In equating his fight to bully Manny Pacquiao into blood testing with the achievements of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, Floyd Mayweather acted shamelessly and shabbily.
None but romantics minded much when Floyd Mayweather Jr compared himself to Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. He's a great fighter, after all – and it was just his ego talking.
But Floyd lost it this week when he compared his campaign for drug testing in his sport with the civil rights achievements of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.
"It's me taking a stand for something that means something," he said. "It's sort of the same stance Martin Luther King and Malcolm X made, so we could have freedoms, so everybody could tell the world that we're equal. The only thing I'm saying is that we are equal. So if you're not on nothing and I'm not on nothing then let's go take the test."
Floyd tried and failed to bully Manny Pacquiao into blood testing he knew he did not want because he wasn't ready to fight him – and now he equates that shabby act with King giving his people hope and dignity through years of personal sacrifice. He gave his life too. So did Malcolm X, in murky circumstances. All Floyd gave up was a postponed payday.
Alex Ariza, Pacquiao's conditioner, reckons the blighted fight with Mayweather may not happen. And Freddie Roach, his trainer, is not bothered any more. More worryingly, for Mayweather and boxing, Mayweather doesn't much care, either – so now it's up to Floyd to eat some humble pie or he will finish his career an unfulfilled fighter.
But he has a lot of credibility to claw back first. His remarks about Martin Luther King were shameless and shameful. Maybe he will regret them. He should – but I doubt it. The man's ego knows no bounds.
A lot of people wouldn't mind Shane Mosley giving him a hiding on 13 March. I can't see it happening – because Mayweather actually is as good as he says he is.
Source: guardian.co.uk
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