It would be the classic good guy vs. bad guy fight. Manny Pacquiao, the fighter adored by millions around the globe against Floyd Mayweather Jr, the former pound for pound king. When Floyd Mayweather Jr retired from boxing, he retired his pound for pound king title as well. Very shortly afterward, in stepped Manny Pacquiao, and the rest is history.
Floyd Mayweather Jr sat back and watched Manny take what used to be his. Pacquiao has never looked back, and has demolished his opponents one by one. Pacquiao’s path of destruction covers 7 weight divisions, and 7 world titles. If he were a tornado, he would be called an F – 7 on the Fujita scale of intensity.
Mayweather is an undefeated prize fighter that has incredible defense, great timing ability, and respectable power. His knock is that he has cherry picked his opponents over time, and racked up victories over smaller guys. Floyd’s skills in the ring are not questioned, but his choice of opponents certainly are.
When Floyd returned to the ring from retirement, he took on a smaller Juan Manuel Marquez. It was an easy victory for Floyd, but yet again he was questioned for choosing a smaller guy. Pacquiao on the contrary, has taken on all comers, legends, and bigger guys, and has destroyed each one of them. It seemed as if the stage was set for Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao to finally square off, then came the steroid allegations.
Read up on Mike Marley’s article on Mayweather and steroids, and Roach here – http://http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m3d27-Coach-Roach-calls-ultimate-Mayweather-Jr-bluff-on-Pacquiao-bout
The Mayweather camp accused Pacquiao of taking steroids, and to make matters worse, they demanded that Pacquiao undergo Olympic style blood testing. This is something that no athletic commission in the United States requires. This was the final death blow that would kill any chance of the two men fighting each other.
Read up on D source’ Pacquiao retirement talk article here – http://http://www.examiner.com/x-10947-Filipino-Sports-Examiner~y2010m3d23-Retirement-talks-sound-like-Manny-Pacquiao-is-ready-to-be-a-politician
Pacquiao would go on and destroy Joshua Clottey, and Mayweather is scheduled to fight Shane Mosley. There is a rematch clause in the contract that mandates that Mosley and Mayweather fight again. Pacquiao is currently running for a congressional seat in the Philippines, and has recently stated that he, “does not need Floyd.”
Mississippians across the state who follow this sport overwhelmingly want the fight to happen. Boxing fans across the world want the fight to happen. During my coverage of the last fight card in Tunica, MS, I asked several of the fighters, the fans, and some boxing trainers about the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight. The general consensus? This fight must happen. Unfortunately, it may not.
Pacquiao has earned all of the money that he will ever need in his lifetime. He has a vision to serve his people in politics. He has nothing else to prove, and it seems as if Mayweather will throw every obstacle in the book in the way to prevent the fight from happening anyway. Floyd will not retract his demands for blood testing, and Pacquiao wont stoop to any level that questions his integrity. Hopefully I am wrong! I along with most boxing fans hope that this fight will indeed happen.
Read Pacquiao and Roach interviews here – http://www.8countnews.com
