Subtlety often lies in clues. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
About a week ago, a new speed bag bearing the face of Floyd Mayweather arrived at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, site of Wednesday’s open media day workout held for Manny Pacquiao. On Monday, that bag (courtesy of famous lawyer Robert Shapiro) was hung to the right of a poster of Pacquiao.
When Pacquiao saw this speed bag he greeted it with laughter, and according to those present, was very deliberate in just what he wanted to do with this bag. It was he (Pacquiao) who decided to hang a poster of his vintage self against Miguel Cotto next to this bag with Mayweather’s likeness. Pacquiao’s form against Cotto is generally regarded by many as the best we’ve ever seen.
In an almost arrogant metaphorical sense, the 8 division world champion was trying to tell us – and Mayweather – that the best version of him yet will be showcased on May 2.
Mayweather, who appeared very serious and intense during his open media workout on Tuesday, got that message very loud and clear, as he made a point of having a poster of himself and Pacquiao (eyes and mouth taped up) in front of his speed bag altered to reflect his surly disposition. Mayweather last had something like this done just ahead of his fight with Canelo.
But compare the brash and confident Mayweather (in the above video about to fight Canelo) with the one you saw the other day set to face Pacquiao. This Mayweather (the version to be unveiled on May 2), seems insulted in a very somber way. He struck both the speed bag and the heavy bag – knowing his Filipino nemesis would be watching – with a purpose that seemed to reflect a shocked disbelief at Pacquiao’s audacity.
When told before his workout on Wednesday that Mayweather seemed to be planning on fighting him very aggressively, Pacquiao’s eyes radiated with the type of joy and happiness you’d expect from a child at Chuck E. Cheese’s.
“If he (does) that, that’s good for me,” Pacquiao said. “I like that. We’ll see. That’s what I want, and that’s definitely what the fans want — action.”
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, reheated and served up Floyd’s entree from the other day of Pacquiao being ‘reckless’ and prone to mistakes. Mayweather, of course, decided to serve yet another portion of this dish at the conclusion of his workout on Tuesday, telling assembled media that Pacquiao is “a very, very reckless fighter”.
Perhaps knowing that this was strategically designed to make Pacquiao more careful in his approach (and thus, easier for Mayweather to study), the unequivocal star of this event so far, Freddie Roach, snapped “we’re not going for that bulls***” and “we’re going to fight our fight”.
When asked for his thoughts on Mayweather’s characterization of being ‘reckless’, Pacquiao offered a cryptic response. “Reckless fighter?” Pacquiao said. “That’s how people like me and love me, because they like an exciting fight. We call this boxing.”
Shortly thereafter, Pacquiao proceeded to go through a very light workout routine with Roach that – to the uninitiated, wasn’t really worth much in substance. But upon further inspection, at least according to these eyes, the two seemed plugged into Floyd’s matrix, as Roach Morpheus’d his way around the ring while “Pac-Man” pursued in Neo-like fashion.
Pacquiao revealed a glimpse of Gennady “GGG” Golovkin in his attack, as he rhythmically used his footwork to cut the ring into fragments while positioning himself for explosive bursts. Only on select occasions during the brief session did he flash dynamic speed.
“I really believe in my fighter and this is the best I’ve ever seen him. Ever,” said a very proud Roach. “We have unbelievable hand speed, foot speed and power. Floyd’s in a lot of trouble and I can’t wait for this fight to start.”
Neither can we.
