Everyone knew that a lot was at stake regarding the November 13th Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito fight this past Wednesday when the Tijuana brawler appeared before the California State Athletic Commission in an attempt to get his license renewed. Margarito was initially suspended in February of last year after it was discovered he had elements of plaster of paris in his hand wraps prior to his January 24th loss to Shane Mosley at the Staples Center, a bout in which he was battered around the ring before being halted in the 9th round.
Margarito?s career took a hit and a black cloud has followed him ever since. There were those in Vegas who were hopeful that Margarito would sway the CSAC his way on Wednesday, paving the way to a follow-up reinstation from Nevada with the possibility of the MGM Grand landing the fight. But as often is the case in boxing, their was an unforgiving tone in the air as Margarito?s appeal was shot down by a 5-1 clip, putting further damper on his bout with Pacquiao. If the fight is to take place in America it looks as though Texas may be the state to bail Margarito out of trouble with the fight likely ending up at Jerry Jones? elaborate Cowboys Stadium.
Their were initial hopes that Pacquiao would find himself in the ring with Floyd Mayweather on November 13th but it wasn?t to be as Mayweather was silent during the reported negotiation process and didn?t come back to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum with a definitive answer after the shrewd promoter set a mid-July deadline for the fighter to accept a fight with the Filipino icon. Arum set his sights on Margarito and the boxing world threw their arms in the air, seeing as though there were obviously more deserving candidates lurking between 140 and 154 pounds.
Margarito will likely get a license from Texas and the fight will likely push forward but the recent snub from California certainly has put everything into perspective. Pacquiao-Margarito simply isn?t the kind of fight that is capturing anyone?s imagination for the moment and in recent days there has seemed to be a widespread effort online from people hoping that Mayweather would change his mind about the fight and step forward. But realistically fighting doesn?t seem to be on Floyd?s mind at the moment.
Last week I ran into Mayweather at his personal gym and the fighter didn?t have anything to say about his personal career and was adamant about no up-close pictures of himself being taken. Not to say that Floyd was in damper spirits, as he took time to get to know of my intentions in his gym while giving me full access to his facility, but the sport of boxing obviously isn?t his only focus for the moment.
Updating his 662,000 plus followers on his Twitter account, Floyd could be seen the past few days shopping, calling himself a ?Cash cow?, flaunting money, and hopping on his private jet. After making a reported $ 22.5 million plus bonuses for his victory over Shane Mosley on May 1st, Floyd is obviously enjoying the fruits of his labor and living in the moment. Seemingly content for fighting just once a year after his return to the sport, there doesn?t seem to be any indication that Mayweather will set foot inside the squared circle this year.
It should be noted that Mayweather had been spending some serious time with promoter Don King as of late July. Floyd and the iconic promoter relaxed in his South Florida confines and Mayweather even made a ringside appearance during King?s August 7th Gateway to Greatness event in St. Louis, Missouri. Some people have their fingers crossed that the two men will start working together on a much more professional level, as King himself has stated that a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight would be a huge event and one he would love to be a part of.
But for as many articles you read on Pacquiao and Mayweather and for as many rumors as you may hear, at the end of the day it all comes down to speculation. Who knows what is going on in the mind of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and just how badly he wants a fight with Manny Pacquiao. That?s up for him to decide but don?t expect an answer anytime soon.
For a picture by picture look at Floyd Mayweather flaunting money, hopping on his private jet and hanging with his crew please check out the slideshow below?
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Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
