Floyd Mayweather, JR. – Manny Pacquiao: Millions of Reasons to Make this Fight Now!

By Doctor Ibrahim Hussain

Let’s get one thing straight! The Fight of All Fights in this era WILL happen. It is only a question of when. But what we can say for certainty is that it is getting closer!

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, JR. are approaching the end of their careers. Within 2 years, one of them will be retired. If you are to believe Floyd Mayweather’s earlier claims, it will be after his 49th fight, which will be around the end of 2015 or May 2016 (now known as Cinco De Mayo).

Floyd Mayweather has an enormous appetite for all things green, made of paper and carrying the dollar sign, which can also be exchanged for goods and services. However, PBF also has a world-class gambling hobby, which in itself requires a paycheck larger than most other title fights for every single bet.

Mayweather, JR. is a smart guy. I don’t believe for one second that he cannot read, and I find all comments so publicly mocking someone who can’t read very distasteful, as it not being able to read is something that affects so many people, yet does not exclude them from success. In fact it is quite the opposite, as the percentage of people that are very successful financially is much higher in the people who cannot read, than the people who can read.
But let there be no doubt, Floyd Mayweather, JR. is a very smart guy.

There has never been such a largely anticipated bout in history that has not taken place.

Boxing is a business. Floyd loves money. Manny Pacquiao needs money. The television stations are there to make money. Floyd’s kids need money. Manny’s kids need money. Both Floyd and Manny want to give their kids and family money.

Floyd Mayweather would not be stupid enough, given his desire for all things bling and the bookies, to turn down the biggest payday in boxing history.

Now usually when a column is written about Pacquiao and Mayweather there will be comments that follow saying the usual, “Floyd is running scarred’, ‘he hand picks his opponents’ etc. etc.

Well let’s just break that down for one moment.

Is Floyd Mayweather, JR. Scared?

The clear answer to that NO. Anyone who has stepped inside a boxing ring will know how hard it is in the beginning. Anyone who has set foot in a boxing ring on more than one occasion will know that the first time you do it is the most nerve wracking. Anyone who has done it many times will realize that it is something you can get used to over time. Yes, it is the case that you should be nervous, and that you will be nervous to a certain extent before every fight. But you do realize that there is no person, once you reach a certain level that can inflict so much damage to you like you have never suffered before.

Now don’t get me wrong, when you have a heavyweight that can fight with the speed of a welterweight, but with the power of a strong heavyweight (e.g. Mike Tyson), then there is an exception to the rule. But those are rare exceptions. Those rare exceptions are what make boxers like Bruce Seldon freeze before the bell goes when he fought Tyson.

But Manny Pacquiao is not such a different fighter on another planet with super human power, such that Mayweather, a veteran of 47 fights, over 20 World title fights, boxing since a very young age, used to the big time boxing, would feel like he is facing a monster from out of space who wanted to eat him and his children.

Floyd Mayweather, JR. is not scared of fighting Manny Pacquiao!

He, and every other fighter has their fights hand picked after a certain level. It’s called business strategy, and it is part of every successful business, including the business of boxing.

Floyd Mayweather is a smart guy.

So why has the fight not happened?

I would say that it’s because he is a smart guy.

Let’s break it down.

By fighting earlier, the biggest fight in history has happened, and there will not be anything else quite like it. This fight will be richer than ever when it happens. Even if both fighters have passed their peak.

Mayweather, JR. was able to sign a single contract for 6 fights, which will have taken place over 3 years. That deal was worth three hundred million dollars. Let me do that in numbers, 300,000,000USD.

Had Floyd fought Manny before now, then this would not have been possible, and the pinnacle would have been reached. Now Mayweather, JR. can have this and another payday like it when he faces Manny for just one single fight!

Mayweather, JR. would therefore be very smart in sticking with his claims that he doesn’t want to fight anyone from Top Rank promotions. This is of course nonsense, because if it makes sense and makes money, then it is what Floyd will do. He is all about the money. But it would be better using that as an excuse to the Showtime executives who have ploughed nearly half a billion dollars into the Mayweather, JR. brand within the last 2 years, and then complete his 3 remaining fights on ‘lesser opponents’ while keeping the biggest prize in history for distribution to his family only, and not that of the Showtime bosses. He would in effect double his earnings over more or less the same period of time than if he had taken the fight under the Showtime contract (giving Showtime a chunk of the apple). Incidentally, Manny has signed until 2016. This could coincide therefore with a May Day showdown with Floyd in that year when they are both out of contract, and hence both will get the maximum return on their investment of blood, sweat and tears.

The delay, despite people thinking the fight will be past its ‘best by’ date, will still be the richest fight in boxing history, no question. Even all the haters of the seemingly unnecessary delay will be tuning in with the same eagerness (whether they admit it or not).

Now some say that Floyd cannot be regarded as the best ever because he has ducked fights, and his opponents are handpicked.

Guess what, this is nothing new at all, however, Floyd has not ducked people out of fear, rather he has taken the fights that make sense, and the delay with Pacquiao does make business sense.

Fighters fight according to a multitude of factors. Primarily which opponent is determined by whom they are managed by (likely the same promoter or an associate promoter who is on good terms and has less conflict of interest in terms of TV rights). That is boxing.

The only reason this was not as much of an issue in other eras (I hear people always talking about the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s) is simply due to the politics involved and the way that money could be made.

I do however feel that Floyd’s master plan may have come to a sudden realization.

Legacy is often built on fact rather than emotion. In 20 years time the notion that Floyd ducked many would be redundant in any case, and people will go on hard statistics when looking at who was The Best Ever. Like it or not, if Floyd retires undefeated with a 50+/0 record, then his name will be right up there (this is where I see the tragedy in Joe Calzaghe retiring before this feat)

I do believe the plan for Floyd to reach the target of 50 fights and 50 wins with no defeats or draws was planned very early on. If he can fight the best fighters and achieve this then it is what is best for the fans. Yes, he may have fought Alvarez early in his career, and maybe Alvarez could have done better after a few more years experience.

Maybe Oscar De La Hoya would have done better when he was younger. You can’t deny Cotto was at the peak of his game, as well as many other fighters.
But the fact is, it is very hard to get the best at their best in with the best at their best all the time. Mayweather, JR., like all fighters would like to have an advantage in every fight. That is why they eat, train, sleep, sign contracts, do deals and do what they do.

No matter what any fighter tells you, they don’t just want to fight only, they want to fight and earn money, fight and feel wanted, fight and make a legacy.

Floyd Mayweather, JR. will not be remembered for making the most money in history, because he won’t. He might do at this time, but within 15 years, there will be a number of fighters who earn more than his career earning of approx. 600 million to maybe even close to 1 billion by the time he has done.

People thought Holyfield and Tyson’s earnings would be hard to surpass, as they did with the Ben Johnson hundred meter record. But there will always be another Usain Bolt down the line. Maybe a long time, but there will.

So the money can’t give legacy. But the first sub 4-minute mile did, and the first legitimate 50/0 record will (let’s not talk about the Julio Cesar Chavez record that is on Wikipedia).

Mayweather, JR. has indeed fought all the best fighters in his weight classes, and often beat them in spectacular style. He has knocked out bruisers, and boxed the so-called futures of boxing. There is only Manny Pacquiao left on the menu, and he was eating away like this was the final course of a meal which was supposed to be a little harder to stomach, but very doable. But now it looks like someone has gone and put mustard into the cheesecake, and then topped it with anchovies, making it much harder to finish.

Here is why!

Mayweather, JR. is a smart guy. He looks to maximize his earnings at all times. He also wants to ensure his legacy. He has been tactical in his approach.

Given the way that Manny Pacquiao demolished Oscar De La Hoya like no other before him, and pummeled Antonio Margarito so he could barely be recognized, and given that he has the hand speed and work rate of few fighters of his era, then delay would be enough to help Floyd towards his wish of being regarded as TBE (the best ever), or would it?

Let’s look at, for example, Ricky Hatton. He got the crowd behind him like almost no other. He was an explosive fighter who showed superhuman determination in his dismantling of Kostya Tszyu. He later lost to Floyd, and was hammered in to a state of complete unconsciousness by Manny Pacquiao. That seems a long time ago from a spectator’s point of view.

The reason is those type of fighters rarely have longevity in the sport. High work rate, explosive, disorientate your opponent. This has no place in the longevity window of boxing. If you want longevity, you have to be like an Alien. I don’t mean any Alien, I mean Bernard Hopkins.

Bernard Hopkins’ doctrine is to not get hit, preserve your energy, preserve your body and preserve yourself! It has worked for him. The Calzaghe fight was a long time ago now. I don’t think Joe would convince anyone his style of fighting could take him to 50.

Being smart is what gives you longevity, and Floyd Mayweather, JR. is a smart guy. But here is the really big problem that this Saturdays fight may give a better insight to. This was not part of Floyd’s game plan, and he may now be realizing that things are not going as per the master plan.

Manny Pacquiao, with one of the highest work rates in modern boxing, explosive, and previously at times a chaotic whirlwind with a come forward and deal with the consequences after he gets hit kind of attitude, that same person, he is the one who has adapted, maybe more so than Floyd Mayweather, JR.

Floyd was still lighting quick in his reflexes for most of his previous fights. But the difference now is that he has taken shots, and his footwork is definitely reduced. He can still move his feet very quick, but you will see that he is not moving them as much, and even at the cost of taking shots. He is certainly not even now on the same playing field as the footwork on Guillermo Rigondeux (who will be the next P4P champ should the politics allow), and there are now clear indications of what can penetrate his defense, i.e. the overhand right from an orthodox fighter.

With the brains of Freddie Roach, and speed and extra footwork skills of The PacMan, then breaking into the defense of Mayweather is now more possible than ever.

Manny on the other hand is like an unexpected stash of fine wine.
In his fight against Brandon Rios he showed an amazing mind with the same blinding speed. He has matured as a result of the Marquez KO, and he is cautious, yet effective.

People say that fighters are not the same as after a KO. This blanket statement has no place at any sensible detailed discussion on fighter’s careers. Yes, it is true that a clean KO can cause brain damage, which can as part of a cumulative effect lead to problems.

A KO after a long drawn out hammering or even a late in the fight 1 round breakdown of a fighter is what can take away the WILL of a fighter (Margarito, Cotto et al). But Pacquiao was clearly winning before the flash knockout. He hadn’t taken any more shots than he has previously in his career.

Manny has an iron chin, and that will not change. Whiskers do not get softer, and he can still take a solid punch now, and he always will be able to. The Marquez shot was different. He didn’t shake up Manny with the previous knockdowns in the fight, which is why the flash KO happened.

What Manny is doing now is preserving himself, and not being a reckless maniac as he has before. He can still take the shots, and when he does he won’t be fazed by it he can only be knocked clean unconscious, if not he will recover and get up (a bit like Bernard Hopkins). That is a quality you can’t teach. You can talk about conditioning and recovery, but you can’t gain a strong chin. That is why it will be exciting to watch Amir Khan and David Price in the future. You know they won’t change deep down in terms of taking a shot. They may just recover quicker, but they will never have the Wolverine whiskers of Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe and Manny Pacquiao (yes, the Marquez KO counts for nothing).

Now, given that Pacquiao is wiser, and less reckless (like the Ricky Hatton bull in the Mayweather, JR. fight), and given that it appears, judging by his most recent fights, he is still a typhoon of an opponent with hand speed that would put Elon Musk’s Hyperloop to shame, and is as agile as a springbok powered by BalcoTM laboratories, then this could equate to a Manny Pacquiao that is harder for the style of Floyd to beat now more than before.

Floyd Mayweather, JR is a smart guy. But there is no doubt he is physically in decline. He looks as good as ever, he is still has a PhD in boxing, he trains harder than most and he still has the appetite. But fighters who are very dynamic when they are on the move also have to adapt, and the foot movement of an early Ali or Naseem Hamed is also something that is not sustainable. Hopkins has a style, which Mayweather, JR. would be wise to learn from when ageing, and he is doing a great job of ageing and moving less on his feet and conserving himself. But now he is a target that can be hit, rather than trying to hit a shooting star with a peashooter.

Now Floyd also has a great chin. How he stayed up after the Shane Mosley’s clean shot to the head in their match is beyond me. But that is because he has those whiskers that don’t get softer.

So here we are, The Biggest fight in history will happen. It will happen within the next 18 months.

While it should have gotten easier for Floyd to win over time, it may not be so. Maybe Manny has been very wise and maybe Floyd has taken it getting easier to win the longer it is delayed for granted.

One thing is sure; they will both want to make lots of money from it. They most certainly will do that! (and yes, we will ALL be watching)