Reader feedback prompts an explanation for my dislike of the Pretty Money Boy Child, and I show that it’s not hate, merely disappointment and disapproval.
Sometimes we get feedback here at 411mania Boxing, which we love. No really, we love it! It warms the cockles of our jaded souls. Oh yeah. I said “cockles.” You can be part of our cockles by clicking the link at the bottom of each article which says to “Email” the author of the face. Even our Boss Man Ramon takes emails from fans… although that usually requires one of us on staff to take the email and turn it into crayon-drawn stick figures illustrating the message before he actually comprehends it.
Anyway, last night I check my email, and amidst my thousands of admiring fans (I write emails to myself. Don’t judge.) I received an email from 411mania.com Boxing reader PJ Redmond of Seattle, WA. The subject simply said, “Come On, Ryan…” And he writes:
Ryan,
I just read the 411 Fact or Fiction between you and P.J. Cassidy and I’ve gotta ask: what’s up with all the Floyd hate? Yeah, Floyd talks – A LOT – but he also walks-the-walk. And, yeah, I wish he’d fight more challenging fights against elite boxers (see “Sugar” Shane), but he marches to his own drummer. Regardless, he’s still THE best draw in boxing. And there’s never been any question that Floyd is one of the most gifted boxers in history. Or how quick he is, with superb defense and how accurate he is as a counter puncher. How can you beat someone if you can’t hit ’em? And why would Floyd run from little Pacquiao!?? Every other article on the web is devoted to how Manny’s going to destroy Floyd b/c 1) He’s the pride of the Philippines; 2) He punches hard; and 3)…Well, he punches hard. I wonder if the people jocking Manny have actually seen his fights prior to the last three or are they feeding off Mayweather hate from folks like you to determine the winner. Just b/c Floyd’s almost universally hated, he’s STILL the most talented fighter in the sport which is somehow being overlooked.
Moreover, Mayweather already agreed to the “terms” AND a March 13 OR May 1st fight date prior to Arum flying out to the Philippines to meet with Pacquiao. Mayweather stepped up and agreed to the fight first. Arum was so surprised he basically ran to Pacquiao pleading, “TAKE THE DEAL!!” Besides, as Cassidy pointed out, this fight is too big for boxing to not make it happen. Floyd loves to play the bag guy, as he’s doing here, but when it’s all said and done, it’ll probably be the same result (Floyd by UD or late stoppage).
So please, put aside your bias and let’s both eagerly await the official announcement by Top Rank and Golden Boy promotions and when it’s done, let’s sit back and watch what should be a great fight between boxing’s best.
– PJ The Anti-Hater
I responded to him, but let me first state some things:
— First, I received my “Fact or Fiction” questions early Friday morning, which was an abnormal time schedule due to the fact that Boss Man Ramon has been out the large majority of last week and this week due to marrying, honeymooning, and probably sexing. (What? You would too. Let’s call a spade a spade.) So when I submitted my answer, there was no alleged “deal” between the two. As it stands, I’m still very wary of this “deal,” I’ll believe it when I see it,
— I’m not “hating” on Floyd. If so, I also “hate” on Joel Casamayor for never giving Jose Armando Santa-Cruz a rematch in the boxing equivalent of highway robbery. There are things I like and things I don’t like, and I’m entitled to that just like anyone else.
With those being said, I still felt like PJ, like other fans, had every right to question me, about Floyd or anyone, so I set about to answering him, starting with:
PJ: (because that’s his name)
First off, thanks for the response. I love it when people write in about our writings! I love it more when people agree with me, but not everyone can be correct all the time like I am.
OK, OK, I kid, I kid.
I’ll tell you what started it all: At one point in time, I was amazed by Floyd’s almost-unreal skills. I was put off by his running of the mouth, but it is what it is. Muhammad Ali had one of the biggest smack-talking lips of all time, and yet we still love him.
But then at one point, Floyd Mayweather Jr declared himself “the Greatest of All Time.” The fans didn’t. The fellow boxers didn’t. The press didn’t. Not even the historians. Floyd Mayweather Jr declared himself the G.O.A.T. And that’s a level of lip that demands proof.
And yet, he fights guys like Sharmba Mitchell, and Carlos Baldomir. You have to beat the best to BE the best, and if Mitchell and Baldomir are the best boxing had to offer, well, I’m going to switch to professional curling. Instead, there were guys like Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, even Andre Berto, of whom Floyd Mayweather Jr. wanted no part of. Instead, he wanted past-their-prime guys like De La Hoya (a cash cow, so I can understand the basis there), he wanted the king of 140 to bloat up to welterweight, and he wanted the king of the lightweights to fatten himself up to “144,” which in itself was a fraud as he hid from the press and the public that it was really 147 and bought himself a $600,000 2-pound advantage which he didn’t even need. But we all know Floyd doesn’t like playing on a fair table anyway.
Meanwhile, while Floyd is claiming he was “bored” with the sport, a little man came up from the very light weights and manhandled David Diaz in Diaz’s weight class, he played a vicious game of “Anything-You-Can-Do-I-Can-Do-Better” with DLH and Hatton, and dismantled Miguel Cotto in Pacquiao’s first catchweight, and delivered such a pounding that only potentially-tainted Capetillo gloves could match. And yet, when asked about his greatness, and how, in winning seven world belts in seven different weight classes, he truly has achieved something historic — historic, with figures and statistics to back it up, not just his own lip — this Manny Pacquiao said he was just “an ordinary fighter.” Why should I not like him better than Floyd? He fights the best, he beats the best, and he remains fairly humble about it. And given the choice, I’d listen to Manny’s music over Floyd any day (although that’s not saying a whole lot).
