Barry Mcguigan: "Floyd only fights opponents he knows he can beat"

Warrior Pacman deserves so much better than the delaying tactics of 'smoke & mirrors' Mayweather By Barry Mcguigan 31/07/2010 http://www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/content/images/2007/06/12/barry_mcguigan_203x152.jpg The only detail to be decided in the match between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito is the location. It won't be a concern for Pacquiao. Just tell him where and when and he will turn up. He doesn't even need to know who he is fighting, because he will take on all-comers. That's why people love him and why some, including me, get so frustrated with Floyd Mayweather Jnr. Everybody knows they will fight. And they also know that it is they who should be squaring up on November 13, not the Pacman and Margarito. We may have to wait another 12 months for the richest fight in history, by which time Pacquiao will be one fight and one year older. That might not seem much. It might not mean much. But then again, it could be all the difference in the world. That calculation takes you right into the thinking and attitude of Mayweather, who will do everything within his power to ensure that if there is an advantage to be had, he gets it. All that bluster about blood tests that forced the cancellation of the March date was set aside by Pacquaio agreeing to Mayweather's testing demands for the proposed November date. What do we get from Mayweather? Prevarication and obfuscation, smoke and mirrors, contradicting messages designed to confuse. The truth is if he had wanted to take the fight in November, he could have done. He flunked the challenge in my view. All you want from your heroes is for them to take a chance on level terms, not to fight with a stacked deck. Mayweather fights only against opponents he knows he can beat. Pacquiao took huge risks against Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. He made those decisions look ridiculously simple when the result was known. I would have lost my house on the Cotto fight. That was the bout I thought was a step too far. What he did to Cotto staggered me in a way I did not think possible. Mayweather may well be the most gifted technician of his generation, but the one thing he will never do is shock you. And that is because he refuses to take a risk, to put his reputation on the line. What is the point of schooling Juan Manuel Marquez, who fights Juan Diaz tonight at lightweight, which is arguably a division above his best? Mayweather weighed in at 146 against Marquez, who scaled 142. Ridiculous. The Pacman fought him six years ago at featherweight. They both tipped the scales at 125lbs. The result was a proper contest and a brilliant fight. The Margarito fight is at a catchweight 150lbs but still for the WBC light-middleweight title. If Mayweather is hoping that Pacquiao gets caught up in a war, I'm not sure he will get his wish. At 32, Margarito (left) is not the boxer who beat Cotto two years ago. He was well beaten by Shane Mosley subsequently and then was hit with a ban for taping his hands illegally. The evidence points to Pacquiao, who is still fighting at a formidable level. One thing is certain - any sign of decline will have Mayweather's people on the phone the next day. He'll be ready to make the fight then, that's for sure. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/columnists/mcguigan/2010/07/31/warrior-pacman-deserves-so-much-better-than-the-delaying-tactics-of-smoke-mirrors-mayweather-115875-22453384/