MAYWEATHER'S DILEMMA: CHOICES, CHOICES, CHOICES
By Scott Smith | December 17, 2011
http://fighthype.com/pages/content11390.html
Floyd Mayweather is unquestionably one of the best fighters to ever grace a boxing ring given his great boxing acumen combined with his technical brilliance. In a sport that is often portrayed as a bloodthirsty, aggresive way of making a living, Mayweather has often made great fighters look ordinary in displays that can often be described as the work of an artist, a technical masterpiece. He is not the first, and will not be the last, to put on technical clinic, but what sets Mayweather aside from the rest? What makes Floyd the most talked about name in the boxing world, and what makes him the cash cow of the boxing industry? Floyd possesses a very special quality that very few other fighters possess...his brilliant self promotional style, the ability to create, to tell and sell a story. With these very unique qualities added to his in-ring brilliance, he makes the attraction and appeal of the fight a work of art. Mayweather's ability to make every event he is involved in dramatic, controversial and flashy is something that only Muhammad Ali can draw comparison with. Love or hate both fighters, you would tune in to see them and witness them show you what they told you.
Boxing will always be filled with loyalty, controversy and a temporary pedestal, however, life after boxing is and always will be determined by what you do during your career and the way you carry yourself. The way you put yourself out there is what keeps you relevent in the days after boxers depart the sport. Understandably, you will get characters that don't achieve anything in the sport, but are often remembered for a humiliation or a moment of stupidity during their career, such as the YouTube sensation Usman Ahmed, the dancing boxer. In the eyes of most, the pride and legacy of a retired boxer is only topped by supplying a great living for their family. Whether you are Floyd's biggest fan or biggest critic, you have to admire the way he has used the emotions of the boxing world to ensure he will stay relevant and one of the most talked about athletes in the history of the sport, even long after he retires.
Yes, there are fighters out there who have a very loyal legion of fans that back their guy through thick and thin. Yes, you will see fighters that make promises to the world about what they are about to deliver, with some of them who do deliver and some who don't. Yes, you have the Manny Pacquiao boxing fan club founded in 2008 following the Oscar De La Hoya fight that overshadowed his loyal fans, but how many fighters out there can you say, "He can create a story out of nothing and he can back up everything that he says in the ring, so although he toys with our emotions, I still want to tune in to see him." I can only name one and that's Floyd Mayweather. People will say, Manny Pacquiao, but I categorically disagree.
Manny Pacquaio, as admirable as his career achievements have been and as humble as he may seem, without the Floyd Mayweather name, he really would be found wanting in terms of marketing prowess. It is only right to admire Pacquaio for his role as a congressmen in his own country, and I wish him all the best in that, but from a boxing perspective, whilst his fights are entertaining because of his typical Freddie Roach trained ambush style, the reason Pacquaio has recieved the hype he has is largely due to the propaganda used by Bob Arum against the Mayweather name before, during, and after a Pacquaio fight. Bob Arum has often used his propaganda against Floyd Mayweather to generate interest in his fighter, and with the excellent matchmaking of Top Rank and Freddie Roach, the in-ring accomplishments seem more sparkling than they actually are. Catchweight rules, drained opponents, and over the hill opponents with a perfectly matched style for an attacking fighter is what we've become accustomed to seeing Manny in the ring with. Whilst sections of the world's media is starting to see through the excuses and manipulation from Bob Arum and team Pacquaio, there some sections that are still intent on criticising every opponent Floyd Mayweather faces. Does this create a dilemma for Floyd in selecting his next opponent if the much anticipated battle does not materialize?
By Scott Smith | December 17, 2011
http://fighthype.com/pages/content11390.html
Floyd Mayweather is unquestionably one of the best fighters to ever grace a boxing ring given his great boxing acumen combined with his technical brilliance. In a sport that is often portrayed as a bloodthirsty, aggresive way of making a living, Mayweather has often made great fighters look ordinary in displays that can often be described as the work of an artist, a technical masterpiece. He is not the first, and will not be the last, to put on technical clinic, but what sets Mayweather aside from the rest? What makes Floyd the most talked about name in the boxing world, and what makes him the cash cow of the boxing industry? Floyd possesses a very special quality that very few other fighters possess...his brilliant self promotional style, the ability to create, to tell and sell a story. With these very unique qualities added to his in-ring brilliance, he makes the attraction and appeal of the fight a work of art. Mayweather's ability to make every event he is involved in dramatic, controversial and flashy is something that only Muhammad Ali can draw comparison with. Love or hate both fighters, you would tune in to see them and witness them show you what they told you.
Boxing will always be filled with loyalty, controversy and a temporary pedestal, however, life after boxing is and always will be determined by what you do during your career and the way you carry yourself. The way you put yourself out there is what keeps you relevent in the days after boxers depart the sport. Understandably, you will get characters that don't achieve anything in the sport, but are often remembered for a humiliation or a moment of stupidity during their career, such as the YouTube sensation Usman Ahmed, the dancing boxer. In the eyes of most, the pride and legacy of a retired boxer is only topped by supplying a great living for their family. Whether you are Floyd's biggest fan or biggest critic, you have to admire the way he has used the emotions of the boxing world to ensure he will stay relevant and one of the most talked about athletes in the history of the sport, even long after he retires.
Yes, there are fighters out there who have a very loyal legion of fans that back their guy through thick and thin. Yes, you will see fighters that make promises to the world about what they are about to deliver, with some of them who do deliver and some who don't. Yes, you have the Manny Pacquiao boxing fan club founded in 2008 following the Oscar De La Hoya fight that overshadowed his loyal fans, but how many fighters out there can you say, "He can create a story out of nothing and he can back up everything that he says in the ring, so although he toys with our emotions, I still want to tune in to see him." I can only name one and that's Floyd Mayweather. People will say, Manny Pacquiao, but I categorically disagree.
Manny Pacquaio, as admirable as his career achievements have been and as humble as he may seem, without the Floyd Mayweather name, he really would be found wanting in terms of marketing prowess. It is only right to admire Pacquaio for his role as a congressmen in his own country, and I wish him all the best in that, but from a boxing perspective, whilst his fights are entertaining because of his typical Freddie Roach trained ambush style, the reason Pacquaio has recieved the hype he has is largely due to the propaganda used by Bob Arum against the Mayweather name before, during, and after a Pacquaio fight. Bob Arum has often used his propaganda against Floyd Mayweather to generate interest in his fighter, and with the excellent matchmaking of Top Rank and Freddie Roach, the in-ring accomplishments seem more sparkling than they actually are. Catchweight rules, drained opponents, and over the hill opponents with a perfectly matched style for an attacking fighter is what we've become accustomed to seeing Manny in the ring with. Whilst sections of the world's media is starting to see through the excuses and manipulation from Bob Arum and team Pacquaio, there some sections that are still intent on criticising every opponent Floyd Mayweather faces. Does this create a dilemma for Floyd in selecting his next opponent if the much anticipated battle does not materialize?
Comment