“We don’t the fine details I’m just a judge, you gotta understand, but obviously Floyd felt that Manny was hiding something and wanted an Olympic Drug Testing, he didn’t get it so he didn’t take the fight, and it’s as simple as that. Whether it was right or wrong, I don’t know. Should he gets by Shane Mosley, Pac gets by Joshua Clottey, which could end up not happening, they can start negotiating again.” Said Mr. Lederman as he talked about the Pacquiao and Mayweather failed negotiation
Read the transcript below for the rest of the interview
OS: Mayweather vs. Mosley is set to happen on May 1. What is the last fight between two American fighters of their caliber, do you remember that matches the hype on this fight?
HL: I don’t know. This is already one of the biggest fights since Hagler vs. Leonard. You know, I think the world is gonna be in for a good one and it’s gonna be about the biggest fight since Hagler vs Leonard between Americans in history.
OS: Do you think the fact that Mayweather is about to face Mosley erases the perception of him about avoiding the toughest competition since moving up to the welterweight division?
HL: All I can say is it’s gonna be a great fight for Mayweather Jr. and it’s gonna be a great fight for Mosley
OS: The Pacquiao vs. Mayweather negotiations had a lot of drama. What do you think Mayweather could have done differently that would have made his insistence on having an Olympic drug testing more smoothly?
HL: We don’t the fine details I’m just a judge, you gotta understand, but obviously Floyd felt that Manny was hiding something and wanted an Olympic Drug Testing, he didn’t get it so he didn’t take the fight, it’s as simple as that. Whether it was right or wrong, I don’t know. Should he gets by Shane Mosley , Pac gets by Joshua Clottey, which could end up not happening, they can start negotiating again.
OS: Yeah, there’s too much money for it not to happen.
HL: There too much demand from the public for it not to happen.
OS: Mosley has problems with fighters with great jabs and Mayweather certainly has that. What do you think Mosley needs to do to be successful against Mayweather?
HL: I think he’s going to rely on his hand speed . You know the same hand speed he used against Margarito. You know really, really good speed, really, really good movement. I think he’s going to have to put on a lot of pressure on Floyd. In general he’s got to put a lot of pressure on him and go to the body. I think he’s gotta throw the first punch
OS: Pacquiao is set to face Clottey on March 13 and his training is going well and is ahead of schedule according to reports, while Clottey is yet to start intense training due to his failure to get his training staff situated. Do you think it will have a big impact on the fight?
HL: Let me tell you something on March the 13th, I think they are both going to be ready. I think they will both make the weight and I think it’s going to be a good fight. I’ll be amazed if Manny Pacquiao is able to knock out Joshua Clottey. Joshua Clottey can take a hell of a punch. I mean, Clottey is the bigger, stronger guy. He’s got a very good chance to win this fight. You know, I vision this fight going to the distance. As I said I’m not exactly a 100 percent sure who’s going to win this fight, but I think it’s going to be a very good fight.
OS: Yes, I think Joshua Clottey is a very underrated fighter
HL: Yeah he is underrated, there’s no doubt about it.
OS: You’ve been able to follow Pacquiao for most of his career. What do you think it is about Pacquiao that is often underestimated by his opponents that often leads to their demise?
HL: You know listen, everyone knows what they are getting when they fight Manny Pacquiao. It’s not like it’s his first professional fight. Everyone has seen him plenty of times. The question is how you handle that speed, the power, the ring generalship. So far for a long time, only Marquez has been able to do that.
OS: You’ve been covering boxing for awhile, what is the most memorable fight for you as far as being there live?
HL: There’s no doubt about that it’s Wilfredo Gomez vs. Lupe Pintor. At the time Wilfredo Gomez was the reigning 122 lbs champion and Lupe Pintor was the reigning WBC 118 lbs. champion and they went at it like cats and dogs until Lupe until the 14th round when Lupe fell down and the ref counted him out. The most memorable fight I ever saw live.
OS: Thank You Mr. Lederman for giving your time.
HL: Your welcome.
