Manny Pacquiao Vs Shane Mosley: What Will Floyd Mayweather JR Do?
By Manoj Bhat
As the boxing fans are getting ready for a very exciting week ahead and pray their idols come out on top on Saturday, most of us will surely be served the dish that has now become so common on the Floyd Mayweather show. Apart from getting ready to witness two great fighters in the ring, the fans must also get ready for the tantrums and the undue hogging of the limelight by the attention deficient Mayweather. And before you realize it, the ball has already been set to roll in the form of unconfirmed reports that Floyd Mayweather is preparing for his return to the ring.
Manny’s fans are wary of that right hand that rocked Floyd Mayweather. The Pacman has a smaller frame compared to Floyd and will have a hard task to keep out of range of the dangerous Sugar Shane Mosley right hand. Much has been made out of Mosley’s age but it is sad that the so called experts have such shallow views of the game. Sugar Shane is still capable of punching out 99% of potential opponents in the ring with just his right hand.
Those who doubt him are either Air conditioner experts who never entered and sweated in a boxing ring or they are biased to distract the talent of both the fighters.
Even if a boxer doesn’t boast of credential of a future hall of famer like Sugar Shane Mosley, the sport of boxing is capable of surprises at any moment. A puncher’s chance or an accidental cut is enough to make the fight turn on its head. Mosley, himself, considered unbeatable in his day was disintegrated by a relatively talented Vernon Forrest who seemed to read his numbers. The sport is not all about just the statistics or the expert’s opinion – its beauty runs deeper than the imagination of the predicting matchmakers.
As an undefeated champion, Floyd Mayweather, JR., knows the unpredictability of the sport as well as anyone in the game. He may truly consider himself to be the best boxer ever with little affirmation from the majority of the fans but he is smart enough not to risk it all. The Mayweathers have been barking that Manny has no defense but none of them has stood up to prove the claims. So it will continue to be. Come the fight night, will the Mayweathers sit back and let the fight take place and let the violation of peace be only inside the ring? That is a bigger question than the number of punches that Manny will be creaming on the fight night.
I too am trying to take the easy route for this article and will try to predict the behavior of Floyd Mayweather or his clan rather than the fight results. The experts can predict the outcome of the fight whereas I shall use the following passage to evaluate the possible options that Floyd Mayweather is going to have to try and steal the limelight without throwing even a punch:
Declare a fight and an early return to the ring. This has already started and will be further pushed by the Mayweather entourage in the form of Facebook, twitter and other unreliable media from where Floyd Mayweather can retreat as soon as the time is right. The strategy will be simple. If Manny looses, they will say that they always wanted the fight but with a loss, Manny would not be worth it. If Manny wins which he is likely to do with a 4-5 round knockout, the fans can be sure as hell that the reports will be that Floyd has retired since May 2010 and there is no discussion taking place with anyone at any place.
Hold meetings under media glare with the well known faces in the sport of boxing. You could be sure to have news about Floyd meeting Don King this week or other possible matchmakers like De La Hoya and others to keep the fans guessing. It will all be a hollow rant at gaining the attention more than actually trying to challenge Manny’s status as the pound for pound king.
Media interviews about how defenseless Manny is and how Floyd would beat him hands down and eyes closed. This would be done by Mayweather senior and the rest of the family along with insulting digs at Roach and Manny. This way they can continue to have the media attention without having to commit a thing.
Make baseless insinuations that Mosley was given the fight because Mosley guaranteed to be knocked out by Manny well before the fight was confirmed. He might as well go to the extent of saying that the matchup was fixed and needs to be boycotted.
Floyd is likely to brag about how he has millions lying on the platter for each of the options such as playing for the Lakers, beat Tiger Woods in golf, play tennis with Nadal or even not so active roles such as betting on sports or acting as a judge in an international wife beating competition. The fans should be ready for any of these eventualities.
Immediately after the fight, the first words we can expect from the unbeaten champion is “I told you already….” irrespective of the outcome of the fight. If Manny wins, the rant is likely to be “I told you that Mosley was washed out and can hardly move. This guy is just following me” and if Mosley wins the relief will be palpable as, “I told you that this guy Manny has no defense. He is a media creation not worthy of fighting someone with my kind of talent and record……” In the unlikely event of a Mosley win, the rant will be louder and joined in by most of the Mayweather clan.
Much as I hate to admit being an ex fan of Floyd Mayweather, it is evident that despite the glory and riches, Floyd is suffering from SAD – Severe Attention Deficiency syndrome. He simply cannot digest the idea of Manny becoming more popular, being adored by the fans and the crushing realization that he hardly has the talent of giving Manny even a close fight. With passing time, my sincere belief is that Manny vs. Sugar Shane is going to be a much closer fight than Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather, JR., would be. Hopefully my intuition will be vindicated some day.
Floyd today is consumed by jealousy and hate to the extent that he has become irrational and destructive. An old tape of Floyd in condition practicing the body shots shown on TV recently as his preparation for return to the ring is as hypocritical an act as you could imagine.
Forget the twitter where Floyd wants you to see Manny’s losses – just take a look at his official website http://www.floydmayweather.com and you will realize the mental state of the champion. It hardly looks like the website of a boxer, let alone an active boxing champion.
Look at the home page on the site and you will realize that the only photographs that flash in front of you are Floyd with lots of cash, at football games, sitting in the ring and standing with someone holding the belts and other photos with friends. There is not a single photo of Floyd with gloves on or in a boxing pose. It could as well be the website of the most ardent sporting fan.
Think for yourself and you will see the logic behind the failing negotiations for the super fight with Manny. Sad as it may sound, you will also realize Floyd’s need for all the attention seeking. Psychologically Floyd has retired from boxing long time ago – it’s only the ghost that’s haunting the fans craving for the super fight and it might as well be that ghost of Floyd Mayweather, JR., only that would turn up in the ring to ever fight Manny Pacquiao.