Manny Pacquiao would fight Mayweather Jr for FREE, ‘Winner takes all’. Will Floyd accept?

In a startling announcement from Manny’s famed trainer Freddie Roach, the PacMan would be willing to fight Mayweather Jr for free with the winner getting the entire purse. Yes, that’s exactly what Freddie told the media. But would Floyd accept this challenge?

“We’ll fight him for free. Winner take all.” Freddie Roach, KTLA.com

 

Christopher Mayes Sacramento, CA “What do you think of the challenge that Roach made to Floyd?"

Some say it’s a media chess match between the camps of Manny and Floyd. Well, with the latest quote from Freddie, Manny’s camp just put Floyd in “check”. Now the question is, “how will Floyd respond?”

Al Williams Sacramento, CA “Does Floyd just simply ignore this challenge from Roach?”

Unless Floyd can spin this scenario into something that makes him look good, then I think he will ignore this challenge from Roach. However, if he does ignore it, then Roach and Manny’s camp need to go in for the kill with this like a shark that smells blood in the water.

This challenge is a perfect media shot that will bring the “public pressure” back on Floyd. When Floyd and his “thugs” tried to smear Manny in the media by accusing him of taking PEDs, it did put a lot of “public pressure” on Manny. Pacquiao has had to defend his innocence and file a defamation suit. It was an effective strategy by the Mayweather camp because Manny’s public image did take a small hit. But now, Freddie’s challenge will turn things around for Manny and Mayweather will once again feel the brunt of criticism.

Once the public starts chewing over what Roach said, they will start calling for an answer from Mayweather. The longer Floyd “runs” from this challenge the more foolish he would look and then his critics can jump up and shout “See, he’s always been scared to fight Manny.”

Folks, Roach’s challenge was ‘Brilliant’. He took it to Mayweather on the stage that Mayweather has made his personal playground, the media.

Mayweather recently said that it’s not about the money that it’s about an equal playing field; well let’s see if he will truly stand by those words when he realizes that he has a chance to make around $100 million if he were to win “Roach’s Challenge”.

Hey Readers, how do you think Floyd will respond?


Source: examiner.com

Manny Pacquiao's plastic smile hides Floyd Mayweather rage

The always in shape Floyd Mayweather does not look a guy who enjoys fattening pies on a regular basis.

We know he worships himself so I could see how he might consider his body a sacred shrine.

But, if he wants to fight Manny Pacquiao and garner some $40 million in the process, Mayweather may be forced to sit down and serve up a slice of humble pie.

People keep mentioning how the totally without evidence illegal drug use allegations about Pacman come under the category of besmirching Manny's honor and causing him to lose face.

Now I know about as much about Filipino customs and cultural traits as I do about studying trigonometry in Mandarin, I admit that upfront.

But I stumbled upon the Internet musings (Live in the Phillipines.com) of an American expatriate living in Pacman's homeland.

She goes by the pen name of “American Lola” and I think she does a brilliant job of explaining to we foggy Westerners why getting an apology from his accusers is more important to Pacquiao than winning a lawsuit or even fighting Mayweather with the attendant financial jackpot attached thereto.

Here's how “American Lola” pulled my coat as to this Pinoy view on all the mudslinging that Megamanny has been subjected to and why a sincere, I'm sorry might go a long way to healing the rift and perhaps getting this super bout made:

“As Westerners, we do not know what this means. We use the words ‘embarrassed,’ ‘shy’ and even ‘ashamed,’ but none of these come close to the meaning behind the words in Filipino languages that are translated to the English words mentioned above.

"The Philippines, as well as other Asian countries, have a predominately ‘Shame/Honor’ culture. This means that interactions at all levels are about people being treated with respect, and people being honored appropriately and preserving each others ‘face.’ It is also about avoiding dishonor, avoiding situations where one would look foolish, or have their ignorance exposed, or be made to look small, or be exposed as having no power, or being made the brunt of ridicule, etc.

"To have any of these things happen is to lose face. Losing face has driven people to leave a job, to move to another city, to drop out of school, to get into a big fight, to stab someone, to exact subtle revenge and to commit suicide. Honor and shame are serious business. Losing face is like a punch to the solar plexus, and can cause an entire family or clan to rise up in anger on behalf of the injured party.

"When we Westerners get into an argument with a fellow Westerner, the issues are usually about who did what, who is right and who is wrong, guilt or innocence, winning or losing. Shouting or name calling is considered rude and poor form, but not equivalent to a stabbing.

"A Westerner who doesn’t like the way he is being treated by someone says, “He’s got a problem!” or “Who needs this?” or “I’m outta here!” We may get our feelings hurt, but for the most part, we can decide not to make it personal in one way or another by thinking, “He was having a bad day!” or “We won’t talk about that topic again.” or “He’s got an anger problem” etc. We like to win an argument, we like to be treated with respect, but these things to not determine ‘who we are’ in society.

"The things that really push our button are when people infringe on what we consider ‘OUR RIGHTS,’ or when we are falsely accused of committing some wrong. East meets west when the thing we have done wrong is a serious offense here, and not an offense at all in our home country, like causing someone to lose face. We don’t get it.

"We can’t believe that such a small thing as calling someone an idiot, or tapping a flight attendant on the head with a magazine, rebuking the lady who cuts in line, or telling the bank manager what you think of the system would even matter! We feel falsely accused and proceed to demand our rights…. And make things much worse.

This whole issue of losing face and our difficulty as Westerners in understanding it is complicated by the Filipino social rule that demands ‘smooth interpersonal relationships’ (SIR). The Westerner can be sailing along, offending people right and left, and not have a clue

" Why? Because people keep smiling and acting like everything is just fine. All the Filipinos in the situation will know what is going on, because to them, the signs are obvious: smiles that are ‘plastic’ and never reach the eyes, tight body movements, short sentences, avoiding eye contact, avoiding social contact, eye-rolling behind the back, and often, increased requests or demands (to make you pay for what you did).

"Think about it. What if this is going on with several members of a family, and the wife is trying to help her husband understand by saying things like, “ I think you hurt my father’s feelings.” Or “Maybe my brother didn’t like what you said to him.” But the clueless foreign husband blows it off saying, “What? I didn’t say anything to him! We were just talking, for pity sake! Why is he so sensitive? He needs to get a grip!” Things will go from bad to worse.

"A learner’s attitude is in order here and a little humility. If you find yourself in this sort of situation, believe the person telling you there is a problem, and be grateful. Don’t defend yourself. Accept the fact that you are pretty clueless. Ask questions until you have an idea of who is offended and why.

"Realize that you will probably never understand how that person feels, or ever feel that way yourself, but if you value the relationship, you need to take responsibility for that person’s feelings and apologize for what you said or did (even if it doesn’t seem wrong)

"Lose a little face yourself. Pride and bluster will not win the day.”

Pride and bluster, that's rich.

That seems to be Mayweather's motto.

Maybe I'm not the only one who needs to get his coat pulled on how to honorably deal with the Filipino mindset.

Over to you, Floyd.

Filipino Culture, Customs 101, maybe we can take this class together, kemo sabe.


Source: examiner.com

Is Floyd ripping the public when saying ‘I only have one thing to say, they’re not as smart as me'

For a guy who uses the media as his theatrical stage, “Money May” could be talking about more than just his opponents when he goes on record saying everybody is not as smart as him. If you examine his recent actions then he may be right; because, he’s been able to continually fool the masses despite his outrageous comments and actions.

“Everybody always says they have a remedy,” he said. “Everybody always says, ‘Oh, I hit hard, I’m fast, I’m strong.’ I only have one thing to say -- they’re not as smart as me.” FMJ, Grand Rapids Press

This statement clearly represents what Floyd thinks about his opponents. But, I’m also here to tell you readers, I think Floyd is also talking about the public. Here are a few reasons to back up my claims. Feel free to leave comments on other actions of Floyd’s that could be added to this list.

False Accusations

Floyd’s false accusations and/or insinuations about Manny Pacquiao being a “dirty” fighter is a great place to start with my argument that he thinks he’s smarter than the public. Floyd goes on a public campaign to smear Manny, without proof, and people are eating it up. The loyal “Floyd fans” must think it’s the truth because their “leader” says so. Yet, Manny has never failed a drug test and Floyd can’t even say what Manny is supposedly illegally taking.

Civil Rights

“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.” FMJ Grand Rapids Press

This ranks up there with one of the most ridiculous things Floyd has ever said and that’s saying something because Floyd never stops “gum bumping”. To compare your selfish propaganda with Civil Rights is breathtakingly stupid. Yet, there are still those who follow Mayweather even after these comments.

Greatest of All-Time

“I respect what Robinson and Ali did for the sport. But I am the greatest.” FMJ, EastSideBoxing.com

Well, here’s another perfect example of how Floyd has duped those who still follow him or believe in what he says. Floyd thinks he’s greater than Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. Floyd’s career will never compare to the level of these two icons. No matter how much Floyd tries to transcend the sport, he will never accomplish the in-ring success or the popularity of Ali and Robinson. Yet, there are some who think his 40-0 record means he is the greatest.


Thoughts about the Fans

"I live my life the way I live my life and I’m happy with what I do. I live for Floyd Mayweather. I don’t live for the fans. I love the fans but I live for myself. Self preservation is first. I must be happy first before I can make anybody else happy.” FMJ

This has to be the biggest slap in the face to “John Q. Public”. The man basically says that the fans don’t matter and that it’s all about him. Yet, there are still those who follow Floyd’s every word and continue to defend him against his critics.


Conclusion

If there are people out there who can still believe in a criminal who compares himself to great Civil Rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr and publicly declares that it’s all about himself as he slaps the boxing fans in the face, then Floyd is RIGHT when he says “they’re not as smart as me”.


John Snyder Sacramento, CA “How can anyone still be a fan of Mayweather?”

John, it’s because they either lack a certain level of intelligence or they just don’t care how he slaps them in the face with his actions and words. It’s like his fans live in a world of denial. Which makes sense considering Floyd created that world of denial in the first place.

Cory Simpson Sacramento, CA “Floyd is not smarter than others; he’s just a con-artist.”

Well, Cory this could be another way to look at it. Instead of playing “3 card Monte” on the street corners, he’s conning the masses into thinking that he’s the greatest boxer of all-time who’s only trying to clean up the sport.


Source: examiner.com

He’s The, He’s The Best

A member of Team Mayweather has found a basketball and has Floyd’s attention. A smile widens on Floyd’s face as he rushes over to the nearby court with members of his team in tow. Trash talk begins and a few wagers will likely be placed as Floyd starts dribbling the ball in excitement. We’re standing near the NBA TV studio setup at the Dallas Convention Center, right smack in the middle of Jam Session. It’s loud as hell in here, with obstacle courses, shops and various booths throughout the massive room set up for various All-Star weekend activities. Before Floyd can get his makeshift game going, a few Jam session officials cruise over and stop the party. Apparently, the court is set up for some type of fan event and Floyd and his crew will not be allowed to do their thing. He’s a little disappointed and shocked, but the smile will creep back soon. No matter how angry or upset he gets, the smile can’t be denied. He’s ferocious, on edge and determined to prove to the entire world that no fighter on the planet can touch him. Through it all, that smile will flash because the thing to know about Floyd is this: everything will be done on his terms, and his terms only. He’s earned that right thanks to a magnificent career that is still headed for new heights.

Back over on the NBA TV set, Floyd patiently waits for his call time. Fans and employees of the convention center approach him for photos and autographs. He happily fulfills every request. When Floyd begins his NBA TV interview, his manager Leonard Ellerbe asks me about my plan for the interview. I tell him that we can get the interview done anywhere and it should be no problem. He’s hardly impressed and I suddenly realize why. The convention center is extremely loud as all types of activities continue to begin around us. Basketball games, shooting contests, free tacos from Taco Bell—soon enough this place is a madhouse and finding a private spot where I can shoot Floyd on a Flip camera and conduct our interview becomes harder than I thought.

When I first got this assignment from Editor-n-Chief Ben Osborne a few days ago, I was stoked. I’ve always been impressed with Floyd both as a fighter and entertainer, especially after watching HBO 24/7. Boxing doesn’t have the same vehicles as the NBA to showcase its talent. There aren’t 82 games plus to promote their product or a popular platform like SLAM where one can get an in-depth view of the boxing life on a consistent basis. But 24/7 changed the game. It gave us an inside look into the life of a champion boxer, both in the ring and off. When I watched the 24/7 leading up to the Mayweather— Oscar De La Hoya bout, it was a wrap. I was captivated by Mayweather or the “villain” as he was beautifully portrayed in the show. While Oscar showcased time with his family and a carefully crafted image, Floyd gave us a stream of consciousness flow that was absent of a filter. He spoke candidly about his relationship with his father, flashed scrilla and jewelry while talking all kinds of shit during training sessions. I was drawn to that. In a world filled with athletes full of shit (see Tiger Woods press conference today), it’s always refreshing to see a guy who doesn’t give a fuck what critics or media think about him—he’s going to say whatever’s on his mind and do as he pleases.

My plan for the sit down with Floyd was simple. I was going to fly in from SoCal to Austin, TX, on Thursday of All-Star weekend, spend the day visiting one of my best friends from college—Andy Cannon—over some incredible BBQ from Rudy’s and then make the three-hour drive north to Dallas early Friday morning. Mother Nature pulled a jack move on me and forced some changes. Dallas was hit with some record snow fall and traveling there had all of the sudden become dangerous according to the news. Rather than waiting until the next morning to drive to the D, I decided to knuckle up and drive that night, through the storm. I didn’t want to risk missing my call time with Floyd and since most of the storm had already passed through, my biggest obstacle became slick roads. Against the wishes of Andy, I jumped in my rented Pontiac G6 and began one of the most difficult drives I have ever attempted. Once I hit Waco, the roads changed as snow was present, forcing everyone to drive about 30 mph. abandoned cars lined various parts of the roadway and the snow was still coming and sticking in certain pockets. I decided to draft behind a huge big rig, hoping it could clear the path ahead. Although there were a few scary moments, I ended up making it to Dallas in a little over four hours, getting in about 1:30 am. I made a quick stop to Lakers scout and LA Defenders GM Bonnie-Jill Laflin’s party at Hotel ZaZa to give her the word, then headed back to the hotel to continue my prep for Floyd.

I do a decent amount of research before each interview I conduct, but I rarely if ever bring written questions to a sit down. I’ve always felt that if I kept my eyes on the subject and not the pad, I could engage in a much better discussion, essentially moving from interview into a conversation. Floyd was a different beast. As much as I love boxing, I don’t know the sport like I do the NBA or NFL. Furthermore, I had seen the interview Floyd did with Brian Kenny on SporsCenter early last year. It was an incredible back in forth that got heated on many occasions. This is not where I wanted our interview to go, so I decided to write down some questions. I don’t know what I was thinking.

While Floyd did his interview with NBA TV and a radio station, I went to work trying to find a private spot for our interview. I convinced a few security guards to set up my Flip cam behind a stage in a far corner of the massive room we were in. I pulled two chairs from the empty stage and hoped it would be quiet and decent enough for Floyd. It was an area that fans had no access to and the security guards nearby went out of their way to help me. After Floyd wrapped his radio spot, he was escorted over to my makeshift area, flanked by many members of Team Mayweather. Floyd was also wearing a wireless mic and being followed by a cameraman shooting for 24/7. He walks up and asks where he needs to sit. I point at my pitiful setup and he immediately sits down and is ready to go.

It becomes apparent that Floyd is a huge NBA fan. Gambling is our first topic and Floyd loves to bet on NBA games. I ask him if the Tim Donaghy scandal deterred him from betting and he’s unfazed, citing a $43,000 loss in the infamous game in 2007 where referee Joey Crawford ejected Tim Duncan during the 3rd quarter of a game against the Mavs for simply laughing/staring at him from the bench. Floyd had money on the Spurs that night, who went on to lose a close game. Tim Donaghy was old news in his book. Our chat quickly shifts to more pressing NBA topics. “I can tell you about any player, all you got to do is ask me about him,” Floyd proclaims. I try. But Floyd doesn’t have patience for my slow flow, so he takes over. “I’m going to tell you what’s good with the NBA and what’s wrong with the NBA,” he says proudly. “What the Atlanta Hawks need is this: we need to let Bibby come off the bench and let Jamal Crawford start. Anytime a guy can come off the bench and score 50 points in a game—he needs to be starting! He might be putting up 30 a night if he’s starting! The Hawks need to pick up Stoudamire. Phoenix is talking about getting rid of him. Steve Nash’s main go-to-guy is Stoudamire. That’s going to mess his chemistry up. His assists will drop a lot. We’re talking about—and I still like Steve Nash—but we’re talking about six assists.”

After more player breakdowns, our discussion moves towards the ring. Floyd assures me that the Manny Pacquiao fight will eventually happen. It’s the fight we’re all waiting for and is likely to become the most lucrative boxing match ever. But there is more money to be made before this epic showdown. Floyd is hoping to gross over $100 million over his next two fights. Next up, a May 1st showdown at the MGM grand in Las Vegas against Sugar Shane Mosley in a Welterweight showdown that should prove to be a great fight. Mosley has angled for his chance to fight Floyd for quite some time. He will now get his wish. Floyd will put his perfect 40-0 record on the line to face Mosley, who has won seven of his last eight fights dating back to 2005, including an impressive win over Antonio Margarito in January of 2009.

The Mayweather-Mosley tilt will likely be the best boxing event of 2010. Floyd’s critics—who are endless—will never be satisfied until he meets Manny. While I can’t wait for that day to come, I must admit that I’m also interested in seeing Floyd battle Sugar Shane. The only boxing match I ever attended was De La Hoya-Mosley at Staples Center in 2000. It was an incredible win for Mosley, who later admitted taking a banned substance in preparation for the fight (EP0)—both Mayweather and Mosley have agreed to Olympic style testing for their upcoming bout. Floyd describes the bout as speed and power versus timing, comparing Mosley’s power and speed to Zab Judah, who he deposed of several years back. “We’re two Hall of Famers meeting at a legendary weight class, which is Welterweight,” Floyd says. “Sugar Ray Leonard. Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns—the list goes on and on.”

Floyd will tell you that timing beats speed and that nobody can hit what they can’t see. Mayweather’s speed, technical skills and footwork are second to none. He is the Kobe of the fight game: a champion with supreme knowledge that has mastered the skills and movements needed to dominate his sport for many years, while doing so on his terms. Detractors call him a money whore and accuse him of dodging and ducking fighters. He will respond by reminding you that he fought his first 90 fights for free as an amateur and that he’s been dominating the sport for too long to be concerned with the newest flavor in your ear.

When our time together ends, I thank Floyd for the conversation. He pulls me aside and says, “I be knowing my basketball, huh?” We share a laugh and say our goodbyes after a quick photo op. You can check out some our discussion in the attached video and in a future edition of Dime Drop. Our discussion would have never occurred without the help of a few people behind the scenes. Many thanks to Floyd’s manager and CEO of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe, Jeremy Silkowitz of Swanson Communications and Tzvi Twersky at the SLAM dome for all of their efforts. Cheers.


Source: slamonline.com

Shane Mosley Finally Gets His Super Fight

It took nearly 16 months but Sugar Shane Mosley finally got the big fight he had been pining for since destroying Antonio Margarito way back in January of 2009. The fact that his bout against Floyd Mayweather on May 1st comes as something of a consolation prize for jaded fight fans in the aftermath of the disintegration of the proposed Mayweather – Manny Pacquiao fight should really be a non-issue. Mayweather – Mosley has all the ingredients to be an utterly compelling fight between two of the biggest names in the sport.

On top of that the winner will probably get Pacquiao later in the year should Manny defeat Joshua Clottey on March 13th. Heavy emphasis on the word ‘probably’ considering the mess all parties involved made of the Mayweather – Pacquiao negotiations.

For Shane it’s been a long, inexplicable wait to get someone, anyone, in the ring with him since the Margarito fight. He called out nearly anyone he could think of, even climbing into the ring after Mayweather’s comeback victory over Juan Manuel Marquez in September of 2009. He tried to get nose to nose with Floyd and goad him into a showdown but at the time Mayweather was having none of it.

But shit happens in the world of boxing. The fallout from the Mayweather – Pacquiao debacle was intense, particularly with fans who came to view both fighters with a mixture of incredulity and contempt. Message boards were filled with irate fans threatening to boycott both Pacquiao’s and Mayweather’s next fight.

However, now that Mosley is in the mix everything feels right again.

Shane is practically beside himself with delight now that the fight with Mayweather is a done deal. The wizened old veteran is a throwback fighter. Such is his passion for combat and competition that the interminable layoff he was forced to sit through drove him a bit nuts. His inability to ride the crest of the wave he had conjured up after blitzing Margarito has been as frustrating an experience he has ever had to deal with in his lengthy career. At thirty-nine he knows he doesn’t have any more time to waste.

“He’s been waiting for this opportunity for so long and he finally got it,” said Golden Boy Promotions’ Richard Shaeffer.

Mosley is so confident that he will beat Mayweather that he consented to the Olympic-style pre-fight blood testing Floyd and his team had tried to force on Pacquiao during contract negotiations. Pacquiao, refusing to be dictated to, balked and ultimately walked away from an astronomical payday.

Instead the Pac Man signed to fight the rugged Joshua Clottey in Texas Stadium on March 13th. With that fight set, the eyes of the boxing world zeroed in on Mayweather. What would he do? Take on another undersized opponent? Or would he try to one-up Pacquiao?

Sadly, the repercussions of the devastating earthquake in Haiti would bring Mayweather and Mosley together.

Mosley, the WBA welterweight champion was signed to fight his WBC counterpart Andre Berto in a unification match in early February. Berto lost several members of his extended family in the quake and understandably pulled out of the bout.

Once again Shane was without a dance partner.

Mayweather, with no other big time money making opponent available, and the intense glare of a very critical media contingent blinding him, had no choice but to take on Mosley.

Still, Mayweather insisted on the same random drug testing procedure he had forced upon Pacquiao. Mosley has admitted in court testimony during the BALCO hearings in 2003 to “unknowingly” using the doping agent EPO during preparations for his rematch with Oscar De La Hoya. EPO increases the number of oxygen-rich blood cells, which subsequently boosts physical endurance. Mosley also admitted to using the steroids known as ‘the cream’, testosterone and epitestosterone and ‘the clear’, THG. His past indiscretions haven’t hurt his image in the public eye to the degree it has so many other athletes, but by agreeing to these terms it seems Mosley is intent on further removing himself from what he calls “a stupid mistake.”

Paul Upham of Secondsout.com recently wrote that, “In signing off on the deal, Mosley has given Mayweather complete control over the drug testing to be implemented, apart from any testing that is required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.”

Both fighters will be subjected to the random tests leading up to the fight.

Mosley’s immediate acquiescence indicates just how desperate he was for this fight. As far as he’s concerned Mayweather can have all the concessions he wants as long as he’s there, in the ring, when the opening bell clangs. In Shane’s mind, once Floyd climbs through the ropes he’s got him. Everything that comes before that opening round is nothing more than Floyd Mayweather nonsense. Give him whatever he wants, just as long as he shows up to the dance.

Although Shane seems to have been partaking from the same fountain of youth that Bernard Hopkins apparently bathes in, age and years of wear and tear catch up to us all – even remarkable physical specimens like Mosley. His wasted year cannot have helped him in any way. Rest was not what he needed after such an easy victor over Margarito. He needed to get back in the ring immediately, but it didn’t play out that way. Ring rust might be a concern in the early going, but Shane waves that off.

“This is the fight I’ve wanted,” he says, that toothy grin always creasing his face. “I’m going to take it to him. He’s not fighting a guy coming up in weight. I know I’m the best fighter out there. I’m fresh. The layoff? No big deal.”

Shane knows that should he lose that could be it for him on the grand stage. He is so itching to fight and so consumed with beating Floyd Mayweather that he literally rubs his hands together in anticipation whenever Floyd’s name comes up. Look for him to explode out of the corner at the opening bell on May 1st. Floyd, for all his speed and athleticism, does not have the power to keep Shane at bay. However, you can’t hit what you can’t find and Shane, at least this aging version, is not great at cutting off the ring. (Witness the last three rounds of his bout with Miguel Cotto.) He likes his opponents to come to him. He will have to concentrate on the body attack early to slow Floyd down.

It should be a race to the finish. Can Shane break Floyd down early and dominate him late? Or will Floyd be able to stay away and turn the bout into a typical Mayweather affair? Whatever happens Shane Mosley will be there to fight, and to give the fans what they want. Whether he has enough left in the tank to get to Floyd Mayweather is the great intrigue in this fight. If he does, ‘Money’ Mayweather will have to earn every penny of his paycheck because ‘Sugar’ Shane will be in his face all night long.


Source: secondsout.com

Floyd Mayweather wrong to compare drug test campaign with civil rights

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

Alex Ariza exclusive: Who says Floyd Mayweather gets through Shane Mosley?

Alex Ariza, the head conditioning coach at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, who overseas the programmes for Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan, believes Floyd Mayweather has stepped in the wrong direction to meet Shane Mosley.

“I don’t think he’ll get past Mosley,” said Ariza, who prepared Diego Corrales for his fight with Mayweather in 2001. “I think it’s even possible that Mayweather could come up with an injury or get ‘flu – or the stars won’t line up correctly – because if that fight happens and Mayweather loses, he loses everything. He will then never fight Manny for the amount of money that was originally offered, and he will lose all his pulling power.”

The proposed contest between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, which collapsed over disagreements in the pre-fight drug testing procedures – was expected to generate $200 million and was seen as boxing’s biggest showdown for a generation.

“What does he gain from beating Mosley – who is 38 years old, and who exposed Antonio Margarito’s obvious weaknesses in his last fight? Floyd will fiddle his way to a points victory if he defeats Mosley. He’ll run, build up a lead and run some more, and have Mosley running into gaps all night chasing him down.”


Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk

R.A. The Rugged Man on Floyd Mayweather Jr stepping up to the Plate; Pacquiao vs Clottey and More!

At 40-0 (25), Floyd Mayweather Jr. hasn’t been presented much difficulty in his 14 years as a prizefighter. The celebrated 1996 US Olympic Bronze Medal winner turned pro later that year and has navigated five weight-classes, snatching championships at each stop. If ever there was any semblance of a legitimate struggle, it took place during the earlier portion of his career. Mayweather began his foray into the sport at the junior lightweight limit and completed his championship conquest less than two years later. He would successfully defend his throne eight times before leaping to the lightweight division and capturing championship gold in his very first fight.

It was only after he bolted that division did the picture become hazy.

With names on his resume like Diego Corrales (TKO 10), Genaro Hernandez (TKO 8), Jose Luis Castillo (W 12 twice), and Angel Manfredy (TKO 2), his standing in the sport was unquestioned. The can’t miss prospect-turned-world champion was for real, not some ticket selling, overprotected belt-holder. Sure, there were bumps in the road along the way, such as an ugly but short-lived spat with HBO (think slave contract) and one infamous decision victory in a close fight (see Castillo 1), but the general consensus was the kid could fight and had quite a future ahead of him.

Many pundits foresaw greatness for the young Mayweather, who drew comparisons to such past legends of the sweet science as Sugar Ray Leonard and Meldrick Taylor. The sheer talent and ability was there. But en route to championships at the 140, 147, and 154 lb. divisions, the best opponents were not.

The light middleweight division being the lone exception (it was a one-time deal for a megafight with Oscar De La Hoya), cynics couldn’t reconcile with the fact that Mayweather, by hook or by crook, managed to go around fighters such as Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley, Kostya Tszyu, and Paul Williams in attaining his lofty pound-for-pound status. Mayweather’s lowest risk-for most-reward fight selection has long provided fuel to the fire flamed by his staunchest of critics.

Late last fall after a near two year retirement, ‘lil’ Floyd returned to the ring against then number two pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, Juan Manuel Marquez. Sounds great on paper, but what’s misleading about that is the fact that Marquez had just moved up to the Lightweight division one year prior, yet this bout was contested at a catchweight of 144 lbs. or nine pounds heavier than Marquez had ever competed. Not to imply the outcome would’ve been different at any weight class, but the situation was further tainted when Mayweather weighed in two pounds heavier than the catchweight that had been agreed upon. ‘Dinamita’ was outsized, outgunned and out of his depth.

Not long after his domination of Marquez, Mayweather met what many consider his toughest match since Castillo in 2002.

Long Island, NY born R.A. Thorburn, better known as underground rap artist R.A. The Rugged Man, was scheduled for a radio spot to promote his mixtape, Legendary Classics Volume One. In a statement given to popular hip-hop magazine XXL, he explains what happened next:

“I went up to Eminem’s Shade 45 station on Sirius Satellite radio to do what I thought would be a standard hip hop interview.”

Only, in an instant it became anything but standard. Mayweather and rap superstar/Eminem protégé 50 Cent are great friends, so Floyd often calls into the station. Sure enough, during the interview with R.A., Mayweather would call in.

“The interview started becoming about boxing.”

Unbeknownst to many, including Mayweather, R.A. is an avid boxing fan with a respectable knowledge of the sports’ past.

“I just explained how I thought (Floyd Mayweather) was a great fighter but he needed to stop (messing) around and fight the best fighters in his own weight class.”

Needless to say, the fiery Floyd wasn’t happy. A verbal slugfest would ensue and R.A., unlike Carlos Baldomir or De La Hoya, was not only able to keep the pace of the fast-talking Mayweather, but may have exceeded it. The rest has is cyberspace history!

Check it out for yourself (YouTube clips provided on this page:

Fast forward to today. After the largely publicized failed negotiations between Floyd and Manny Pacquiao to make the richest and most meaningful fight in boxing over the last decade, things appeared bleak. But an unfortunate and tragic natural disaster in Haiti forced Welterweight titleholder Andre Berto to withdraw from his January title defense against Shane Mosley. With Pacquiao having already signed to fight Joshua Clottey on 3/13, the door was wide open for a Mayweather-Mosley fight that had been 10 years in the making.

Negotiations were quick, save for a few mind games from Mayweather who took his time before officially signing the contract; the fight was finalized to the delight of boxing fans all over the world. Doghouse Boxing recently caught up with R.A. The Rugged man to get his take on a Mayweather-Mosley clash.

“I hope that fight happens. I'll believe it when the contracts are signed by both parties (*the bout agreement has indeed been signed by both parties*) and the fight is officially announced. I'm still not completely convinced that Floyd/Mosley is going to get made yet. I hope Floyd don't duck out of it. Let's keep our fingers crossed.”

Granted, some concern may be warranted. Mayweather’s aforementioned risk versus reward business strategy has been completely turned on its ear. In fighting Mosley, he’s taking a bigger risk than Pacquiao is with Joshua Clottey, and many feel that Mosley be an even tougher opponent for Mayweather than Pacquiao himself would have been. All of this for less money than a Pac-man fight would have netted him, and it does seem unusual for a fighter who has often prided himself on his business decisions. It does appear that the Mosley fight is on, but many cynics have taken a show-and-prove approach similar to the one that R.A. expresses.

Likewise, a good number of boxing fans are less than thrilled with the selection of Clottey for Pacquiao. In Joshua’s last fight he dropped a close split-decision to Miguel Cotto. In winning the fight, Cotto earned the right to take on Pacquiao but was subsequently annihilated for his troubles last fall. Surely then, Clottey has no shot at victory and ‘The Event’ will serve as little more than Cowboys Stadium introduction to boxing right? The Rugged Man doesn’t think so.

“Clottey is a big, strong, real Welterweight who is capable of giving any true welterweight problems. I don't see anybody walking through him, and he's never been dominated or lost a fight convincingly. If Manny could walk through him that would be pretty incredible and it would make Manny even more special in my eyes. Any fighter willing to fight Cotto and Clottey back to back gets my respect.

“In fact, I can't name a fighter on Mayweather’s entire record that would've been able to beat a Josh Clottey or a Miguel Cotto. Not Corrales, not De La Hoya and not Marquez.”

The Rugged Man’s guess is as good as anyone’s as to whether or not we’ll ever see a Mayweather and Pacquiao standing opposite one another in the squared circle, but for now he’s satisfied with the two matchups that the failed fight has spawned.

“I believe Clottey is more established at Welterweight than Floyd is, and Mosley is more established at Welterweight than Pac-man is, so I'm not mad at these fights. I think both of these fights can actually be better fights than Floyd/Pac or just as good. Both fights are fights that either guy can lose.”

As for Floyd, R.A. was once a fan and feels that a victory over Mosley would go a long way toward erasing the negative perception of him.

“Floyd better not duck out of this Mosley fight. Mosley is a big step up in the right direction, a fight like that can do a lot to salvage his reputation amongst hardcore fans.”

Whether or not Floyd can revive his image with hardcore boxing fans or make up for time lost remains to be seen. As it stands, boxing fans can only live in the present. The best fighting the best is all that can be asked of the top fighters in the world. For Floyd Mayweather, a fight with Mosley in 2002 would’ve been excellent, but a fight with Mosley in 2010 is a start. Here’s to hoping that trend continues.


Source: doghouseboxing.com

Mayweather Jr wants the public to feel sorry for him, ‘I’m always in a no-win situation.’

Another day and more head scratching comments from Floyd Mayweather Jr. In his latest comments, Floyd spoke about how even if he wins, he can’t win. He’s “always in a no-win situation.” Is Floyd trying to get the public to feel sorry for him? Let’s examine his comments further.

“But there’s always going to be an excuse. When I beat Shane, of course, it’s going to be that he was an old man. I’m too big for (Juan Manuel) Marquez but I’m not too big for Pacquiao, even though Pacquiao and Marquez had life-or-death fights, and they’re both the same size. As far as that goes, I’m always in a no-win situation.” FMJ, Grand Rapids Press

If Floyd’s comments brought you to tears then take a moment to grab some tissue and compose yourself as the rest of us just scratch our heads and laugh at the continual gibberish that Floyd spews.

“he was an old man”

Floyd, you are always in a no-win situation because you put yourself there. Newsflash to you Floyd, Shane is considered old for a boxer despite his current success. Any way you look at it, Shane is 1½ years shy of 40. So, if Floyd does beat Shane in May then yes people will say it’s because “Shane is old”. And those people would be right, because Shane is almost 40 not because they’re looking for an excuse. That’s why this fight should have happened last decade. Perhaps if Floyd didn’t duck Shane for almost a decade then there wouldn’t be this “old man” excuse.

“I’m too big”

When you continually fight fighters who are smaller than you then you will develop a reputation of only fighting smaller guys. Once again Floyd puts himself in this position by the fighters he has chosen to fight. He comes out of retirement and says that he’s going to fight only the best in his weight class but then he picks Juan Manuel Marquez who’s smaller than him. And on top of that, Floyd comes into the fight against JMM over the weight limit. If he doesn’t want people to say he’s “too big” then Floyd needs to put together a few fights in a row where he takes on guys that are at least his size or bigger.

“I’m too big for (Juan Manuel) Marquez but I’m not too big for Pacquiao”

Vince Anderson Sacramento, CA “Do you think Floyd will be too big for Manny?”

Floyd is not too big for Manny. Did you see what Manny did to Miguel Cotto? He manhandled a bigger fighter. Manny has continued to improve since his last fight with JMM. Not only that, Manny’s elite skills will help him overcome whatever size advantage that Floyd may have. Hey Floyd, there’s 2 reasons why you are “not too big” for Pacquiao.

“Pacquiao and Marquez had life-or-death fights, and they’re both the same size.”

Johnny Winston Citrus Heights, CA “Do you think Floyd’s success against JMM will translate over to a fight with Pacquiao?”

Just because Pacman and JMM had tough fights doesn’t mean that Floyd will beat Manny. Does Floyd forget that he had to go to a decision to get his victory over JMM?

Let’s take a look at some recent common opponents between Manny and Floyd:

* Ricky Hatton went 10 rounds with Floyd but could only last 2 rounds against Pacquiao. So, by Floyd’s logic, that means Pacman should beat Floyd.
* How about Oscar De La Hoya? Floyd went to a decision against Oscar where some say that Floyd “ran away” in the later rounds. Manny TKO’s Oscar in the 8th round. So, by Floyd’s logic, Manny should beat Floyd.

Conclusion

Floyd put himself in a no-win situation with things he has said and done. He has a criminal history of assaulting women, tax evasion, and ducking tougher fighters. He needs to look no further than himself for the reason why he’s “always in a no-win situation”.

And lastly, nobody will feel sorry for Floyd because he makes comments like this:

"I live my life the way I live my life and I’m happy with what I do. I live for Floyd Mayweather. I don’t live for the fans. I love the fans but I live for myself. Self preservation is first. I must be happy first before I can make anybody else happy.” FMJ


Source: examiner.com

Floyd Mayweather: "Everyone makes their biggest pay day with me"

Floyd Mayweather continued his media rounds ahead of his fight with Shane Mosley, and as usual has some unique opinions to share with the world at large.

He started the week off by insinuating that Mosley wanted the fight because of losing a lot of money in his recent divorce. He then claimed that Mosley was looking for a last payday before he retires and that Mosley ducked him for years.

This may or may not be true, but over the last few years, Floyd has been the one who has avoided the best opponents while Mosley took on the toughest fights available. Whether Mosley did avoid Mayweather in the past or not, it seems poor excuse for Floyd's own recent fights, being overweight against the diminutive Juan Manuel Marquez in particular.

Whether Mosley is short of cash after separating from his wife and turning down big money fights in the past, he isn't known for his money troubles. One of the two fighters in the upcoming all Golden Boy fight was robbed of millions, then conned out of millions, and also owed millions to various companies. And it wasn't the man who took on both Margarito and Cotto at their best.

Speaking to the Grand Rapids Press, and seemingly his favorite journalist David Mayo today, Floyd said:

“I told Shane Mosley that all roads lead through Floyd Mayweather and that everybody makes their biggest payday with me,” Mayweather said. “I think it just took him 12 years to see that this is true.”

Walter Harper, Pittsburgh PA: "Mayweather is the biggest draw? Maybe against some of his opponents, but de La Hoya and Hatton were both bigger draws than him, and Pacquiao is probably a bigger draw now."

Although he might not always be the draw himself, a lot of Mayweather's opponents did make their biggest pay days when they fought him. Now if De La Hoya has fought Hatton when he was undefeated, it might have been a different story.

As for Pacquiao, its difficult to really quantify which is the bigger draw definitively. Opponents always play a role, as well as competition near the date of the fight and numerous other things. Either fighter can claim to be the biggest draw, their upcoming fights will give one or the other a claim, but again unless the difference in sales is huge, the data is open to interpretation.

James Kepkee, Greensburg PA: "Does Mayweather really expect people not to hate him when he uses every excuse he can to talk trash to his opponents? Mosley is a respectful guy and never says a bad word against anyone, and then Mayweather makes comments about his divorce to the newspapers and then cries when noone likes him."

It does seem odd for Floyd to say these things on the one hand and then gripe that he's unpopular afterward. Perhaps he doesn't really believe the things he says and is just trying to hype the fight, or maybe he lacks the ability to empathize and doesn't really ever see how he comes across. From what I've heard Floyd is a nice guy in person, so long as the cameras aren't rolling, and its only when people are watching that his antagonistic alter ego comes out.


Source: examiner.com

Shane Mosley: "In this division, I’m the best"

Can you picture this? Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is walking down the street and gets called on to join in a pickup game at the local schoolyard – and he agrees.

Yeah, I can’t see it either. But take a little trip further up the mountain in California to Big Bear, and that’s precisely what Shane Mosley does when he’s not preparing for a fight. No, not pickup basketball (though he does do that too) – he fights.

“I’m always in the gym,” said Mosley. “Amateurs or pros, I get in there with them, and its work. Even when I wasn’t supposed to be in the gym, they’d call me or see me walking down the street. ‘Hey Shane, my guy needs some sparring. Can you work with him for a couple days?’ What time you want to go? ‘Today, about two.’ Let’s go. And I get in there and spar with the guy, no problem. It’s like playing basketball to me, getting in the ring and boxing.”

Yeah, you read right. All it takes for Shane Mosley, three-division world champion and future Hall of Famer, to spar with somebody is a simple request. That must be some shock for a kid in the amateurs or a budding pro to be in the ring with one of the sport’s true superstars.

“Some days, the first day they might be in a little bit of awe, but I work with them and I don’t go all out,” said Mosley. “Then you start to see them getting better and better and that ‘star’ thing wears out. And in turn, it makes me better and makes me sharper. So it works both ways.”

Things went along like this for Mosley throughout 2009, a year which should have been one of the biggest of his then-16 years in the game. It started off well enough, with a nine round drubbing of Antonio Margarito before a huge crowd at LA’s STAPLES Center. But then…

Nothing.

No big fights, no little fights, no keep busy fights. Nothing.

“It was a little frustrating, but I kept myself working, kept myself in the gym, and worked with other fighters getting ready for their fights because I thought that maybe a fight might come in the middle of the year,” he said. “But it didn’t. Nobody really wanted to show up and fight. I shouldn’t say nobody. The fights I wanted were (Manny) Pacquiao or (Floyd) Mayweather, but they didn’t happen.”

By the end of last year, Mosley finally got a fight. It wasn’t the one he wanted with Pacquiao or Mayweather, but it was a well-received matchup with WBC welterweight champ Andre Berto on January 30th of 2010. That ended up falling by the wayside as well when Berto withdrew from the bout due to the earthquake in Haiti which devastated him and his family there.

It wasn’t the way Mosley wanted to start off the year, but as soon as the Berto fight was scrapped, the behind the scenes wheels started turning, and earlier this month he had a new fight for May 1st, one he wanted, a big one, against Floyd Mayweather Jr.

It’s without question the biggest fight of 2010 thus far, and may end up being the biggest of the year if the winner doesn’t meet up with Manny Pacquiao in the fall or winter (assuming Pacquiao gets by Joshua Clottey in March). And despite Pacquiao and Mayweather’s claims otherwise, Mosley says he’s the man to beat in the welterweight division.

“In this division, I’m the best,” he said in an interview conducted before the cancellation of the Berto fight. “I beat the number one guy, and that makes me the number one welterweight.”

It’s simple boxing math, the kind that used to suffice in the glory days of the sweet science. Now you’ve got businessmen masquerading as boxers and the most interesting fights happening outside the ring and not between the ropes. Enter Mosley, who, unlike Mayweather, was never interested in protecting his perfect record. In fact, when he was an unbeaten lightweight champion on his way to the top of the pound-for-pound list, he told me that he knew that one day, someone would have his number. But that wouldn’t deter him or keep him down. When reminded of that chat, he smiled.

“I knew what type of desire and heart I had,” he said. “I’m the type of guy who never gives up, who never quits. Back then, I believed that. Even though I knew I was gonna lose someday, I also knew that I was still gonna be on top of my game. And I’m still gonna be on top. Even four, five years from now, if I’m still fighting, I believe I’m gonna be at the top because I’m gonna do all the things necessary to be the best and to be on top. That’s just the way I am.”

Mosley, even at 38 years old, still talks about being hungry. Despite all the accolades, titles, and big fights, he still wants more, and is still competitive to the point where the May battle with Mayweather may finally see ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ pushed to the limit. Why? Because Mosley has the speed and attitude to make him fight. That will then do one of two things – it will lift Mayweather to new heights in the ring, or it will make him realized that counting his money on the sidelines is a safer pursuit than walking up those four steps into the boxing ring. In other words, Mosley will be Mayweather’s very own truth machine, and that’s a title he embraces.

“I love to fight,” said Mosley. “It’s a job, but it’s not really a job to me because I’m a warrior in the heart. So when it’s time to fight, I fight. Until I finish my career and do what I’ve got to do, I look at myself as one of the top fighters right now. This era of the fight game can still have great fights, but right now there’s not a lot of guys that have heart like I do. Me and Bernard Hopkins, we’re two older guys who fight with our hearts, which is good.”

Old guys? He laughs.

“They keep calling me old all the time, so I’m gonna agree with them. But I feel like I’m 23 right now.”

Shane Mosley will need all the weapons in his arsenal to beat Floyd Mayweather this spring. He knows that and he’s fine with it. But when facing one of the best of this era, “Sugar Shane” just might have the secret ingredient his opponent appears to have lost – he still loves the game.

“When I’m in the ring and I’m doing my thing, I’m enjoying myself,” he said. “I think that a lot of guys, young guys say, ‘I want the big bucks, to retire undefeated, and just get all the money I can before I leave.’ Boxing, to me, you want to get in there and see who the best is. It’s a competitive sport and I have a competitive sport. I want to be the best, so I want to fight the best. And I said from Day One, ‘bring it on.’”


Source: boxingscene.com

Mosley defeats Mayweather a headline nightmare for Floyd

"Mosley defeats Mayweather, sets up Pacquiao vs. Mosley!" This is a headline that would send Floyd Mayweather Jr over the top. If this headline proves true, it will solidify the biggest mistake in boxing history. Floyd Mayweather throwing away up to 40 million dollars because he was insistent on making Manny Pacquiao undergo random blood testing.

Pacquiao has since moved on and will take on the big welterweight from Ghana, Joshua Clottey. No picnic that's for sure. Mayweather recently signed to fight Mosley, and if he knows what's good for him, he better win that fight. A defeat would certainly bring out all of Floyd's haters, and they would certainly let their feelings be known about his cherry picking past. A victory for Shane Mosley and the " I TOLD YOU SO's" will rain down on him like a typhoon.

For Floyd Mayweather this is a MUST win fight. If he wins, he may be able to salvage a 40 million dollar payday against Pacquiao. He will also silence some of his critics who claim that he's an overrated fighter that cherry picked smaller guys for a living.

Mississippians that I have spoken to feel as if Floyd does have some damage control to do. He did not win the public relations battle between himself and Pacquiao. Manny always keeps it humble, and never gets into insulting people. And this has proven to be very good for his image.

The fans speak loudly about all of this, and I got some of the fans thoughts. Danny Davis, a long time boxing fan who frequents all of the Prize Fight boxing cards in Tunica, MS shared his thoughts,

" Mayweather needs this win badly. But honestly? I don't think he cares about legacy. Floyd is all about Floyd and nothing else."

It may or may not be true, but if Floyd really doesn't care about his legacy, the history books will. The history books will not lie, and they will print the facts.


Source: examiner.com

Rankings: Floyd’s mouth roars

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. continue to hold the top two spots in the Yahoo! Sports boxing rankings. And it continues to seem as if they’ll never meet each other.

The two men agreed on virtually every aspect of a bout, including a date, a site, a name (Mayweather-Pacquiao in the U.S., Pacquiao-Mayweather internationally) and, most importantly, money.

Mayweather even agreed to a Pacquiao demand of a $10 million per pound penalty for any weight over 147 pounds. But they couldn’t agree on random, Olympic-style drug testing and the bout fell apart.

Mayweather gave a revealing interview with his hometown newspaper, The Grand Rapids Press, in which he suggested that he’ll no longer agree to a 50-50 money split.

Instead of meeting each other, as sports fans were demanding, Mayweather is fighting Shane Mosley on May 1 in Las Vegas, while Pacquiao faces Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Arlington, Texas.

Both fights are on pay-per-view, but the Mayweather-Mosley fight is expected to far outdo it in sales. The Pacquiao-Clottey fight, which is at Cowboys Stadium, will draw perhaps as many as three times as many fans, though the Mayweather-Mosley gate will be larger due to substantially higher ticket prices.

But if Mayweather-Mosley, which has stronger name value between both fighters, does better on pay-per-view than Pacquiao-Clottey, the likelihood of a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight ever occurring diminishes greatly. The sides had quickly agreed on terms before, with each man guaranteed $25 million plus a share of the pay-per-view proceeds.

Mayweather, though, will be watching the numbers intently. And if Mayweather and Pacquiao each win, agreeing to financial terms won’t be as easy as it was the first time. “Instead of 20 or 25 (million dollars), he may have to drop to 15, or 17,” Mayweather told Mayo. “And you know me, they may have to throw that extra five or 10 on mine, and we can rock and roll. Take it or leave it.”

And Mayweather also told Mayo that he won’t compromise any longer on the drug testing issue. He agreed to halt testing 14 days out from the fight as they were attempting to reach a deal, but Pacquiao wanted 24 days.

Now, Mayweather says, there will be no cutoff or there will be no fight. “I gave him a chance, up to 14 days out,” Mayweather said. “But my new terms are all the way up to the fight. They can come get us whenever, all the way up to the fight, random drug test. That’s what it is.”

And so it seems that the question of deciding who is best between Pacquiao and Mayweather will be decided by words and polls, and not by punches in the ring. With that, let’s take a look at this month’s rankings:

1. Manny Pacquiao
Points: 279 (27 of 28 first-place votes)
Record: 50-3-2 (38 KOs)
Title: WBO welterweight champion
Last outing:: TKO12 over Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14
Previous ranking:: 1
Up next: vs. Joshua Clottey on March 13 in Arlington, Texas
Analysis:Fans still eager for bout with Mayweather

2. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Points: 252 (1 of 28 first-place votes)
Record: 40-0 (25 KOs)
Title: None
Last outing:: W12 over No. 6 Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19
Previous ranking:: 2
Up next: May 1 fight vs. No. 4 Shane Mosley in Las Vegas
Analysis: The game’s best defensive fighter

3. Paul Williams

Points: 186
Record: 38-1 (27 KOs)
Title: WBO junior middleweight champion
Last outing:: W12 over Sergio Martinez on Dec. 5
Previous ranking:: 4
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis:Can be a factor at 147, 154 and 160

4. Shane Mosley

Points: 184
Record: 46-5 (39 KOs)
Title: WBA welterweight champion
Last outing:: TKO9 over Antonio Margarito on Jan. 24, 2009
Previous ranking:: 3
Up next: May 1 vs. No. 2 Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas
Analysis: Will fight on 17-month layoff.

5. Bernard Hopkins

Points: 127
Record: 50-5-1 (32 KOs)
Title: None
Last outing:: W12 over Enrique Ornelas on Dec. 2
Previous ranking:: 5
Up next: vs. Roy Jones Jr. on April 3 in Las Vegas
Analysis:Fight with Jones to settle old score.

6. Juan Manuel Marquez

Points: 115
Record: 50-5-1 (37 KOs)
Title: WBA, WBO lightweight champion
Last outing:: L12 to No. 2 Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Sept. 19
Previous ranking:: 6
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Inexplicably declined super lightweight title bout with Amir Khan.

7. Chad Dawson

Points: 89
Record: 28-0 (17 KOs)
Title: Interim WBC light heavyweight champion
Last outing:: W12 over Glen Johnson on Nov. 7
Previous ranking:: 8
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Hasn’t faced fighter younger than 39 in more than two years

8. Arthur Abraham

Points: 81
Record: 31-0 (25 KOs)
Title: None
Last outing:: TKO12 Jermain Taylor on Oct. 17
Previous ranking:: 7
Up next: March 6 vs. Andre Dirrell in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Analysis: Co-favorite in Super Six tournament.

9. Wladimir Klitschko
Points: 45
Record: 53-3 (47 KOs)
Title: IBF, WBO heavyweight champion
Last outing:: TKO9 over Ruslan Chagaev on June 20
Previous ranking:: 9
Up next: March 20 vs. Eddie Chambers in Dusseldorf, Germany
Analysis: Extremely gifted big man

10. Juan Manuel Lopez

Points: 26
Record: 28-0 (25 KOs)
Title: WBO featherweight champion
Last outing:: TKO7 over Steven Luevano on Jan. 23
Previous ranking:: 10
Up next: Nothing scheduled
Analysis: Eyeing showdown with Yuriorkis Gamboa for featherweight supremacy.

Others receiving votes: Ivan Calderon, 30; Timothy Bradley, 24; Miguel Cotto, 18; Vitali Klitschko, 15; Israel Vazquez, 12; Nonito Donaire, 10; Sergio Martinez, 10; Celestino Caballero, 9; Yuriorkis Gamboa, 9; Chris John, 7; Hozumi Hasegawa, 3; Andre Ward, 1.

Voting panel: Raul Alzaga, Primera Hora; Ron Borges, Boston Herald; Steve Cofield, Yahoo! Sports; Dave Cokin, ESPN Radio 1100, Las Vegas; Andrew Eisele, About.com; Scott Fyfe, Sunday Post, Scotland; Thomas Gerbasi, Boxingscene.com; Lee Groves, MaxBoxing.com; Thomas Hauser, Seconds Out.com; Keith Idec, Herald News, New Jersey; Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports; Michael Katz, Gaming Today; Scott Mallon, Asian Boxing News; Rich Marotta, Fox Sports Net; David Mayo, Grand Rapids Press; Franklin McNeil, Newark Star Ledger; Gunnar Meinhardt, Die Welt; Robert Morales, Los Angeles Daily News; Marty Mulcahey, MaxBoxing.com; Kieran Mulvaney, Reuters; Brett Okamoto, Las Vegas Sun; Santos Perez, Miami Herald; Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports; Michael Rosenthal, Ring; Tim Smith, New York Daily News; T.K. Stewart, Boxingscene.com; Paul Upham, Seconds Out.com; John Whisler, San Antonio Express News.


Source: sports.yahoo.com

Manny Pacquiao doubts the Mayweather vs Mosley fight will happen. Does the public agree?

In a recent interview, Manny was asked who he thought would win between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Shane Mosley in their upcoming fight on May 1st. Manny’s answer was very interesting to say the least. In fact, it echoed what many Mayweather critics have been saying for the last month.

‘If that fight happens, I think Mosley has a good chance to win.’ Manny Pacquiao Boxingscene.com

For Manny to say “If that fight happens” it intentionally or unintentionally endorsed the fact that there are many who think this fight might not happen. And, there are a few good reasons why people subscribe to this way of thinking.

10 years later

Jon Ryan Sacramento, CA “Do you think this fight will actually happen? It’s been 10 years in the making.”

The very fact that this fight has taken so long to happen has made people still think that it won’t happen despite the signed contract. Most boxing analysts and fans put the blame on Mayweather for avoiding Mosley for 10 years. Mayweather and his loyal fans will say that it was Mosley who was doing the avoiding. Whatever side of the fence you choose, the fact remains the same; it has taken 10 years for this feud to come to fruition and it has left room for a lot of doubt.

History of Ducking

Sam Mitchell Sacramento, CA “Even if there’s a signed contract, it doesn’t mean the fight will go through. He’s ducked so many fighters, who’s to say he won’t duck out?”

One of the biggest knocks on Floyd Mayweather is that he’s ducked several tough opponents over the years. Critics say that he avoided another fight with De La Hoya, and fights with Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Vernon Forrest, or Paul Williams just to name a few. This career of ducking still causes people to think that this fight won’t happen. They think that he will duck out of this fight somehow, perhaps by faking an injury.

Rib Injury

Mayweather came out of retirement on May 2nd, 2009 and announced that he would fight JMM on July 18th. About a month before the fight, Mayweather apparently suffered an injury to his rib, which caused the fight to be postponed 2 months. Many critics believe that Mayweather was faking this injury to get more training in before he fought Juan Manuel Marquez.

It’s because of this postponement that some still think Mayweather will fake another injury and postpone his fight with Mosley which could inevitably blow up this fight.

Conclusion

Those who doubt that this fight will happen, won’t be satisfied until Mayweather and Mosley actually step into the ring and the bell sounds for round 1. Pacquiao’s answer echoes what these doubters are saying and gave them more fuel for their bonfire.


Source: examiner.com

Five reasons the build-up to Mayweather - Mosley will get nasty...

Well boxing freaks, they did it! Despite weeks of serious buzz kill and ice-cream headaches following the Mayweather/Pacquiao breakdown we get a real fight. Is it the fight we "want?" Uhm, no, but after staring at the blow by blow recaps of "blood gate" with mouths wide open, damnit this is the fight we need. At last Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Shane Mosley -after a decade of circling one another- will get it on. And thankfully due to Shane putting the beat down on Antonio Margarito's whole legacy, we have a legitimate WBA strap on the line. Since Floyd Mayweather's... eh, hem "performance" in the build up for the late Arturo Gatti in 2005, the run up to his fights have actually become more interesting than the in-ring drama. We've heard him downgrade opponents, rip/love his pop and accuse De La Hoya of being an undercover heel all courtesy of the new HBO vehicle 24/7. We have also been introduced to an array of "professional homies" and the erudite prose of his trainer/uncle, one Mr. Roger Mayweather himself.

We had faith that Floyd's insistence on stringent Blood testing for Pacquiao was just another "phase" of the Mayweather mind attack, that at some point the wrangling would make a great 24/7 episode-and we were wrong. And to the Mayweather camp's credit they moved on to (in my opinion) an opponent just as dangerous in Mosley. For those of you who don't know, this showdown with Mosley may just be the fight of the year (a first for Money May) and the build up may surprise you in the level of genuine bad blood. Allow me to present to you 5 valid reasons the build up to the Welterweight Super Fight between Mayweather and Mosley will get nasty.

Reason #1 - The fathers have no filter...

Make no mistake about it... Floyd Sr. started the whole mess about Pacquiao; in my opinion the old man was bitter because Manny basically "messed his money up" and embarrassed him as a trainer. The old man is anything but shy and he'll take shots at Mosley that Mosley's father won't take lying down. Jack Mosley is a proud guy and takes satisfaction in his relationship (with Shane) and his parenting job, and he's snubbed his nose at the "Mayweather dynamic" on several occasions. In this "battle inside the battle" there's a persistent social theme that affects the African-American community. Middle class African-Americans with strong family structures have often looked down on their so-called dysfunctional counterparts. Imagine the Huxstables (The Cosby Show) debating the Evans family (Good Times), and therein lies the conflict. The way these two fighters contrast in demeanor is directly related to their fathers and both men feel they've done it the right way. Floyd Mayweather Sr. feels he is the best trainer in the world. Jack Mosley (sly and witty) will take every opportunity to point out that Floyd Sr. simply sired one of the best fighters in the world and nothing more. Both sons will defend their respective fathers with uncommon emotion and it will get personal. Just imagine the "my daddy can whip your daddy" playground game playing out between two men who are considered lethal weapons. Floyd Sr. will tell anyone who is listening that his son is superior to Shane and papa Mosley will point out what he believes to be a fear on Floyd's part to face top competition. By the time May 1st arrives, there will be more than welterweight and pound for pound bragging rights on the line. There will also be the passion of family pride.

Reason #2 - PED's, (short for performance enhancing drugs)...

I don't have to get too deep into Shane's admitted use of PED's in 2003 and only God knows whether it was deliberate or unknowingly. In my opinion it weighed him down. Yes, he was game late in his second battle with De La Hoya but he was throwing one hard punch at a time. After having won the public relations battle against Top Rank regarding Pacquiao and the more stringent testing, Floyd will use this platform to lord over Shane- and Shane won't like it. Yeah, I know Shane jumping at the chance for random testing is a good move on his part and though opening statements from Mayweather will be respectful; think about who we are dealing with. Once the lights are on and the microphones show the red light Mayweather will renege on the spin he promised Golden Boy he would stick to during the promotional tour. It's too juicy a fastball for Floyd, plus he's not as creative as Ali or Hopkins when it comes to downgrading an opponent. BALCO is the lowest hanging fruit for a sophomoric trash talker.

De La Hoya let it be known that he'll be the first to applaud Mosley when he agrees to testing but doesn't think that Floyd won't flip his switch regarding his loss being to an enhanced version of Sugar Shane. The negotiations for this fight were smooth, as both parties needed one another, but look for Mayweather to stick a gag order (on Mosley's past use) as well as he stuck to coming in at 144lbs. for Marquez. Mosley won't take this lying down, not now, not after resurrecting himself from those allegations and a heartbreaking loss to Miguel Cotto. The fight represents more to him than Floyd because he had the pound for pound distinction ripped from him and it has eluded him for the later part of this decade. Mayweather is currently enjoying his role of PED crusader (taking shots at Pacquiao) but as the fight nears his focus will narrow on Mr. Mosley. Look for this subject matter to bring a usually good natured Mosley out of his chair and quickly over to where the "Money Man" is seated.

Reason #3 - Golden Boy is Mosley's Home...

Oscar's ability to represent Mayweather, (I mean Mayweather Promotions), interests in big fights is a marriage of commerce and nothing more. The "Golden Boy" is not an all time great in the ring but outside of it he gets my Michael Corleone award for business. It's never personal. Mosley, however, is a charter member of Oscar's fistic Rat Pack, the Sammy to Oscar's Frank and there's a deep respect dating back to when they were children. Mayweather is no fan of De La Hoya's and though he is benefiting from GBP's promotional power he will be sensitive to any form of slight no matter how petty. Add in the fact that Mayweather left GBP hanging high and dry on a possible return bout with Oscar (in 2008) and you can see how GBP will have little patience with Floyd. Mosley enjoys the comfort of being among people he works with daily, the same people he will be working with to build Shane Mosley Jr.'s pro career- it's family. Floyd will not only have to contend with Mosley and his trainer Nazim Richardson at the podium but also Richard Schaefer, De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins who won't be shy about taking subtle shots at Floyd. From a promotional standpoint the run- up to this super fight is like a home game for Mosley and a sensitive guy like Mayweather will feel it. Look for Floyd to scream bloody murder if anyone from the Golden Boy camp says something he finds disrespectful. If they hit as many locations as Oscar and Floyd did in 2007 something will slip and it will bring out the worst in both combatants. Note to Golden Boy, make sure Mayweather's accommodations are just as swanky as Mosley's and by no means expect any gratitude.

Reason #4 - The trainers...

Nazim Richardson, in the last several years based on his work with Hopkins and Mosley, is becoming a "Belicheckian" (that's my new word) in boxing circles. Cited with rejuvenating Mosley, Richardson is a great tactician, something Mosley's father isn't. In 2009 he became a darling of the media for his "game" and the discernment that busted Antonio Margarito for illegal hand wraps prior to entering the ring for his January 2009 bout with Mosley. Matching wits with the Philly native is nothing to take lightly, unless you are a man who takes shots at Angelo Dundee. Roger Mayweather is only distinguishable as a trainer for his work with nephew Floyd and this alone leads him to believe he's the best. It is well documented that Roger can be just as disparaging toward opponents and trainers as Floyd -but on a more demeaning "gutter" level. This is a man who made light of Freddie Roach's Parkinson's, even challenged him to fisticuffs all to the blind eye of Floyd Jr. "Brotha Nazim" may be different in personality but he won't take any nonsense from Roger, he'll put him in check (albeit respectfully) the minute he gets out of pocket. Roger, as indiscernible as he is, has become dependable in conference calls for saying things that rub everybody the wrong way. With his legal troubles mounting, look for his fuse to be even shorter than usual, and the repeated questioning about his nephew "finally" fighting someone is a ticking time bomb.

And Lastly!

History

Since the days when Floyd Mayweather burst on the championship radar with his dismantling of Genaro Hernandez, we have been dreaming of this fight. Floyd was a precocious young champion at junior lightweight when he started calling out the Sugar man. Mosley understandably started his career a little harder and having pulled himself up to notoriety and a lightweight title (in 1997) he had his eyes on De La Hoya. A lot of us remember those days, when Floyd used to call Mosley out and a lot of us felt he had a legitimate shot at winning. Personally I felt Floyd was the best fighter in the world as far back as 2001 but by then Shane was on a level above (in a marketing sense) and did not "need" the challenge. Floyd never forgot, and once he became the man in Boxing (in 2007) and Mosley was cast as veteran ex-champion trying to regain status, Floyd let him know about it. The two camps have exchanged shots for years and as recent as Mosley's double dip with Vargas did the potential fight become a regular post-fight question. There was the now infamous, "I have to spend time with my family/get some dental work" response by Mosley and the most recent "bum rush" of Mayweather by Shane and B-Hop after the Marquez exhibition. The history between the two easily spans a decade, from the days of buying your glossy FIGHTGAME (Bert Sugar) at the bookstore to the many website choices and social networking we have today. No matter the medium this is real, a genuine rivalry and with promotional obligations to be filled-with close proximity, it will get nasty.


Source: braggingrightscorner.com

V8: Margarito, Mayweather/Mosley, Pacquiao/Clottey, Jones, and more!

Margarito: Goin Back To Cali, Cali, Cali....Goin Back To Cali....(Yeah, I Do Think So)!

Top Rank chief Bob Arum tried to get Mexican warrior Antonio Margarito reinstated, but apparently that effort fell short, as it appears he will no longer be on the "Event" card featuring the Pacquiao/Clottey showdown. Going through Texas as opposed to California seemed to be that proverbial "yellow brick road", and it was.....well, sort of. Rather than Margarito's opportunity to meet the wizard (Pacquiao), we learned that the term 'yellow' in this case was metaphorical in the eyes of the Texas commission for (proceed with caution) due to Margarito's use of (clearing my throat) 'bricks' beneath his pads. Looked to be a done deal, but now we learn that like the scarecrow, lion and tin-man, a trip to the wizard won't exactly be an easy path. We know Margarito packs a hard-chin, but in this case, I hope he has a hard-hat and a lunchbox to go along with it....gonna be a tough road ahead when he finally goes back to Cali......Stay tuned.

Mayweather on Mosley: Validation or Desperation?

P4P king Floyd Mayweather jr. has started his official 'blast' campaign leading up to his pending showdown with Shane Mosley. Both fighters over the year have gone back and forth about who chose not to fight who and who was afraid of fighting who? Well, regardless of the past, we're now in the present and the time has come. Mosley feels this fight is necessary to remove all doubt about who the official welterweight king is.Mayweather seems to think otherwise. Never one to be shy in front of a mic, Mayweather recently went on record stating the he feels the fight probably has a little more to do with an "excruciating divorce", making note of the fact that they usually "cost a lot of money". For the mild-mannered Mosley these comments couldn't have come across easy, and with only a few months until showtime, if he has his way, those 'dead presidents' he receives via direct deposit won't be the only ones to flatline on the night of May 1st. In the end, those words validation and desperation may equate to little more than pure trepidation.

Roy Jones Jr.: Thought His Book Was Over? Well Here Comes The 'Pen' Again!

Recently, a man who many identify as the single-most talented fighter of the era decided to try his hand at a new game. For years that 'hand' was used solely for left-hookin'. Then came the rhymes, and the entrepreneurial skills. With one last 'execution' on the dockett and a head full of business plans, it seems good ole Roy has decided to use that 'hand' to do something that may come a little more natural than many think. This newest escapade? Blogging........and yep, you guessed it.......right here on 8CountNews. The site regulars probably already knew this, but for those that missed the boat the first time around, I'm sure this news will urge you to 'find a seat' in the 8Count audience for 2010 rather quickly. Few people have given to the sport what Roy has, and just when the haters out there felt that he was done, we learn yet again that his diversity goes far beyond the hand....which should come as no surprise when you consider the mastermind behind them. Some seem to harp on the fact that his days in the ring appear to be near an end, but for those that feel this way, I respond with the following: No doubt....it's hard to say goodbye to yesterday, but quit's a word a champ will never say, so tomorrow is sure to bring a better way....."YALL MUSTA FORGOT"!

Pacquiao Makes A Pick

Filipino Manny Pacquiao is said to be among the masses that now highly anticipate the upcoming showdown between Floyd Mayweather jr. and Shane Mosley. The betting odds have Mayweather currently listed as a slight favor, and fans around the world seem to be split. With all of the people out there that can't seem to put a finger on the man that they feel will get the eventual nod, what we've recently come to learn is that Pacquiao isn't one of them. When asked about the pending showdown in a recent interview, Pacquiao was quoted as saying that he feels "Mosley will win" the fight, and while not taking anything away from Mayweather, the P4P contender made it very clear who he likes in the fight. Whomever wins between the two, Pacquiao is expected to get the winner next. Either man will make for an intriguing evening. But first things first, as Pacquiao has his own showdown to conquer....Stay tuned.

Mayweather: Lose/Lose Situation With Pacquiao, Arum

Floyd Mayweather jr. has recently come out and stated that if he and Mosley do better PPV numbers, providing he defeats Mosley and Pacquiao gets past Clottey, he will automatically declare the lions share of the purse. To Pacquiao and his supporters, it doesn't sound like a very logical proposition, but with both men owning rights to the mythical P4P status, few other things hold any true weight in negotiations. Considering the strength in opponents pending, Mayweather looks to be on the winning end of this bargain if he can solidify a victory, but after further review, there just may be a way for Arum and Pacquiao to slip out of this crack in the wall, as well. When you think about it.....we all know that Arum has been eying a showdown between Pacquiao and Margarito for some time and I alluded to this months ago, before we even learned that Margarito was being considered for the "Event" card. So, common sense and deep logic tell me that Mayweather would still have to consider splitting the purse down the middle, or risking the loss of it again, as Pacquiao (win, lose, or draw, against Clottey) would quickly be paired against another in-house fighter in Margarito that would require less purse and even fewer negotiating demands. So for those that think these two men winning their respective fights will end this saga.....think again! This drama is just gettin' started!

Shawn Says: Jr. Mdlwt. Shawn Porter Speaks on Pacquiao, and becoming a champion

Jr. Middleweight contender Shawn Porter recently took time out of his training for an upcoming title shot (his first) to talk to me about a few things. Friday Night he'll get the opportunity to become champion (NABO) as he takes on Russell Jordan. When asked why does he feel the time is right for him to become a champion, he said "because this is something I was born and bred to do". Apparently birds of the same feather do flock together, as many remember Porter being the chief sparring partner for Pacquiao, (leading up to the Cotto showdown), another fighter who seemed to have been born with a pair of gloves on. As a member of Pacquiao's camp, Porter felt compelled to not only declare Pacquiao's innocence in the banned substances matter, but also say definitively that he has "no question" the Filipino is clean. Substances aside, there's no question that Porter received a huge benefit from seeing such an intense figure apply his skills on a daily basis. It's too early to tell where his evolution will go, but what I do know at this point is that it'll be a helluva ride watchin' it all unfold.

Pacquiao: Not A 'Face' Man...Give 'em the 'Body'

Freddie Roach recently spoke on Team Pacquiao's plan of attack going into the showdown with Joshua Clottey. According to Roach, "People with good chins don't always take it in the body". So rather than aiming for a granite-chin that no one has ever been able to penetrate, it appears the agenda will be the good ole rib-shack buffet! Sounds easy in theory, but much like 'Winky' Wright, Clottey has that turtle shell defensive posture that allows him to use those long arms and cover up the body and the face, pretty much at the same time. Just like Team Pacquiao has their gameplan, Team Clottey does, too. That plan for Team Clottey?....Keep the rib-shack closed! As Mike Tyson once said: "Everyone's got a plan until they get hit". In this case, I guess we'll just have to see who gets hit first.

Emanuel Steward: Back in Business

Things for Emanuel Steward were looking a bit down for a moment. Kind of awkward, considering that this is a man who many (myself included) view as perhaps one of the most intelligent minds in the game. First it was Cintron, then Taylor, and of course several others on the honorable (but barely) mentioned list that parted paths with him. Perhaps the one champion that remained in his stable (Wladimir Klitschko) is all he needed, but even if it was, hope there's room on his plate for seconds, as a new pupil has recently made his intentions known, locking down the formidable trainer to utilize his great services. Yuri Foreman, scheduled to face Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto this summer will use the great mind of Steward to help perfect an already perfect record of 28-0, 8 KO's. The old adage has it that "if it ain't broke then don't try to fix it". In the case of Foreman, I don't know what's 'broken', but if Steward doesn't teach him a little defense to go with that jab and skillset, his ribs could be among them, fooling around with a body-snatcher like Cotto. Should be an interesting tandem. We'll have to see how it works out. Stay tuned.


Source: 8countnews.com

PATIENCE AND LUCK BRING ‘MONEY’ FOR MOSLEY

At this time last year, Shane Mosley sat atop the welterweight division. He was coming off his dominating ninth round knockout victory over Antonio “Hands of Plaster” Margarito and big money fights should have loomed on the horizon.

At (then) 37 years of age and with his best days possibly behind him, “Sugar” went out in search of the huge money fights to round out his career. His shortlist of opponents included Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Many boxers have expressed their desires to challenge Pacquiao and Mayweather, and why not? Both are cash cows and their opponents are likely to earn a career high payday. Mosley, however, is one of the few that has earned the right to face either man.

Before Pacquiao’s bout with Cotto was finalized, Mosley tried desperately to get Pacquiao to share the ring with him. He originally balked at a catchweight bout at 143 pounds, which may have cost him the chance. By the time Mosley offered a straight up jr. welterweight bout, it was too late. Terms for Pacquiao’s eventual brutal beating of Cotto were already finalized.

After Floyd Mayweather cruised to an easy unanimous decision victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, Bernard Hopkins convinced Mosley to go Kanye West on Mayweather’s post-fight interview to challenge him to a fight. Mayweather famously brushed off the challenge to hunt down bigger paydays.

Mosley eventually found a willing dance partner in WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto. Mosley and Berto quietly trained in the shadows of the failed negotiations of the Mayweather-Pacquiao mega fight, only to have Mosley’s first fight and decent paycheck in over a year turn to dust in the wake of Andre Berto’s withdrawal after the earthquake in Haiti.

Mosley, fortuitously fell into Mayweather’s lap. After relatively easy negotiations and an unnerving week in which Mayweather balked at signing his end of the contract, Mosley finally gets his Money fight.

Shane Mosley is known as something of a ‘nice guy’ in boxing circles. He tried the nice route with Pacquiao; it didn’t work. He stepped outside his comfort zone and tried to bully Mayweather into stepping into the ring with him; it didn’t work. He waited patiently and took the challenge of an up and coming young champion, biding his time until Mayweather and Pacquiao’s respective schedules opened up. In the end a little bit of luck, coupled with waiting his turn in line have brought Floyd “Money” Mayweather to Shane Mosley.

By the time May 1 rolls around, Mosley will have had 15 months and 1 week out of action. Mosley is traditionally rusty when fighting after long layoffs. Most believe Mayweather is fighting a shell of the good Mosley. Mosley is looking to prove the doubters (me included) wrong, and crush Mayweather before moving on to challenge Pacquiao. Will his efforts prove futile, or will Nazimm Richardson put Mosley on the track to Pacland?


Source: boxing.fighthype.com