Speaking about his upcoming bout with Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather again repeated his often used mantra: ‘All roads lead to Floyd Mayweather’.
Like him or hate him, this might well have been true in the past, with Floyd being the fight everyone, including Manny Pacquiao wanted.
Since the ensuing feud after the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather talks broke down though, there is now another path for up and coming welterweights to make a name for themselves. The divide is fairly clear for any fighter, either they side with Golden Boy and eventually look to fight Mayweather or they side with Top Rank and eventually fight Pacquiao.
So the idea that all roads lead to Mayweather clearly isn’t true anymore, if it ever truly was. There is at least one other path for an aspiring fighter to choose. Already we have Amir Khan on the path towards a Mayweather clash, perhaps because he didn’t want to fight training partner Manny Pacquiao. On the other side we have Edwin Valero and Antonio Margarito being lined up to fight Pacquiao.
John Robinson, Pittsburgh PA: “The boxing world needs to leave Floyd and his testing demands to fight lightweights and aim for the real champion, Manny Pacquiao”
Jason Phillips, Philadelphia PA:”Floyd needs to realize he isn’t the biggest star in boxing anymore. Pacquiao is a more exciting fighter, he’s easier to deal with and more respectful to his opponents. Until Floyd starts to act more like a fighter and less like he’s too good ti fight anyone, he’ll never be number one”
While Manny might be the more attractive option for a lot of fighters, there aren’t many who would turn down the kind of money a fight with Mayweather fight could offer. The extra testing and lack of choosing the venue is worth the risk to some fighters, particularly if they are struggling to put together big fights otherwise.
Pacquiao is the other path to the top (AP Photo)
Anubis, via email:”Mayweather will get a little respect for beating Mosley if it looks like a fight and not Mosley laying over problem is Mosley is 38 why didn’t Mayweather fight him earlier before retirement To decide who the best is Mayweather has to fight Manny or he will become 2nd fiddle because Manny is fighting everyone while Mayweather has been selective Taking lower weight guys making them come up in weight to fight isn’t a champion A Champion is someone who will go down in weight or go up in weight to beat the best”
The fight between Mayweather and Mosley was put off a number of times, although back then Mayweather was the one who was asking for it. Mosley was the star and Floyd was the up and coming young fighter looking to make a name for himself. Now though Mosley is older and needs the fight while Mayweather is the star everyone wants a piece of.
Bill Shepherd, Greensburg PA: “The biggest fight for Pacquiao is Mayweather, and the biggest fight for any other fighter is Mayweather as well, so all roads do lead to Mayweather. Pacquiao is a flash in the pan, and when he tests positive, Floyd will still be there as the best fighter in the sport”
If Pacquiao hasn’t tested positive by now, then he probably isn’t going to. Mayweather on the other hand is known to use Xylocaine, so if he fights outside Nevada or they change the laws there, then he might test positive. I wouldn’t be so sure Floyd will be fighting any longer than Manny anyway, it doesn’t look likely Manny is only going for another couple of fights, despite what he might have said before Cotto.
