Once again another monkey wrench has been thrown into the possibility of a potential Pacquiao – Mayweather clash, when the news was released last week that Floyd Mayweather was sentenced to 90 days in prison. After hearing reports that Manny Pacquiao had agreed to Mayweather?s entire drug testing demands, and was even willing to accept a smaller purse than Floyd, things were starting to look good for the May 5 date before this news was released.
Two years ago when this ?Super Fight? was first proposed, many thought of it as a pretty even fight, and were unclear on who they thought would be the winner. Recent events have changed that perception. After witnessing Pacquiao struggle against Juan Manuel Marquez last month, a lot of those same people changed their minds, and now started to favor Floyd. It appeared as though the fight had lost some of its intrigue because of Manny?s most recent performance. People were starting to say that Manny had lost a step and that the Mayweather fight wouldn?t be as competitive as they once thought. Does the recent 90 day sentencing change all of that?
We all remember that Mike Tyson was never the same after going to prison. Will jail time affect Mayweather in a similar fashion? Of course I?m not saying that Mayweather?s 90 days sentence is anything near as severe as Tyson?s three year sentence, but I still wonder how the loss of his freedom will affect him mentally. Remember, Floyd is used to being in total control of everything in his normal everyday life. He will not have that luxury in jail.
Although he may only end up serving 65 days of the 90 day sentence with time off for good behavior, 65 days to someone who has never served time before can seem like a lifetime. Its 65 days of his life that he can never get back. Will the whole experience humble him and take away some of the cockiness that he posses? Fighters like Ali, Tyson, and Mayweather use that cockiness to mentally psyche themselves up while in turn psyching there opponents out at the same time. If this becomes absent from Floyd Mayweather?s persona, will he still be the same fighter?
