The speed of the boss is the speed of the team.”
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Lee Iacocco
There’s a predominate thought when it comes to Floyd Mayweather in watching him over the years, that even if he starts behind many- he can always go further.
Time and again, we’ve watched him lure fighters into a ring game of poker, with the total understanding of not only what’s in their hand – but what’s in their mind. Whenever he felt like it, he’d switch games and simply engage them in a NASCAR race, while knowing his is a car equipped with enough NOS to get to the finish line unscathed.
But what happens when someone else understands your pattern at the poker table and has peeked under the hood of your car?
Time, like it has done again and again, will change the rules of engagement and prove that no one is immortal or capable of fooling it. And usually, as is the pattern, we are beaten by the very things that once allowed us to claim victory.
If at once subtle– it now seems glaringly obvious, that Floyd’s opponent on May 2nd, Manny Pacquiao, will have natural advantages over him. Advantages that he once tried to convince himself – and others – were derived from things artificial.
But watching him spar yesterday, in 0:15 seconds of what is really shocking video (its hard to believe he released this), you almost can’t help but notice the irony of former Pacquiao strength & fitness coach Alex Ariza in the background. Sure, Floyd looks stronger, and seems to think coming forward against Pacquiao (in an attempt to perhaps make him fight backwards) will bolster his chances of winning.
However, what I see, is a 38 year-old fighter who’s about to run into the spinning blades of Pacquiao’s wheelhouse. Apparent in Floyd’s ho-hum (and BORING) decision rematch win over Marcos Maidana, was his unwillingness to punch with a slow plodder like “Chino”, and all he had was a southpaw version of that in front of him for a sparring partner who seemed fond of him (was that like.. was that Justin Beiber for f*cks sake?!). His lateral speed, quickness, reflexes and general coordination is in steep decline based on the eye test from 2014, and this footage isn’t helping.
Granted, fighting in headgear and probably 12oz gloves will reduce some aspects- but not the things just mentioned. Contrast his rigid body, legs and overall movement with that of Pacquiao, seen in this footage from yesterday.
It remains to be seen whether or not chopping wood, pulling on band aids or getting stretched by Ariza won’t result in getting him stretched on May 2nd.
If Floyd did in fact release this video (and according to Neal Anthony Johnson with Hoop Jab, he allowed it), it is a campaign decision of some sort that’s confusing. Pacquiao (a congressman in his native Philippines), understands all too well that what occurs on May 2nd will not be politics, rather artistry.
In the political arena- you can lie to cover up the truth. Whereas an artist, he can lie to reveal the truth while exposing fiction. And therein lies the whole thing, because it would seem that in the irony of all ironies, there’ll be an unlikely politician and a starving artist in there on May 2nd.
To piggyback on Iacocca’s quote at the beginning of this (and something delved into further during the 5th installment of “The Superfight Edition”), once you’re over-the-hill you begin to pick up speed. Or maybe what’s being seen just isn’t true.
It could all be cars merely revving up their engines for smoke and theater. But if a lie has speed, then the truth has endurance.
