As the boxing world waits if whether the Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather showdown will happen on March 13 and it’s realistically looking like a big “it ain’t going to happen,” it’s a matter now if whether Pacquiao wasn’t already losing interest in remaining in boxing.
If he wasn’t considering it before, I don’t blame Pacquiao for saying a “no thank you” to Arum so that he may be able to pursue other possibilities. Call these other options distractions, but it’s too late – any other pursuit for Pacquiao would not be a distraction, but rather a welcome relief to what could have been the biggest fight in boxing and in his career.
The steroid question – the blood tests, the urine tests – whatever.
It’s a distraction – a bad one – not just for Pacquiao, but for boxing in general. For an athlete, once you’re personal character and your status as a professional athlete gets questioned for the worst – it’s tragic really – a long well earned career – is suddenly filled with doubt brought on by sheer accusation and suspicion. It is rightfully so that Pacquiao filed a defamation suit against the Mayweather camp and Golden Boy.
In the pre-fight drama displayed on HBO’s 24/7, Pacquiao’s preparation revealed hobbies. The series showed glimpses of his status as a film star. Pacquiao also associated himself with local politicians. He even appeared on a TV show where he showed promise as a singer.
Finally, in the end, it was Pacquiao in the gym with Team Pacquiao to include trainer Freddie Roach, conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, and loyal members of Team Pacquiao from the Philippines and the United States.
I used the word “hobbies.” Now, however, I use the word distraction to mean people. As of now, distractions for Pacquiao are not his singing career, his political aspirations, nor even his film career. The distractions are people.
Floyd Mayweather, SR., and JR., and Golden Boy Promotions – anyone else named in Pacquiao’s lawsuit for defamation: Your grand design to get the super fight collided out of failing to give the respect and credit Pacquiao has rightfully deserved and earned. The super fight has now turned into a war of suspicion and accusation – both parties cannot believe Pacquiao’s accomplishments and have found a way to discredit him.
It’s a strange thing for the Mayweather camp and Golden Boy Promotions to do if you both lay claim to being good for the sport of boxing.
There are terms that the Mayweather camp has to accept to make this happen and there is still the issue of money – a $40 million potential purse. Floyd Mayweather, JR., better be prepared to say goodbye to the money and he will do so on his own terms. I can guarantee that if Floyd Mayweather JR does get another opponent, it won’t be PPV and it won’t be a big purse. With his recent antics with everything – gaining weight for the Marquez bout, his current baseless accusations, he just may have forced himself into his own retirement. Pacquiao can get a fight – let’s see if Mayweather can now.
Speaking of any potential Pacquiao fight, three names have entered into the mix. It’s happened within the last hour of my trying to come up this article – Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez III – this I love! Both Pacquiao and Marquez fight at their best against one another and there are no shenanigans. I love Pacquiao, but Marquez is a bull of a fighter and his two losses against Pacquiao were tough losses.
Pacquiao vs. Yuri Foreman, 28-0, 8 KO’s: Currently, Yuri Foreman lists as a light middleweight. It would be a great fight to take for Foreman. He would make the fight interesting for Pacquiao, but I’d worry about the weight
And now, Pacquiao vs. Paulie Malignaggi, 27-3, 5 KO’s – I don’t understand where he came into the light welterweight big picture. Although Malignaggi redeemed himself against Diaz, this fight would end poorly for him. Back in 2006, Malignaggi lost to Miguel Cotto in a 12 round unanimous decision. Later in 2008, he lost to champion Ricky Hatton with an 11th round TKO. As if we need reminding, Pacquiao defeated both Hatton and Cotto – rather convincingly.
Malignaggi should think this through – I mean really think it through.
I have to stop here though. I’m getting ahead of myself – it is only the beginning of 2010. My goodness, I’m finding myself getting distracted. Yes, everyone, people are distractions, not activities.
For Pacquiao, his singing, his political career, and his film career are sidelines to what has been a circus the past couple of weeks. Is he losing focus – I doubt it – because people around him – people beyond his control are distracting.
It’s been said he is losing focus.
It is the opposite; he’s keeping himself busy as other people serve as irritations. Pacquiao knows exactly what he needs to do – he’s focused. What about everyone else? I’ll tell you what they are – distracted – and it’s all their own doing.
