Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is the carrot. The stick is what we?re hit with, again and again, as if we were jackasses?
?You can?t believe anything anybody says in boxing.??Don King
Friday night at The Illusions Theater in San Antonio, Texas, WBA super welterweight champion Erislandy Lara (20-2-2, 12 KOs) successfully defended his title by decisioning Ishe Smith (26-7, 12 KOs) by scores of 117-111 and 119-109 twice.
There were no surprises in the bout. The faster Lara danced circles around Sugar Shay. He was too skilled, too strong, too experienced for the limited Smith to contend with.
?I?m an experienced fighter and I know how to read my opponent,? said Lara after the fight. ?I read Ishe in the first round and I set up my game plan. He tried to break my concentration with his cheap tactics and dances, but I know how to control myself. I can control my impulses and I don?t let anything get in the way.?
Lara, naturally, called out Floyd Mayweather, who was conveniently sitting ringside.
?I want Floyd for my next fight,? he said. ?He?s the best pound-for-pound, and I want to fight the best. I already beat Canelo and everybody else in the division.?
Mayweather gave no indication that he?s interested in fighting Lara. The man he wants to fight, according to a much publicized interview he gave to Steve Farhood, is none other than Manny Pacquiao.
?There?s an 800-pound gorilla in the room,? said Farhood. ?His name is Manny Pacquiao. Negotiations have begun for a fight between you and Manny. Do you want to fight Manny Pacquiao??
?Absolutely,? replied Mayweather, ?absolutely. I would love to fight Manny Pacquiao. We tried to make the fight happen years ago. We had problems with random blood and urine testing. I just want to have an even playing field. He?s in a very tight situation. He?s lost to Marquez. He?s lost to Bradley. Pay-per-view are down extremely low. So he?s desperate. I?ve wanted that fight a long time ago and I?m just waiting on them. Of course we have to make the fight happen on Showtime Pay-Per-View. Showtime Championship Boxing is number one and will remain number one. And I?m the man and I?m here to stay.?
Farhood asked the pitchman if, assuming the ?negatives? can be overcome, his next fight will be against Pacquiao.
?Absolutely,? he said. ?Floyd Mayweather is not ducking or dodging any opponent. Bob Arum?s stopping this fight. We?ve been trying to make this fight happen behind the scenes for years now. The fans, the people have been fooled because they have been listening to people on just one side. Now it?s time for us to talk. We?re ready. Let?s make it happen. May 2nd. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Let?s do it.?
Asked why he wants to fight Pacquiao, whether it?s ?for your fans, for your legacy, or for the money,? Mayweather said, ?A little of everything, ?cause I know he?s not on my level. The fans would love to see the fight. And of course, I want to go out with a bang. So let?s make this fight happen. Manny Pacquiao, Bob Arum, you guys have been ducking us for years. We?re tired of you guys fooling the public, fooling the critics. Before we tried to make the fight happen, you guys didn?t want to take random blood and urine testing, so that?s why the fight didn?t happen. Then I offered you 40 million. Then you didn?t want the fight to happen. You lost twice. Now you?re coming back begging for the same money. That?s not going to happen. Let?s make this fight happen for the people and for the fans.?
If this elusive white whale of a fight happens it will be nothing short of a miracle. Both sides talk, endlessly, yet both sides lack credibility. We?re being given the business, the reliable carrot and stick. Mayweather vs. Pacquiao is the carrot. The stick is what we?re hit with, again and again, as if we were jackasses, beasts of burden to be mistreated as the principals desire.
