By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
3 hours, 13 minutes ago
GRAPEVINE, Texas – In the days and weeks before he would fight Diego Corrales in Las Vegas in 2001 in the first major fight of his career, Floyd Mayweather Jr. railed against the evils of domestic violence.
Corrales was facing a prison term on charges of spousal abuse, and Mayweather taunted him about it relentlessly. He promised to defeat Corrales on behalf of battered women everywhere.
Now, nearly a full decade later, there is a certain sad irony in the fact that what would be the richest fight in boxing history may never be made because Mayweather is facing a potential lengthy prison sentence because of a domestic violence charge pending against him.
Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are the two best fighters in the sport. Some prefer Pacquiao because he’s become an offensive dynamo whose fast hands have led to destructive wins over the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto. Others prefer Mayweather, whose amazing defensive instincts make it next to impossible for mere mortals to land a haymaker.
Either way, it doesn’t matter. They’re 1 and 1-A, and nobody else is close.
They’re also the two biggest draws in the sport. Pacquiao is expected to draw a huge crowd to Cowboys Stadium on Saturday, when he’ll meet Antonio Margarito for the vacant World Boxing Council super welterweight title that Mayweather once held. Promoter Bob Arum said there is a chance that there could be as many as 70,000 people in the stadium, but it’s a slam dunk that the figure will exceed the 51,000 who showed up in March to watch Pacquiao take Joshua Clottey apart.
Mayweather’s 2007 fight with De La Hoya established records for most pay-per-view sales, at 2.45 million, and largest gate, at $18.4 million.
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Well, possibly but i'm sure certain idiots like Dan Rafael and Kevin Iole would say things like "So Pacquiao lost to the man Mayweather blatantly ducked but he still put up a helluva fight" or some artificial crap like that. The circumstances of the fight aren't peculiar at all. As I have explained for a while, Pacquiao has been fighting people coming off devastating losses for a long time. It's nothing new.
Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Erik Morales are just a few examples. Funnily enough they are also the biggest wins of Pacquiao's career.
That's a given. Journalists will hype a fight despite appearances to the contrary cause they get to sit ringside at some of the best bouts.
To Manny's credit, he's exciting to watch cause he's no slouch and always brings it.
Well, possibly but i'm sure certain idiots like Dan Rafael and Kevin Iole would say things like "So Pacquiao lost to the man Mayweather blatantly ducked but he still put up a helluva fight" or some artificial crap like that. The circumstances of the fight aren't peculiar at all. As I have explained for a while, Pacquiao has been fighting people coming off devastating losses for a long time. It's nothing new.
Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Erik Morales are just a few examples. Funnily enough they are also the biggest wins of Pacquiao's career.
This guy just can't make up his mind. He wants it both ways. Pac's opponents were nothing according to him. God knows how many threads he started just to prove his point. He basically says Pacquiao is really weak, then turns around and says Pac is too good to be true and thus needs to be tested.
How can you take these peeps seriously? Their minds are that of a 12 yr old.
Yup. And he's never going to agree to testing. Why? Because he can make millions fighting the likes of Clottey and Margarito without potentially damaging his drawing power. If he loses to Floyd, he can no longer be regarded as the best p4p fighter in the world. And without a cutoff date, I think Manny is a little too unsure of himself. And besides all that, I think Floyd would dissect him with or without PEDs. Floyd's style is just all wrong for Pacquiao. And I like Pacquiao. I just have a feeling it would be Morales 1 all over again, except MUCH WORSE. Floyd has far too much technical savvy. Manny will not be able to find him enough to cause any problems, and Floyd will counter his block off, just like Marquez and Morales did. We've seen it time and time again: You can't just walk right into Floyd Mayweather. It just doesn't work. You've got to have a plan A, B, and C if necessary. I just don't think Manny has the boxing intelligence to beat Floyd Mayweather. He's got all the physical tools, no doubt. But than again, so did a lot of other fighters.
See, Freddie and a good majority of Manny's fans (even though they don't care admit it) are well aware of that dilemma.
Why? 'Cause there aren't any training partners who can emulate Floyd's skills in a training camp to properly design a fight plan to beat him. There's just too many variables to deal with at the risk of losing the P4P status.
Freddie and Oscar figured Shane was the best candidate emulate Floyd for the May-Hoya fight on top of every other advantage Oscar had going for him in negotiations.
They both stand to make a substantial amount of dough even in losing.
If the fight is great and public demands an encore, the registers will be bursting at the seams once more.
Well sure he still stands to make millions, just not at the level of a Pac-May bout.
If Manny loses, Pac fans won't hear the end of it for a good while. Mainly due to Manny's choice of opponent, and the peculiar circumstances surrounding the bout :cool2:. The vast majority believe Margo is easy pickins'. The few who believe otherwise are hoping Margo doesn't believe it himself.
Well, possibly but i'm sure certain idiots like Dan Rafael and Kevin Iole would say things like "So Pacquiao lost to the man Mayweather blatantly ducked but he still put up a helluva fight" or some artificial crap like that. The circumstances of the fight aren't peculiar at all. As I have explained for a while, Pacquiao has been fighting people coming off devastating losses for a long time. It's nothing new.
Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and Erik Morales are just a few examples. Funnily enough they are also the biggest wins of Pacquiao's career.
Once Manny actually agrees to "full testing" like he claimed he did, Floyd will take care of business.
Haha... You could see that these folks are starting to see that Pac would indeed be easier for their idol. The alternatives are terrifying for them, ie, Williams/Martinez. Well, we'll hear Floyd's announcement as early as December.
Realistically, Pac won't be available for a year. So eyes will be focused on Floyd most likely just after the Pac/Marg fight.
I'd be LMAO when he announces his next fight. It won't be Pac, I'm sure. LOL. With OST in it, it would be a blast. Wonder what Tygart's excuse next time why he stopped again 19 days before the fight. Haha...
Remember peeps, Pac won't be around for a year after this Saturday's fight.
But he wont , what peole dont seem to realize Floyd signed the contract in March it was Manny that walked away , meet the terms which is full no cut off OST and work out a fair purse cut and I dont think Floyd would have a problem , its Arum holding up the fight and he is doing it to cash in on Manny fighting inhouse zombies that are as slow as a wet week , everyday all we hear is Arum naming opponents , just agree to very reasonable terms and you got Floyd !!
im just saying it be big if he did that. and noone would expect manny to do that just like noone would expect floyd to jump in the ring ala mosley
and i agree that arum is the reason this fight is held up but since margirito is done and manny getting older its perfect timing to let them fight and what a way to start it by calling floyd out like marquez
I disagree. Floyd makes a mega-money payday whoever he fights. Whether it be Khan, Martinez, Williams, Berto, Bradley. There's just so much demand to see the guy whether it be on 24/7 or in the ring. And it's not just in the U.S, but in the UK aswell. He has a big following in the UK.
If Manny was to lose to the weight drained bum named Margarito then he wouldnt take a "battering" at all. I actually think the vast majority of the forum would be rather sad. Ok I obviously wouldn't be but most people would, especially the Fillipino mods. "Chups" and "Kadyo". They would proberbly drown in their own tears. One of which is so obsessed with the roidman that he/she runs the "Pacland Phillipine boxing forum".
Well sure he still stands to make millions, just not at the level of a Pac-May bout.
If Manny loses, Pac fans won't hear the end of it for a good while. Mainly due to Manny's choice of opponent, and the peculiar circumstances surrounding the bout :cool2:. The vast majority believe Margo is easy pickins'. The few who believe otherwise are hoping Margo doesn't believe it himself.
Yup. And he's never going to agree to testing. Why? Because he can make millions fighting the likes of Clottey and Margarito without potentially damaging his drawing power. If he loses to Floyd, he can no longer be regarded as the best p4p fighter in the world. And without a cutoff date, I think Manny is a little too unsure of himself. And besides all that, I think Floyd would dissect him with or without PEDs. Floyd's style is just all wrong for Pacquiao. And I like Pacquiao. I just have a feeling it would be Morales 1 all over again, except MUCH WORSE. Floyd has far too much technical savvy. Manny will not be able to find him enough to cause any problems, and Floyd will counter his block off, just like Marquez and Morales did. We've seen it time and time again: You can't just walk right into Floyd Mayweather. It just doesn't work. You've got to have a plan A, B, and C if necessary. I just don't think Manny has the boxing intelligence to beat Floyd Mayweather. He's got all the physical tools, no doubt. But than again, so did a lot of other fighters.
That's a good point. "He has the physical tools" but that only takes you so far. And with the ""random"" testing he wouldnt have the same physical tools. The point about boxing skill is right. Pacquiao can beat skilled but limited fighters who were just KO'd because his workrate just overwhelms them. Workrate means nothing if you can't get to the guy and he's hitting you at will. As many of Mayweather's opponents have found out.
I think Roach knows his workrate wouldnt be the same with full ""random"" testing. And he also knows Pacquiao has virtually no chance to beat Mayweather in a fair fight. So they are playing hard-ball on the drug testing but Floyd is not going to back down. He's just too smart.
At this juncture, I agree. Manny is simply being to stubborn. Put OST in front of Williams or Martinez, and watch how quickly they jump at the opportunity. As much as a I hate to admit it, all roads really do lead through Mayweather.
I agree completely! The outcome of a Pac/May fight is too predictable. Everyone says Floyd would win. I have to agree also that people still want to see it.
Meanwhile, the winner of Williams/Martinez vs Floyd is starting to look good.
Floyd will lose out on a mega-money bout if Manny loses. Manny will take a another beating in the rags, blogs, and forums if he loses by KO. The noise will be unbearable and this site will suffer a server melt down for a week or more.
I disagree. Floyd makes a mega-money payday whoever he fights. Whether it be Khan, Martinez, Williams, Berto, Bradley. There's just so much demand to see the guy whether it be on 24/7 or in the ring. And it's not just in the U.S, but in the UK aswell. He has a big following in the UK.
If Manny was to lose to the weight drained bum named Margarito then he wouldnt take a "battering" at all. I actually think the vast majority of the forum would be rather sad. Ok I obviously wouldn't be but most people would, especially the Fillipino mods. "Chups" and "Kadyo". They would proberbly drown in their own tears. One of which is so obsessed with the roidman that he/she runs the "Pacland Phillipine boxing forum".
Yep, it could have been Floyd's hand being raised up there. Sadly, he's too weak willed to fight a guy he calls easy work, easy money.
Once Manny actually agrees to "full testing" like he claimed he did, Floyd will take care of business.
Floyd will lose out on a mega-money bout if Manny loses. Manny will take a another beating in the rags, blogs, and forums if he loses by KO. The noise will be unbearable and this site will suffer a server melt down for a week or more.
Yep, it could have been Floyd's hand being raised up there. Sadly, he's too weak willed to fight a guy he calls easy work, easy money.
Floyd will lose out on a mega-money bout if Manny loses. Manny will take a another beating in the rags, blogs, and forums if he loses by KO. The noise will be unbearable and this site will suffer a server melt down for a week or more.
Reasonable terms would be 60-40 in favour of Mayweather Jr because he is the most popular fighter in the sport and holds the record for PPV. Plus he earns more than 30 million per fight wheras Pacquiao makes about a quarter of that. And full random olympic style drug testing up until and after the fight.
Floyd was more than reasonable. He offered Pacquiao a 50-50 deal with a 14 day cut-off point. He had no reason to agree to the cut-off point but showing his intent to get the fight signed he decided to just let it go. Despite this and the very generous amount of money that was on the table for Pacquiao still refused, perhaps he and Roach feared that 14 days of PED use wouldnt be enough to be competitive in the ring.
I think Floyd in the end just got bored of these clowns. It's abit like David Haye. Pacquiao is insulting Floyd left right and centre, trying to portray him as a coward yet behind all the lies it's him who is at fault. You've gotta realise Floyd has already proven himself over and over again. He's already going down in the HOF and has all the money in the world. There's no reason for him to waste time negotiating when Pacquiao refuses to agree to OSDT. He says he wants the fight. But he has never said and never will say "Yes Floyd I will take the random blood and urine tests whenever you want without a cut-off point".
Until he say's that. It's Pacquiao who is to blame.
These people just don't get it. Shove your arrogant terms and conditions up your a***es and start looking for other fights for your idol. He could sell any fight regardless of his opponent.
Winner of Williams/Martinez will be right for Floyd.
But he wont , what peole dont seem to realize Floyd signed the contract in March it was Manny that walked away , meet the terms which is full no cut off OST and work out a fair purse cut and I dont think Floyd would have a problem , its Arum holding up the fight and he is doing it to cash in on Manny fighting inhouse zombies that are as slow as a wet week , everyday all we hear is Arum naming opponents , just agree to very reasonable terms and you got Floyd !!
Reasonable terms would be 60-40 or even 70-30 in favour of Mayweather Jr because he is the most popular fighter in the sport and holds the record for PPV. Plus he earns more than 30 million per fight wheras Pacquiao makes about a quarter of that. And full random olympic style drug testing up until and after the fight would be fair, being that Pacquiao's trainer (Like Shane Mosley) has a known history of steroids.
Floyd was more than reasonable. He offered Pacquiao a 50-50 deal with a 14 day cut-off point. He had no reason to agree to the cut-off point but showing his intent to get the fight signed he decided to just let it go. Despite this and the very generous amount of money that was on the table for Pacquiao, he still refused. Perhaps he and Roach feared that 14 days of PED use wouldnt be enough to be competitive in the ring.
I think Floyd in the end just got bored of these clowns. It's abit like David Haye. Pacquiao is insulting Floyd left right and centre, trying to portray him as a coward yet behind all the lies it's him who is at fault. You've gotta realise Floyd has already proven himself over and over again. He's already going down in the HOF and has all the money in the world. There's no reason for him to waste time negotiating when Pacquiao refuses to agree to OSDT. He says he wants the fight. But he has never said and never will say "Yes Floyd I will take the random blood and urine tests whenever you (or USADA) want without a cut-off point".
Until he say's that. It's Pacquiao who is to blame.
Paul Williams needs to stand in line. He doesn't bring much to the table at the moment. I don't doubt it'll be a good fight.
He can opt for Malignaggi then.
Paul Williams had been calling out Mayweather and willing to bow down to your idol. What's your point?
Well lets take into mind he also called out Pacquiao. PWill shows no discrimination.
Paul Williams had been calling out Mayweather and willing to bow down to your idol. What's your point?
Paul Williams needs to stand in line. He doesn't bring much to the table at the moment. I don't doubt it'll be a good fight.