(IB-JUNE 25, 2010) The closer contract negotiations between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. seem to be reaching a point where the fight may actually happen, Mayweather, Jr. routinely flexes his muscle.
The now irrelevant Mayweather demanded Olympic-style blood testing debacle, which prevented the first attempts at a fight date scheduling, has been bowed down to by Pacquao and new reports surface that Mayweather, Jr demands a 60/40 purse split for the fight.
Mayweather, Jr. representatives deny involvement in any contract negotiations…PERIOD!
There has to be some sense of legitimacy that reports from both sides seem to be trying to give boxing fans the impression that this fight is of little concern to either Pacquiao or Mayweather, Jr.
The mere fact that Manny Pacquiao succumbed to the blood testing demands by Mayweather, Jr. now leaves “Money” in the position he said he deserved from the start of the hype for the mega-buck battle.
Most observers felt, in the beginning, that Manny Pacquiao was in the driver’s seat of any negotiations for a fight with the fresh out of retirement Mayweather, Jr.
The dismantling of Juan Marquez by Mayweather, Jr. complicated things for Pacquiao in that Mayweather, Jr. appeared to have lost nothing during a nearly two-year layoff from boxing.
Still, the Pacquiao following had grown in such astonishing numbers that the ego of Mayweather, Jr. could not tolerate ANYONE uttering the words “The pound-for-pound best fighter in the world is Manny Pacquiao”.
So began the Team Mayweather strategy to lure Manny Pacquiao into a battle of not only boxing abilities but understanding the marketing and financial build-up for what will be the highest revenue generating fight in boxing history.
Bob Arum of Top Rank is the promoter of Manny Pacquiao and has done a remarkable job in getting everyone around the world to appreciate the grit and “warrior mentality” of the little man from the Philippines, but Arum was caught sleeping when the Mayweather clan went on the assault with verbal tirades accusing Pacquiao of being on some type of performance enhancing drug.
Mentioning the size and power differences from Pacquiao some 7-8 years earlier was a calculated tactic employed by Team Mayweather that could be applied to most any active boxer.
Pacquiao felt he had no alternative but to file a lawsuit against the insinuators Roger and Floyd, Sr. Mayweather, and Oscar de la Hoya and Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions in federal court that will at some point force the above mentioned accusers to provide proof of their allegations.
But for some reason the ability to manipulate the media and strangely have most take the side of Mayweather in questioning Pacquiao’s strength and endurance during a period when Mayweather, Jr. himself was inactive in the ring, seems rather absurd.
The attempts by uncle Roger Mayweather and father Floyd Mayweather, Sr. to put in the minds of some boxing fans the idea that Manny Pacquiao was “dirty”, at first bordered on insanity.
But the more the media gave the Mayweather clan access to demean and defame Pacquiao, they were more than happy to take advantage of the opportunity of what the American press allowed.
Manny Pacquiao is in the same mold as was Shane Mosley in the last fight Floyd Mayweather, Jr. had.
Pacquiao and his team are “mental midgets” in comparison to the Mayweather clan in promoting a boxing match of major dimensions such as the one being attempted.
This phrasing should not be considered a slap in the face of Manny Pacquiao but more of an understanding of what the Mayweather’s do…and do very well.
There will come a time when this fight is finally set for production and then the fun will really begin as the verbal assault Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will launch into against Manny Pacquiao will be like none seen before.
When “Money” Mayweather gets the opportunity to attack Manny Pacquiao face-to-face there is nothing that is “off-limits” as far as Mayweather is concerned.
Pacquiao had better be prepared to hear things about wife Jinkee, his mother, his brothers and sister’s, and even his family pets when Mayweather, Jr. REALLY starts hyping this fight.
Being “thick-skinned” is much easier said than done, and if Manny Pacquiao can do what none other has been able to do he will master Floyd Mayweather, Jr. both in and out of the ring on fight night.
Not Oscar de la Hoya, not Zab Judah, not Diego Corrales, and not Shane Mosley were able to keep complete control when having to deal with the P.T. Barnum of boxing.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has the “gift-of-gab” that few possess, but he’s never been in the ring with a hurricane the likes of Manny Pacquiao.
Manny Pacquiao is the true SUPERMAN of boxing representing truth, justice, and in the American way.
Pacquiao is always the gentleman in considering the paths both he and his opponent have taken, to where they finally collide in the ring.
Manny Pacquiao travels with a select group, albeit huge, of supporters that give him relief and support which oddly keeps him loose and comfortable as well as grounded.
The now Congressman Pacquiao has vowed to be a part of the solution in bringing his home country of the Philippines into world prominence.
If Manny Pacquiao were to show his “dark side” and when confronted by Mayweather, Jr., directly ask, and continue to ask “Money” what he has done in Michigan or anywhere else in the USA to fight the drug problem that has so decimated his own family, he could possibly rattle the cage of the reigning champion of insult.
How well do you think Mayweather, Jr. could handle a constant barrage of questions regarding his own family, if that were the route Pacquiao or someone from his team chose to travel?
The build-up to this fight will no doubt be in some fashion entertaining, if you like seeing another human being ridiculed, embarrassed, and humiliated as Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will do to Manny Pacquiao.
Should Manny Pacquiao come up with some plan to de-rail the Mayweather Express as it launches it’s media attack, he will destroy the “legend in his own mind” Floyd Mayweather, Jr. outside of the ring and the end result will be a devastating KO by Pacquiao over Mayweather, Jr.
The media will not be able to help Mayweather, Jr. when he is confronted head-on with the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Manny Pacquiao.
Manny Pacquiao is tired of all the nonsense spewed by the Mayweather clan and his intention is to put an end to all the controversy by putting Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on his back whenever they meet in the ring.
Mayweather, Jr. wants a 60/40 split, he wants the fight held in Las Vegas, he wants, and wants, and wants, when in the end he seems to be forgetting one thing…be careful what you want, because sometimes it comes back to bite you in the butt.
Manny Pacquiao will KNOCKOUT Floyd Mayweather, Jr. no matter where they fight, no matter what concessions he has made, and no matter what amount of the purse he gets. He is on a mission and it’s awfully tough to defeat a man on a mission.
Manny Pacquiao is simply the best fighter in the world today, and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will eventually have to step up to the plate and take his medicine.
