They call him “Pretty Boy” Floyd. He often times goes by the alias “Money” May-weather. The 32-year-old ring general is widely considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and has even held on to that title through two stints of retirement.
His name appears on the list of the sport’s all-time greats.
He’s surpassed the likes of Oscar de la Hoya, Roy Jones, Jr., Roberto Duran and Mike Tyson. He’s often mentioned in the same breathe as both “Sugar” Rays (Robinson and Leonard), Rocky Marciano, Joe Louis, Julio Cesar Chavez and even Muhammad Ali.
Now, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. apparently wants to be held in the same regard as a couple others — civil rights activists Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X.
He feels that the stand he made on drug testing that stopped negotiations for his megafight with Manny Pacquiao is right up there with what King and the man born by the name Malcolm Little eventually lost their lives for.
“It’s me taking a stand for something that means something. 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,” Mayweather said. “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. That’s all I’m saying.”
Floyd, Floyd, Floyd. Really?
I think we all somewhat understand what you’re trying to say. And maybe, even though your demand that Pacquiao take added blood tests (and his refusal to do so) spoiled what had the potential to be one of the biggest fights and brightest days in recent boxing history could indeed mean something, you actually think that merits MLK and Malcolm X comparisons?
You’re undoubtedly a great fighter, Floyd, and the most talented boxer of at least this era, but a win in the ring (or in this case out of it) isn’t quite the same as being a main voice in the fight for civil rights.
It’s not the same as Mr. King providing hope to an entire race.
That overhand right you just fired off “Pretty Boy,” missed its mark by a mile.
But I’m actually surprised that Mayweather stopped throwing. With his mouth typically moving as fast as his hands, I for one was waiting for him to tell us of a dream he had.
A dream of boxing equality.
“I ‘Money’ Mayweather have a dream that one day this boxing nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of the sport: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all boxers, from lightweight to the big boys, from the chumps to those that are oh-so pretty are deemed equal by the blood and urine testing lab.
“I have a dream that one day from the Las Vegas strip to the boardwalk of Atlantic City that the fighters who are trained by those who believe in steroids to the boxing heros who play it straight like yours truly, will be able to get weighed in together on the scale of brotherhood.
“The six-time world champ has a dream today!
“I have a dream that one day, in the middle of the ring, I’ll be able to throw two lefts and a quick right and send a man to the canvas who I know is clean. Only then will I get full satisfaction of taking my millions of dollars and adding another wing to the mansion because I just laid out a man, who certainly not in terms of skills, but otherwise was generally my equal.
“It is my hope that we will all be able to feel good about a knockout — unless your fighting me. ‘Cause we all know ain’t nobody dropping the champ.
“And when that happens, when there’s truly freedom in the ring, from every state and every city, us holders of the ‘sweet science’ will be free at last, free at last!”
Pause to acknowledge standing ovation...
“My name is Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. Peace, I’m out!”
Mayweather will get his chance to beat a so-called “equal” as he’ll fight Shane Mosley on May 1.
Pacquiao, coincidentally, has picked Mosley to win.
And, just to make things clear, the Mayweather “dream of boxing equality” speech is entirely the creation of the author of this column and is in no way something actually said by the fighter.
Source: bristolpress.com
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