the chips fall where they may.
And for the record, I don't hate Floyd Mayweather Jr. He will pose a lot of problems for Pacquiao and is a defensive wizard in the ring. Now before I hear Floyd start saying "Stop jocking me", I simply believe Pacquiao will beat him. Real talk.
Manny Pacquiao likely will fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on March 13 after agreeing to a proposal from promoter Bob Arum on Friday.
Arum presented "what he thought was the best proposal he can bring" during a two-hour breakfast meeting with Pacquiao in Manila, said Michael Koncz, an adviser of the Philippine boxing idol.
"Manny has some additional requirements, requests, which Arum didn't think was a problem," Koncz said. "The requests of Manny were so realistic that Arum doesn't feel it's a problem and it's pretty much a done deal."
He said the contract still needs "fine-tuning," declining to elaborate.
"We all believe that it will be done," Koncz said.
In an interview with GMA television, Pacquiao said, "March 13 is OK."
"The difference between Floyd and others I have fought is that Floyd makes a lot of trash talk that should not be imitated by young people," he said.
Arum could not be reached for comment.
If the deal is completed, the bout would be contested at 147 pounds for the welterweight title, a source told ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.
Koncz, who is in charge of Pacquiao's boxing promotion company in Nevada, said Pacquiao is "very comfortable" with the date.
Pacquiao is running for a congressional seat in May 2010 elections and official campaigning won't start before April.
If the bout goes ahead, it will match two men regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighters.
Boxing fans have been looking forward to a superfight between Pacquiao and the undefeated Mayweather after the Filipino champion defeated Miguel Cotto last month.
The March 13 date comes four months after the Cotto fight -- a shorter period of time than the six months after Pacquiao defeated Ricky Hatton. But Koncz said it will be enough time for Pacquiao to get back in shape.
"Nobody knows his body better than Manny," he said. "If Manny feels that that's plenty of time to rest and recover, then you know, he has to do what he feels is right."
He said Pacquiao "cannot train for more than seven weeks."
If the fight is agreed upon, there likely would be a Jan. 11 news conference in New York to announce it. The bout could be the richest ever, assuming pay-per-view projections are accurate.
Representatives of the Superdome in New Orleans and the new Cowboys Stadium in Dallas have expressed interest in hosting the fight, as has the MGM Grand hotel-casino in Las Vegas, where the fighters have had their biggest fights. There is also a proposal for a 30,000-seat temporary stadium on the Las Vegas Strip across from the Wynn resort.
Oddsmakers are already taking bets on the fight, with most making Mayweather a slight favorite.
By Michel Marley - As you read this, a soon-to-turn-age-78-year-old named Robert Arum is piling up the frequent flyer miles from Las Vegas to Manila.
The Top Rank Top Dog isn’t going to the Philippines to discuss Sarangani local politics with Manny Pacquiao.
And he's not traveling through all those time zones and across the International Date Line to extend sympathy because Sports Illustrated tabbed Yankees superstar Derek Jeter as Sportsman of the Year over the more deserving National Fist.
He’s going to see his star client with a firm deal in hand for Pacman to face undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. on March 13 in a Las vegas mega bout.
Forget the smokescreens about Pacman fighting junior middleweight champ and rabbinical student Yuri Foreman. And ditto for the one about Mayweather going to Manchester to beat up Matthew Hatton or, as we like to refer to him, Matty Hatty.
Arum has what he feels is a fair and viable deal in hand and he will present same to Pacman for a thumbs up or a thumbs down
If Pacquiao is amenable, septuagenarian Arum might even seal the big deal before his Dec. 8 bithday and well before Dec. 17, when Megamanny turns age 31.
They used to say, “Don’t trust anyone over 30” back in the New Age, Woodstock Generation but promoter and fighter have come to trust each other as they have piled up millions of dollars in tandem in recent Pacquiao bouts, victories all for the Pinoy Idol.
It’s an easy guess that, at least publicly, the revenue split will be said to be 50-50 and I feel that is fair to both sides. Mayweather is unbeaten, he is an American fighting in his homeland and he used to occupy the Pound For Pound throne which now belongs to Pacman.
The working date is March 13 and, again, I totally discount Texas Stadium.
What happens in Vegas won’t stay there when casino operators work together to land this whopper, this once in a generation mega fight.
When Vegas steps up, it will be, “Fumble, Jerry Jones, fumble Cowboys!”
Fight fans won’t have to beware the Ides of March, instead they will embrace it for the Biggest fight That Can Possibly Be Made is coming to fruition.
What say you, Megamanny?
The money is right, the legacy is there for the taking.
In this case, I hope Pacquiao does like Jim Carrey in that movie.
I hope Pacquiao is a “Yes Man.”
Arum lands in Manila bearing an offer, Manny, that you can’t refuse.
By Marv Dumon - Intro: Many boxing analysts and gamblers initially peg Floyd Mayweather, Jr (40-0) as a slight betting favorite over WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2). These odds are sensible, and probably correct. It's tough to argue with an omnipotent marketplace.
However, we explore four boxers that have given Mayweather, Jr (either temporary or sustained) problems in the ring. There are several potential reasons for avoiding the welterweights in his division. Floyd encountered problems with these four boxers, and those avoided welterweights would exacerbate Floyd's tactical risks. These lessons can be leveraged by Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao, and lay the foundation for a strategic war plan.
Tale of the Tape:
Age: Manny: 31 Floyd: 33 ( By fight night )
[No advantage for either fighter. Floyd is a fresher fighter. Manny has been more active.]
Height: Manny: 5' 6.5" Floyd: 5' 8"
[Slight advantage for Mayweather, Jr. Manny can somewhat negate this advantage by fighting low, as well as, by bobbing and weaving which could expose Floyd's body to pugilistic explosions.]
Reach: Manny: 67" Floyd: 72"
[Herein lies Manny's biggest disadvantage - he gives up a 5 inch reach against a fighter with the best jab in the sport, both in quickness and accuracy. This factors into Floyd as an early betting favorite.]
Official Weigh-in: Manny: 145 lbs (est) Floyd: 147 lbs (est)
[Undoubtedly, the weight limit is a main negotiating point between both camps. Top Rank's Bob Arum will fight for 145 lbs, while Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions will aim for a full 147 lb welterweight weight limit. This is a big variable in the fight. Floyd officially weighed in against Juan Manuel Marquez at 146 lbs, suggesting that he may be uncomfortable coming in at 145 lbs.]
[Size is Manny's second disadvantage. However, the bigger opponent in this case will be just as fast, and just as smart. Floyd can adjust to an opponent's gameplan in real time. While Manny is a master in his own right, Freddie Roach's advice for adjustments during the fight comes in three-minute intervals, at the end of each round. Something Floyd does not have to wait for. This makes Roach's and Pac's initial battleplan going into the fight that much more critical for success. Most likely, they will concoct a Plan A, a Plan B, and a Plan C so that Manny, like Floyd, can also adjust in real time.]
# 1
2002: Jose Luis Castillo 1
Rounds 5 and 6
Rounds 10 and 11
Analysis: In rounds 5 and 6, Mexican lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo brilliantly lures Mayweather into a physical fight. Castillo played rough, and boxed dirty - holding Mayweather and often hitting him late (after a referee's break). A roughed up Mayweather underwent spurts of ineffectiveness, and there were times in which he was simply uncomfortable being inside the ring. However, it must also be noted that this fight took place in 2002 and Floyd has since morphed into a defensive wizard.
In rounds 10 and 11, Floyd was forced to aggressively fight Castillo due to the closer than expected scorecards. Against Manny, Floyd's foremost priority will be to win the early rounds in order to avoid direct engagement with the southpaw dynamo. The Filipino packs a more powerful punch than Castillo. Additionally, Pacquiao's unorthodox style, weaving attack, and blazing speed pose more problems. This dynamic (the perceived scores entering the final rounds) is the most critical variable to how the fight plays out in the pound-for-pound "championship rounds."
Comments: If Pacquiao should emerge victorious against Mayweather, and that's an if, the first Castillo fight serves as a shining expose into Floyd's major weakness. He is a fragile fighter with a suspect chin, and he will wear down later in the rounds. "Master" Roach knows this. Floyd will be bigger than Manny - effectively a junior middleweight - but the dynamic Pacquiao also packs explosive power in both fists.
Did Floyd really beat Castillo in the first bout? Officially yes. Unofficially, that is debatable. The statistics are shockingly revealing. Through the first nine rounds, both men were just as accurate with power punches (Castillo, 44% to Mayweather, 43%). However, Castillo landed a whopping 98 power shots out of 228 thrown to Floyd's 37 of 87 power shots. Castillo's higher work rate was effective against Floyd. It was a close call for the three judges. Floyd won a hotly contested decision.
Lesson # 1.1: Floyd will need to make Manny pay for being the more active fighter. That is accomplished through timing Manny when he moves in, with accurate and quick jabs from a safe distance, and counters. Unfortunately for Pacquiao's camp, Floyd is the best fighter in the sport to accomplish all three. If Floyd can do these three things (timing, accurate jabs, and counters) for the first three or four rounds, the fight is over. And Manny will break down by round 8.
Lesson # 1.2: Conversely, Castillo has provided Roach and Pacquiao with a template for putting a serious hurt on Floyd. Manny's power in both hands, combined with a higher work rate, can both wear down the bigger opponent as well as impress judges. The latter will be more critical. Because this fight will go the full 12 rounds. Here, three judges will decide who wins the "Fight of the Century."
Caveat: The Floyd version that fought Marquez is much better and bigger than the Floyd who showed up to fight Castillo.
# 2
2006: Zab Judah
Round 1
Round 2
Judah's size is very similar to Pacquiao's. Zab stands at 5' 7" tall, with a 22" arm length (compared to Floyd's 26" arm length). However, a relatively stationary Judah appeared to have outboxed Mayweather, Jr with jabs. Then-welterweight champion Judah's quick jabs landed on Floyd despite having shorter arms.
Due to the scoring favor the first couple of rounds, Floyd was forced to adjust and fight more aggressively. Unfortunately for Judah, he simply could not keep up with Mayweather's handspeed and skills.
During the second round, Zab caught Floyd with a lightning quick right as Mayweather lunged forward. This should have been scored a knockdown (which it was not) since Floyd's gloves grazed the ring. This punch underscores Floyd's vulnerability as a fighter when he attacks. Manny will have opportunities to counter Floyd. However, the flip side is also true. Manny will be vulnerable to Floyd's counters, especially if Manny fully commits on his jabs. Think Erik Morales 1 and the fights with Juan Manuel Marquez.
Lesson # 2.1:
If Judah could land on this version (2006) of Floyd, so can Manny. Mayweather is an orthodox right-handed boxer (with his left as his lead front hand). He is surprisingly vulnerable to the body when he chooses to have a more offensive stance. However, Mayweather had a pretty squared up shoulder in facing Zab, and used less of a shoulder roll defense. In other words, Floyd was not defensively oriented during the first two rounds. This may, or may not, be the case versus a dangerous southpaw like Manny. Therefore, we should be careful from comparing apples and oranges.
The Judah fight does show that Floyd is hittable, even when backing up. Remember, Judah fought with a 22" arm length (similar to Manny's 23") compared to Floyd's 26". Was this part of a brilliant strategy by the Mayweather camp to draw in Judah - to make him come forward? Possibly. This may have been a trick/ploy from Floyd. By being aggressive himself, he invited Judah's attack so Floyd could outclass him with accurate counters. As Judah grew in (false) confidence, Floyd outboxed Judah in the later rounds. Roach and Pacquiao may have used this same strategy against Cotto. Manny pretended to be vulnerable in the first two rounds to invite Cotto forward, and to make Cotto vulnerable by letting the Puerto Rican throw his lead left jabs (his best punch, along with the left hook to the body). This allowed Manny to outclass an opened up Cotto, who became susceptible to counters to the body from Manny's left, and to blows to the head from Manny's right hook.
Lesson # 2.2: The outcome of Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather, Jr will be decided in the first four rounds (with an estimated 80% confidence level). Just like chess - how you open up the board dictates how the pieces will be positioned and played for the duration of the game. The opening determines two military principles: (1) the operational tempo - the "rhythm," and speed with which your forces engage the enemy. For instance, the U.S. Navy Seals have a "shock and awe" tempo against its adversaries. And, (2) the "center of gravity" - where your forces/power are concentrated. Is the "center of gravity" to the left, to the right, in the middle, against the ropes, is it dispersed? Roach will want a definable and tangible center of gravity. Floyd will want a dispersed and undefinable center of gravity. At the very least, Floyd wants a dynamic and constantly shifting center of gravity so that his accurate punches can slow down and/or stop a probably advancing Pacquiao.
Analogy:
A good analogy to use is this. Manny is like a roving tank looking to bulldoze his enemy once engaged - or if he can engage at all. Floyd will be hiding with his camouflage uniform setting up all kinds of landmines and anti-personnel devices to (hopefully) blow up that roving tank.
Samurai vs Ninja.
If there is a deciding factor for either fighter in the first four rounds, that reveals our winner (again, probably with an 80% confidence level). The main unpredictability in the later rounds comes with Manny's capability of knocking down Floyd once - which would alter the scorecards.
Lesson # 2.3: A peak-shape Pacquaio probably enjoys less than a 10% or 15% chance of stopping a full-fledged junior middleweight Floyd by KO or TKO. Floyd will not stop Manny either (The Filipino was able to walk through Miguel Cotto's heaviest blows), unless of course Floyd lands a tremendous punch (which is possible). By Manny in peak-shape, we mean that Manny is not training in Baguio City, Cebu, or Manila.
It will be a highly foolish and over-confident move by Team Pacquiao to train in the Philippines for this fight. Unfortunately for the People's Champ, he is constantly being bothered by "yes men," a** kissers, parasites, useless hangers on, beggars, and others pitching business deals. Manny has indicated that he would like to train in the Philippines for his next fight. From a political and business standpoint, this is prudent. He has roughly $10 million in campaign funds at stake for his May 2010 congressional electoral bid - and in his first campaign in 2007, it was reported that people simply stole his political war chest.
However, in terms of boxing, training in the Philippines will be a colossal strategic blunder against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. The Mayweather camp knows this and have their fingers crossed. Manny may be a seven time titlist in seven weight classes, but this is an area where the Titanic will be sailing full speed in the northern Atlantic confident that it can crush anything in its path, including glaciers. Congressional candidate Pacquiao may win an election. But if he goes down this path of distraction, he will lose the fight of the century. As Roach said, Manny is incapable of succeeding in both (at the same time). This will be a critical power struggle to watch and follow. That is, the power struggle between Pacquiao and Roach. Because we can already surmise that Manny will insist on Baguio or somewhere else in the Philippines. Roach will try to do what is best - he may be called "Master," but he may only have partial control of training now, at this stage of Manny's career. Training in the archipelago would be suicidal against Floyd.
The bombardment of distractions from politicians, the entertainment industry, and from the media will be enormous. History always gives us clues. When the Americans fought the Japanese in the second world war, did they place all their eggs in Bataan and Corregidor? No, at the last minute they pulled out key personnel (such as General Douglas MacArthur) in order to plan and stage a comeback. If this fight is scheduled for May or June, essentially Manny has a choice to make. Politics or boxing? Which one. Against the greatest defensive wizard of the past 10 years, this is a mutually exclusive choice. Even President Franklin Roosevelt had to make a choice. Germany or Japan? He prioritized Germany first. Then Japan. If the U.S. fought both theaters with equal prioritization at the same time, we may be yelling Heil Hitler! every morning today on our way to work or school.
Concentration of forces - center of gravity - is an inviolable principle of warfare. There are no exceptions to this rule. Zero. For thousands of years, this has been a tried and tested doctrine; from the days of warring Chinese kingdoms; to the Great Crusades that sought to free Jerusalem from the Muslims - and the use of enormously constructed siege towers; to Genghis Khan's use of heavy cavalry against fortified towns, to Hannibal the Annihilator using guerilla warfare and tactical advantages from the weather and landscape against the numerically superior ancient Roman legions; to Julius Caesar erecting two fortified walls to trap the numerically superior Gauls inside their city on a hill, and to prevent reinforcements from rescuing the trapped city. Will Manny learn the hard way? Four thousand years of history says "Yes."
The Pacquiao that embarrassed Oscar de la Hoya was probably the best version of Manny Pacquiao ever. That version was flawless, and better than the one who fought Miguel Cotto. Which brings us to our third boxer.
Caveat: The Floyd version that fought Marquez is much better and bigger than the Floyd who showed up to fight Castillo or Judah.
By Scott Heritage - Floyd Mayweather has made it obvious in numerous interviews that he only boxes these days for the money and fame. However he is still an all time great boxer, albeit not in a particularly crowd pleasing way, and is still one of the biggest draws in boxing today.
It has been said throughout Mayweather's career that he ducked the best fighters and those who he thought posed the greatest risk to him. Most recently he avoided both Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, much to the chagrin of the promoter of the pair Bob Arum.
Is Mayweather slowing down?
Mayweather fought a much smaller fighter in his last fight after his short 'retirement' in Juan Manuel Marquez. Not only this, but he came in over weight and further assured he woud have an easy fight. The fact of the mattter could be that Mayweather is simply past his best, and can only keep his unbeaten record in tact by taking easier fights than he did in the past. Similarly there were moments when he struggled with the aggressive but predictable Ricky Hatton, and nearly faltered against an arguably over the hill De La Hoya.
Pacquiao has beaten a lot of the same opponents as Mayweather, and has generally made easier work of them than he did. If Mayweather knows he isn't what he once was, then a fight against Pacquiao is the last thing his unbeaten record needs.
A man trapped by his own ego?
Despite the fact that Mayweather probably doesn't want to fight Pacquiao, it seems he may be forced into doing so by his own ego and pride. In the past he has been able to avoid fighters he didnt want to fight by virtue of the fact that there were always other options out there for him. Now however he finds himself with seemingly only one option left, and that option is Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather doesn't want to fight the other welterweights, and faces derision if he fights undersized opponents like Marquez again.
The latest
The latest from both sides seems to suggest that negotiations are going well, although other reports are saying that Mayweather is training for a fight in England next, against one or other of the Hattons. Ricky Hatton is semi retired and has already lost to Mayweather, and Matthew is less dangerous and recently drew in a close fight with Lovemore Ndou. Neither seems like a very appealing match up for Mayweather at this stage, although either would suffice as a tune up so long as the Pacquiao fight goes ahead in May.
By Dennis "dSource" Guillermo - Believe it or not, once upon a time, Floyd Mayweather Jr. spoke highly of Manny Pacquiao. That time of course was when Pacquiao was destroying legends in the lower weight classes but wasn't really considered as a logical threat to Mayweather's throne.
