Tungod, Inabanga, Bohol? There is no denying. Floyd Mayweather Jr is an unbelievable boxing specimen. His work ethic is topnotch. His skills and cunning are better than a vast majority in his line of work. These are the reasons why his record is still immaculate? unscathed? undefeated. Couple that with careful matchmaking and you?ll have a boxing figure who seems invincible, especially to the untrained eye. His fighting style, especially in the welterweight ranks, however, isn?t one that mesmerize fans. Apart from a relative few who appreciate technique over machismo, boxing fans more often than not clamor for war and aggression than avoidance and protection. That is probably the reason why there are a whole lot more boxing fanatics who follow professional boxing more than they do amateur boxing.
Floyd?s recent fighting style is borderline amateurish. Before you make any hasty remarks, take note of the word ?recent?. Perhaps we can blame it on his brittle hands. It seems so long ago when these same pair of fists looked so devastating when he was still campaigning around the lighweight category. As he moved up in weight, his knockout ratio considerably dropped? so did his willingness to face better competition.
Sugar Shane Mosley was by far the toughest challenge he faced. No disrepect to Hatton and Marquez, but these guys didn?t give much of a fighting chance before, during and after they fought Floyd. They fought handicapped, forced to move up in weight by the guy who should have been the one giving concessions in terms of the weight issues. But that?s all water under the bridge now. A smaller guy who is also willing to take those same concessions is waiting in the wings and eager to test Mayweather?s mettle ? Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao. It is the lone showdown that everybody? and I mean EVERYBODY wants to see.
Unfortunately, though, Mayweather seems to be more inclined to throw verbal jabs on youtube and other media outlets thousands of miles away from his supposed opponent than actual boxing jabs thrown inside the squared circle.
Mayweather considers himself as the face of boxing. Yet, he almost always does something that makes him unworthy to carry the torch. He can?t be the sport?s ambassador. Not with his racist and chauvinistic inclinations? not with his egotistic and pompous demeanor? not with his violence against women? and certainly not with his unwillingness to take the challenge.
Pacquiao said it best when asked to comment about Mayweather?s racist remarks against him. The Filipino pride dismissed Mayweather?s comments as ?uneducated?. Indeed, Mayweather doesn?t have the character of a true professional. Therefore, he ought not to consider himself as such!
Comments are highly appreciated. You may write them below or send them to [email protected] me on twitter reylan_l