You know it’s going to be a dull runup to a major fight when the leading topic is how shaggy Manny Pacquiao’s hairstyle is.
I’m not afraid to say it, as the Pacman-Sugar Shane Mosley media caravan made its first stop in Los Angeles Thursday, but this fight between two undeniably pleasant fellows is going to need a swift kick in the backside.
I don’t see how we can all survive the boredom unless somebody comes along to put something spicy into the mix beyond Pacquiao’s coiffure making him the Pinoy Fifth Beatle.
Mosley is such a gentleman that he is hopeless when it comes to hyping up this fight or any other.
The Pomona Kid did not even get roaring mad when Floyd Mayweather Jr. got personal, making bitchy comments about how Mosley handled his domestic affairs.
For his part, Mayweather was just trying to add some sizzle to the steak, trying to pour a bit o’ Tabasco on the red meat. But Mosley did not take the bait and that promotion was pretty much a snoozefest until Mosley briefly rocked Mayweather’s world in the second round.
Pacquiao, for his part, is the type of guy who could find kind words for Charles Manson (like Bam Bam Rios, remember “Charlie don’t surf”) or another mass murderer.
“Charlie had a rough childhood,” Pacquiao might say.
So we’re excusing the principals when it comes to spicing up this promotion.
Pacman trainer Freddie Roach will, as per usual, come up with some tried and tested p.r. angles but he’s always shown affection and respect for Mosley, understandably so one professional to another, so a Roach blast on His Sugarship would come out of left field now.
In the opposite corner, Naazim Richardson carries himself in a courtly manner. He always reminds me of another Philadelphian and master trainer, George “The Professor” Benton. Like Benton, Richardson is a scholar of the Sweet Science and don’t expect him to indulge in any scripted tomfoolery, either.
That leaves only one suspect and his name is Robert Arum.
Uncle Bob is going to have reach into his promotional closet and come up with something to stir the pot. Otherwise, the focus will be on how Mosley lost nearly every round to Mayweather and is expected to perform as poorly or worse against a still peaking Pacquiao.
Maybe Arum will add another actor to the cast.
Maybe, now that they’re back on speaking terms although litigation continues, the Evildoer named Mayweather will show up in the final two weeks of the runup.
You can count on Floyd to trash everybody.
I’m betting that, if he does pipe up, “Money” will have plenty to say, starting with that awful hairdo Pacman is curiously sporting.
I’m wondering if Pacman is going reggae style for his ring walk music. He could hire Shaggy and come into the MGM Grand to “Boombastic.”
Hey, that’s the ticket, Manny as a Rasta Man.
Soon come, mon. Soon come.
Believe me, with a fine Jamaican last name I have, I know from rasta, mon.
I shouldn’t have used the expression “pipe up” because now I hear former lightweight champion and ganja smoking champion Ras-I (nee Livingston) Bramble wants to join the promotion.
