While Manny Pacquiao and May opponent Shane Mosley smiled for pictures and answered questions from fans earlier today, Floyd Mayweather took to his social media accounts, and posted three simple messages to his legions of followers.
The one line messages were as follows:
“Pacquiao vs. Rustico Torrecampo”, “Pacquiao vs. Medgoen Singsurat”, “Pacquiao vs Erik Morales”, followed by links to videos of each fight.
Mayweather then posted a message simply stating: “41-0 <---- undefeated"
The message behind his postings is clear, he regards himself as the pound for pound king by virtue of the fact that he is undefeated and Pacquiao is not, and doesn’t like the fact that he is the one regarded as the lesser of the two by many fans.
As usual though, Mayweather seems to have missed the point when it comes to why Pacquiao has become so popular.
Firstly, bar none, the names topping every all time great list have losses, and usually more than a few of them. Sugar Ray Robinson, widely regarded as the greatest fighter of all time, had 19 losses alongside his remarkable tally of 173 victories. Muhammad Ali lost 5 times, Joe Louis 3, and Henry Armstrong was bested on 21 occasions.
This isn’t just down to the fact that fighters tended to have more fights back then either. Dominant champions of the modern era are similarly seldom to be found with a perfect record. Lennox Lewis was knocked out twice, Mike Tyson hit the canvas five times and lost one decision. Even Pernell Whitaker, who many regard Mayweather as being very similar to, ended his career with four losses.
The point is, losing isn’t something that necessarily makes a fighter better or worse or dampens their achievements in the sport overall.
Sergio Martinez was beaten ten years ago by Antonio Margarito and at the age of 35 became the lineal middleweight champion.
Wladimir Klitschko, now the consensus best heavyweight in the world, once lost to the then 24-13 Ross Purity.
Bernard Hopkins lost his professional debut against a fighter named Clinton Mitchell, who eventually went on to put together a 4-1 record before leaving the sport. Hopkins has since won titles at three weights and currently holds a record of 51-5.
Manny Pacquiao, as Mayweather keenly points out, has had losses but improved after each, eventually coming to be regarded as the pound for pound champion.
None of these losses have affected their recipients for the worse in the long term, and if anything have probably done more to shape the careers of each more than most of their numerous wins have.
Mayweather’s record, while impressive, doesn’t gloss over the fact that over the last few years, he has not fought most of the biggest names or most dangerous threats available.
Critics make the same accusations of Pacquiao, although this isn’t as much of a concern due to the fact that firstly he has an all action style that makes him exciting to watch irrespective of opponent, and secondly that because of his size and strength disadvantages at welterweight, every fight he takes is more dangerous anyway.
Secondly, the fact that Mayweather would choose now to suddenly start commenting on Pacquiao after staying quiet for months is interesting to say the least.
Seemingly either he is thinking about making a return to the ring, presumably with a mind to fight Pacquiao at some point, or he is simply trying to steal the thunder from Pacquiao and Mosley during the build up to their fight, which some see as a precursor to Floyd and Manny fighting at some point anyway.
Clearly though, the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather case isn’t closed just yet in either Manny or Floyd’s opinions, and Mayweather mentioning boxing again at last can only be construed as a good thing.
Boris Freidel, Pitt: “Mayweather won’t retire with no losses either so I don’t know why he always mentions it. Even if he beats Pac he will eventually blow all his money like he did before and fight on too long”
