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Fans ring in on the Mayweather Pacquiao factor
January 17, 12:20 PM
Mississippi Fight Sports ExaminerBrad Cooney
It's really easy to get the thoughts of the fans on Floyd Mayweather on the Internet. A lot of his haters are Manny Pacquiao fans, and they flock to the comments sections of an article and bash away. Most of the time they have legit points. Recently I traveled around to some of the local sports bars in Jackson, MS and talked it up a little bit with the boxing fans. I was interested to see how the fans outside of the Internet forums felt about Floyd Mayweather Jr, and the recent negotiation breakdowns with the Pacquiao fight.
The entire steroid allegation, and the reputation of cherry picking smaller opponents got the blood stirring with some of the fans that I talked with. When I visited Time Out lounge in Jackson, MS, I sat down with a group of fellas and we talked up Mayweather. I first posed the question on Pacquiao and steroids, and I got mixed reaction. Some of the boxing fans feel as if Manny Pacquiao is hiding something. One asked me, 'If Pacquiao isn't hiding anything then why throw 30 million away just because of a couple drops of blood?" Another fan asked, "How does this guy go from 105lbs to 146lbs and carry the same power all the way up?"
To those inside of the Pacquiao camp, and to those who know the man on a personal level, it's not crazy at all how Manny can do what he's done with his boxing career. To those outside of the game, these are all fair questions. To many of Pacquiao's fans, he did what he did through very hard work, and faith.
Mayweather fans for the most part still support him. One Mayweather fan, Steve Townsend, says, "Look, Floyd's skills and his undefeated record is why he used to be pound for pound king. The only reason Pacquiao has that title now is because Floyd retired for almost 2 years. Now all he wanted to do is make sure Pacquiao isn't juicing before he fought him. Pacquiao has been killing big legends, looks strange to me too. Pacquiao tosses 30 million because he is afraid of needles? bull crap, he is hiding something."
Contrary to what some think, Mayweather does have some options other than Pacquiao, the question is, will he take it? - http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m1d15-Mayweather-must-fold-his-hand-wait-for-Mosley
Pacquiao fans weren't shy with their feelings on this whole situation either. I asked one of his fans if he thought Pacquiao was smart, or not, by refusing the random blood tests, " Why should he have to adhere to a demand that no other boxer has to do? He says that he is not taking steroids, so why isn't his answer respected? Has Manny ever said or done anything to anyone for his reputation and integrity to be questioned? NO." He went on to say, " Mayweather was looking for an out the entire time. He didn't want his butt whooped by a smaller guy, and he knew he had it coming."
There is one thing for sure about this entire mess. Loyalty on both sides of fence still remain. Perhaps in a year or less we can re-visit this, IF and when there is another opportunity for the two men to fight.
http://www.examiner.com/x-23590-Miss...acquiao-factor
January 17, 12:20 PM
Mississippi Fight Sports ExaminerBrad CooneyIt's really easy to get the thoughts of the fans on Floyd Mayweather on the Internet. A lot of his haters are Manny Pacquiao fans, and they flock to the comments sections of an article and bash away. Most of the time they have legit points. Recently I traveled around to some of the local sports bars in Jackson, MS and talked it up a little bit with the boxing fans. I was interested to see how the fans outside of the Internet forums felt about Floyd Mayweather Jr, and the recent negotiation breakdowns with the Pacquiao fight.
The entire steroid allegation, and the reputation of cherry picking smaller opponents got the blood stirring with some of the fans that I talked with. When I visited Time Out lounge in Jackson, MS, I sat down with a group of fellas and we talked up Mayweather. I first posed the question on Pacquiao and steroids, and I got mixed reaction. Some of the boxing fans feel as if Manny Pacquiao is hiding something. One asked me, 'If Pacquiao isn't hiding anything then why throw 30 million away just because of a couple drops of blood?" Another fan asked, "How does this guy go from 105lbs to 146lbs and carry the same power all the way up?"
To those inside of the Pacquiao camp, and to those who know the man on a personal level, it's not crazy at all how Manny can do what he's done with his boxing career. To those outside of the game, these are all fair questions. To many of Pacquiao's fans, he did what he did through very hard work, and faith.
Mayweather fans for the most part still support him. One Mayweather fan, Steve Townsend, says, "Look, Floyd's skills and his undefeated record is why he used to be pound for pound king. The only reason Pacquiao has that title now is because Floyd retired for almost 2 years. Now all he wanted to do is make sure Pacquiao isn't juicing before he fought him. Pacquiao has been killing big legends, looks strange to me too. Pacquiao tosses 30 million because he is afraid of needles? bull crap, he is hiding something."
Contrary to what some think, Mayweather does have some options other than Pacquiao, the question is, will he take it? - http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-Boxing-Examiner~y2010m1d15-Mayweather-must-fold-his-hand-wait-for-Mosley
Pacquiao fans weren't shy with their feelings on this whole situation either. I asked one of his fans if he thought Pacquiao was smart, or not, by refusing the random blood tests, " Why should he have to adhere to a demand that no other boxer has to do? He says that he is not taking steroids, so why isn't his answer respected? Has Manny ever said or done anything to anyone for his reputation and integrity to be questioned? NO." He went on to say, " Mayweather was looking for an out the entire time. He didn't want his butt whooped by a smaller guy, and he knew he had it coming."
There is one thing for sure about this entire mess. Loyalty on both sides of fence still remain. Perhaps in a year or less we can re-visit this, IF and when there is another opportunity for the two men to fight.
http://www.examiner.com/x-23590-Miss...acquiao-factor
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