Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Paulie Malignaggi have been known to share similar opinions in the past. They both believe the younger Floyd to be the best boxer in the world, and both believe in the merits of skill rather than aggression in boxing.
They have also both said on numerous occasions that they believe Manny Pacquiao is taking some kind of performance enhancing drugs, which they attribute his multiple division success to.
In recent interviews though, their statements sounded so similar that they seem to be virtually reading from the same hymn sheet. Both have made similar accusations in the past, and as before neither have any evidence or particular reason for trying to ruin Pacquiao’s reputation.
Malignaggi might well just be trying to get under the skin of his next opponent and Pacquiao’s stable mate Amir Khan. Why Mayweather Sr. feels the need to weigh in though isn’t so clear. Especially given his son is more than capable of voicing his own often controversial opinions.
Speaking to BoxingScene, Mayweather Sr. said:
“To really be honest, I think Floyd would whoop his ass without [the drug tests]. I wouldn’t advise him to do that, but I think that he can do that. I seen what Cotto was doing to him. He’s beatable with a jab. Cotto is not as fast as little Floyd and he’s not as accurate as little Floyd with any kind of punches, so I don’t think Floyd would have a problem doing that for a good ten rounds, twelve rounds,”
Obviously Mayweather Sr. backing his son to beat anyone isn’t out of the ordinary. What his statements imply though it that fighting Pacquiao with or without extra testing would make a difference to the outcome. Obviously unless he’s referring to the fact that Pacquiao believes he would be weakened if he underwent random drug testing, then he is implying that Pacquiao is taking something that would give him an advantage.
For someone who claims that 90% of the media, fighters and fans don’t know anything about boxing, he also served up some rather bizarre logic when asked about his son being accused of ducking Antonio Margarito in the past.
“He whooped two people [last Saturday night]. Do you know what two people he whooped? He whooped Margarito’s ass because Margarito was saying little Floyd was scared of him. Do you think Margarito is scared of him now or he’s not? Because Shane knocked the sh*t out of him and Floyd knocked the sh*t out of Shane,”
For a self professed boxing expert, Mayweather seems to have a rather odd view of how boxing works. By his logic, Manny Pacquiao beating Miguel Cotto means he also beat Shane Mosley.
Does Malignaggi wish he was as good as Mayweather? (AP Photo)
Paulie Malignaggi said virtually the same thing in an interview of his own to BoxingScene ahead of his clash with rising Golden Boy star Amir Khan:
“I believe Pacquiao is on something. It really comes down to the test. Because I believe Pacquiao is on a lot of good stuff, so if they don’t take a test, Pacquiao probably walks through Mayweather because whatever he’s on is some strong stuff and he’s walking through everybody,”
He went on to say that he believes Mayweather would beat Pacquiao if the random testing went ahead.
“If you have that kind of drug testing in fight with Manny Pacquiao, he don’t last eight rounds. You won’t see the same Manny Pacquiao that you’ve been seeing. You say ‘wow, Manny Pacquiao looks like a killer.’ You put him on the drug test and watch him not look like a killer.”
Malignaggi seems to see a lot of himself in Floyd Mayweather Jr. Both rely on skill rather than aggression to win fights, and both like to talk a lot of trash to hype up their fights. That’s about where the similarities end though. Mayweather is depending on personal opinion, either the best or second best fighter in the world. Malignaggi is seen as a stepping stone who will help Golden Boy to put Amir Khan on the map in two weeks time.
Howard Green, Pittsburgh: “Why does Malignaggi always talk like him and Mayweather are best friends or something. He wishes he was half the fighter Floyd is but Amir Khan is going to walk right through him in ten days”
Paul Simonsen, Philly: “The predator obviously isn’t worried about slander with all the things he comes out with. I hope he has a good lawyer”
Daniel Barnes, Pittsburgh: “Mayweather and Paulie are both right and they shouldn’t stop saying it just because people don’t like to hear it. Pacquiao has no reason not to get tested except he needs time to cycle off the roids. It isn’t a coincidence that 24 days is long enough to test clean for lots of drugs”
