?I have had an unbelievable career. It all started with my father. If it wasn?t for him I wouldn?t be where I am today. When you put all the pieces to the puzzle together, I just feel like I?m the center piece. Every day when I think about my career I don?t regret anything. We will go down in history as some of the best fighters, the fighting Mayweathers.”–FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR.
Or, as Muhammad Ali sidekick Drew “Bundini” Brown used to emote, “From the root to the fruit…”
Those appreciative words may sound strange coming from the lips of egocentric Floyd Mayeather Jr. but I don’t doubt that they are heartfelt and sincere.
The unity of “Pretty Daddy” Floyd Sr., Uncle “Black Mamba” and Prodigal Prizefighter Par Excellence Floyd Jr. is, for certain, a dependable source of strength for the 47-0 Pound For Pound King going into his May 2 Monster Mash against Manny Pacquiao.
But, in the spirit of truth-telling, let’s also discuss how having either Papa and/or Rajah in his corner for a fight which seems sure to last 36 full minutes is major weakness.
It says here that, while many believe there is no way Mayweather loses his treasured unbeaten record, his Kryptonite could well turn out to be the family connection.
In one corner, the lead voice belongs to properly lionized, perennial Trainer of the Year Coach Freddie Roach.
In the “Money” corner, dueling against Manny, it looks like the lead voice (that is if Junior listens to a voice other than his own at all) is Floyd Sr.
Roach vs. Floyd Sr. is like the New England Patriots lining up against the Florence Crittenden Home for Unwed Mothers.
Roach vs. Uncle Rog is like the Patriots and the Seahawks splitting their first line players against the Carmelite Nuns.
Pacquiao may lose to Mayweather but it sure as hell won’t be because of any in the corner miscue or mistake made by Roach. Roach’s hands tremble due to Parkinson’s but his mind is a Big Fight encclopedia, firm and steady in all situations.
I’ve got respect for both Floyd Sr. and Roger as trainers. You could make the cogent argument that both of them were better as pro fighters than the easy to hit Roach was.
Even a cursory glance at Box Rec ends that discussion. Roach did not fought Mexican idol Julio Caesar Chavez twice, Roger did. And Senior fought Sugar Ray Leonard.
And Poppa and Unca are both better than average trainers. But, quick, name a great fighter not sharing their family name that either has turned into a lasting world championship level fighter?
I’ve had personal experience observing Senior’s smooth work with highly gifted but undisciplined at the dinner table Joan Guzman. And Roger, whose list of opponents puts both his brother and Roach in his rear view mirror, a poseur himself. But, again, what if there is a clash of heads (always likely in a bout in which an ultra aggressive southpaw like Pacman duels with a shoiulder-rolling defensive wizard)?
What if Mayweather is bleeding copiously? He’s got a superb cutman in octogenarian Rafael Garcia but can Head Coach restore calm if super cool Junior panics?
Flip the script, same thing happens to Megamanny. You know that Roach would quickly navigate the whitecaps, avoid rocky shoals and return to the safest harbor.
In essence, Pacquiao has “cornered” the fight night market by having an unflappable asset named Roach.
It will be Mayweather Madness if, in his toughest test, Junior does not bring a new, veteran second into his corner. Like who? I thought you would never ask…
In my next column, I shall reveal how Mayweather can possibly not only match but even “checkmate” Roach. Mayweather needs this insurance policy for what could be the most difficult 12 rounds of his magnificent career.
For pennies on the dollar, in a $300 million Super Bowl of Boxing, Mayweather would be foolish not to make the addition.
