Over the course of the last few days here in Las Vegas, one thing has become clear: if Manny Pacquiao defeats Timothy Bradley, we have a duty within the media to hound Floyd Mayweather when he fights on May 3 for answers.
Answers as to why he will not fight Manny Pacquiao. If we fail to do so, we have failed collectively in the media. How can we sit idly and allow Mayweather to earn a quarter of a million US dollars for his last six fights without him stepping into a ring against a rival who has been the other great stand-out of this generation.
If Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, or any other great individual in a sport had patently avoided their closest rivals, what would we do ? We would hound them until we got an answer. We would ridicule them for avoiding the most probing examinations possible.
Forget the riches and the records. For boxing’s sake, Mayweather should be accountable.
Miguel Cotto told me here yesterday that he could not choose between them. That it has to be a 50/50 fight. He has been in there with both men. And he knows their movements, feints, power and skillsets.
Victory for Pacquiao, who has transcended boxing, compels us to get answers. Pacquiao’s journey now is bigger than just boxing, bigger than just prize-fighting. He is a fighting for a people. He says its “God’s Will”.
Pacquiao explained that he believes “it is God’s will” that he fights, and he wishes to become “a public servant to do service for God” to rid his country of poverty.
Pacquiao grew up in abject poverty in a shanty town, often sleeping in a cardboard box, and now counts among his friends ex-US President Bill Clinton. Pacquiao has earned over $150 million US in his career, and is boxing’s only world champion in history over eight weight divisions in a career spanning 19 years and 62 fights. He wants to move into public service permanently when he retires.
When I was sitting in the MGM Grand Garden Arena with Manny Pacquiao this week interviewing him, as he surveyed the silent arena, I asked him about Mayweather.
For several years, boxing fans have demanded a match-up with the sport’s leading fighter, Floyd Mayweather Jnr, who is unbeaten. Thus far, Mayweather has been unwilling to fight the Filipino.
“If we can’t fight, maybe we can play basketball against each other, one-on-one,” joked Pacquiao.
But really, that’s not satisfactory. We need answers from Mayweather. And the great, undefeated fighter should want to answer those questions. And that answer should come in the week of May 3, when Mayweather faces Marcos Maidana.
