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HOT POTATO via Death Valley, California – The wilderness certainly conjures up far better memories than the boxing world. But, I’ll always cherish those great times I had by the ringside as I covered boxing’s big events in this early 21st century than what the wilderness simply offers to my subsconsciousness. And I vouch more intriguing images from the ring of madness would be showing forth their own brilliance into far better energy equilibrium – very soon.
Just last week I had my weekend camping along with Pathfinders Club in the Death Valley here in California. Surviving the freezing temperature that turned our water in the dishpan into crystal formations and not cursing, for sure, I walked on the lowest point of the United States surfacing 282 feet below sea level at the Badwater Park by the Devils Golf Course. Both Badwater and Devils Golf Course, also a large span of salt, share half of the saltbed in the said area, only Badwater is one which is most prominent between the two. This, just where I stood with about ten-pounder salt rock on my left hand, I remembered the lefty Manny Pacquiao’s salty yet potentially weighty item with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. for their purported negotiation.
A few weeks after his trilogy with Lightweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao told the media he’s willing to take a smaller share with Mayweather just to make their fight happen. That was in December when Mayweather’s 90-day jail sentence was declared by Nevada Judge Melissa Saragosa to begin supposedly last January 6.
Sure, out of Mayweather’s obscurity, Pacquiao played pressure to almost of a zero chance under Mayweather’s circumstance.
Why challenge a ring-fight at such vacuum of time? Playing games?
Now, Mayweather’s jail term is moved to begin on June 1 which allows Mayweather to fight on scheduled May 5 at the MGM Grand Arena as scheduled with HBO’s availability. Mayweather, upon knowing that Pacquiao had expressed willingness to submit to a lesser purse, jumps in like a freeman and challenges Pacquiao. Then, Pacquiao changed his mind. Pacquiao now wants 50-50 share and wants the fight closer to June 1 (end of May) intimating Top Rank Godfather Robert Arum’s rationalizations that a better venue is prepared even before Mayweather challenges Pacquio and that such will be ready by end of May.
Why is Pacquiao trying to make it so difficult this time when he can surely overrule Arum’s wishes if he is really not scared to fight Mayweather?
Is he just promoting another political propaganda to rectify his declining popularity?
Inspite of Pacquiao’s all-time low rating last month at +350 improving to + 147 versus Mayweather, Jr.’s inversely defining high last month at -500 dropping to – 185, according to Sportsbetting.com, a 50-50 share would just be a less than a fair share for Mayweather who has stronger and broader fanbase than Pacquiao: the paying American pay-per-viewers.
Therefore, if the fight were held today and a bet of $ 100 for Mayweather, Jr. and granting he wins, one would only win $ 54.08. And with the same proposition, a bet of $ 100 for Pacquiao and granting he wins, one would handsomely win $ 147.
Let me tell you: I have missed to visit the Devil’s Golf Course. Many have said “Only the devil could play golf” on its surface, due to a rough texture from the large halite salt crystal formations (Wikipedia). This, I hope, is not going to be the case with Pacquiao ‘golfing’ around in the boxing world at the expense of the boxing fans and the Philippine flag he uses each fight, nay, in the name of God.
At the ‘Devils Golf Course’, Pacquiao is invincible only until his die-hard fans realize he is not. He must have felt the freezing point when Mayweather calls him, saying “Step-up, Punk!”, out for a fight this May 5. And Pacquiao is stunned but slowly catching up the light.
But, is Pacquiao now playing at the ‘Devil’s Golf Course’ with Mayweather’s masterstroke?
