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Will The Real Floyd Mayweather Please Man Up?
January 20th, 2010
Kenneth Ragpala
Pretty Boy Floyd wasn’t always been a ducker. Early in his career, he has faced tough and quality opposition that includes the likes of Luis Castillo, DeMarcus Corley, Philip Ndou, and the late Diego Corrales and Arturo Gatti. But during his ascent in the ranks, he started shuffling through opponents as if they were some items in a catalog.
He fought opponents many thought were either inferior skill wise, like Sharmba Mitchell and Carlos Baldomir, when he could have fought elite contenders. He also fought Zab Judah who, though skilled, suffered a big loss to Baldomir. Ricky Hatton was no pushover, but he clearly lacks the tools to really compete with Mayweather.
He ducked and dodged then the much avoided Antonito Margarito (which a bout against whom would have netted him then a career-high $8 million), Paul Williams, Miguel Cotto, and Shane Mosley (much on this guy later). Unquestionably, Mayweather did not fight the best of his times in the latter part of his career prior to retirement. He did not participate in fights the public has made. He did not enter the ring with fighters the fight fans, from the casual boxing nut to the established aficionados of pugilism, wanted to see him do battle with.
On the other hand, Mayweather’s heir apparent to the boxing throne, Manny Pacquiao, has been busy dismantling top class contenders and carving boxing history, almost with ease. Since his return to the sport, the pressure on Mayweather to face Pacquiao has been so unnerving that it is almost impossible to say no. To the fans. To the promoters. To Thyself.
But Mayweather did. In a way.
Apparently, Mayweather and his camp believe that Pacquiao’s rise through the ranks is not due to Divine Grace or some Higher Being imposing His will on poor mortals; but rather through the use of “best performance-enhancing drugs” manufactured in the Philippines “because we all know the Philippines has the best performance-enhancing drugs!”
Mayweather wiggled his way out of the Pacquiao fight by asking the Filipino champ to undergo Olympic style random blood tests that are not required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Despite Mayweather’s claims that he wanted a level playing field (yeah, tell that to Marquez) and would like to whip Pacquiao’s punk ass, most fans see him doing the fine art of ducking. Again.
But with Pacquiao’s move to fight the tough and durable Joshua Clottey on the same date as their supposed megafight, Mayweather is trapped. He now needs to one-up Pacquiao if he wants people to see him as the greatest boxer in his generation. And the only way he could do that is challenge Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez or wait for the winner of Shane Mosley-Andre Berto.
With Berto withdrawing due to understandable reasons, Mayweather just found himself boxed in. Fight Mosley. Fight Sugar Shane Mosley. If he wants to man up now and prove his detractors (writer included) wrong, he has to battle with Mosley.
Floyd was not always a ducker. But his recent choices of opponents suggest otherwise. Unless he faces off with Sugar Shane, he is boxing’s greatest ducker.
Boxing fans are ready to embrace greatness when they see it and more than willing to boo you out if they feel you deserve it. Mayweather was great, and if he wants to reclaim the greatness he lost along the way, Mosley is his ticket.
Will the real Floyd Mayweather please man Up?
http://www.8countnews.com/news/125/A...010-01-20.html
January 20th, 2010
Kenneth Ragpala
Pretty Boy Floyd wasn’t always been a ducker. Early in his career, he has faced tough and quality opposition that includes the likes of Luis Castillo, DeMarcus Corley, Philip Ndou, and the late Diego Corrales and Arturo Gatti. But during his ascent in the ranks, he started shuffling through opponents as if they were some items in a catalog.
He fought opponents many thought were either inferior skill wise, like Sharmba Mitchell and Carlos Baldomir, when he could have fought elite contenders. He also fought Zab Judah who, though skilled, suffered a big loss to Baldomir. Ricky Hatton was no pushover, but he clearly lacks the tools to really compete with Mayweather.
He ducked and dodged then the much avoided Antonito Margarito (which a bout against whom would have netted him then a career-high $8 million), Paul Williams, Miguel Cotto, and Shane Mosley (much on this guy later). Unquestionably, Mayweather did not fight the best of his times in the latter part of his career prior to retirement. He did not participate in fights the public has made. He did not enter the ring with fighters the fight fans, from the casual boxing nut to the established aficionados of pugilism, wanted to see him do battle with.
On the other hand, Mayweather’s heir apparent to the boxing throne, Manny Pacquiao, has been busy dismantling top class contenders and carving boxing history, almost with ease. Since his return to the sport, the pressure on Mayweather to face Pacquiao has been so unnerving that it is almost impossible to say no. To the fans. To the promoters. To Thyself.
But Mayweather did. In a way.
Apparently, Mayweather and his camp believe that Pacquiao’s rise through the ranks is not due to Divine Grace or some Higher Being imposing His will on poor mortals; but rather through the use of “best performance-enhancing drugs” manufactured in the Philippines “because we all know the Philippines has the best performance-enhancing drugs!”
Mayweather wiggled his way out of the Pacquiao fight by asking the Filipino champ to undergo Olympic style random blood tests that are not required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Despite Mayweather’s claims that he wanted a level playing field (yeah, tell that to Marquez) and would like to whip Pacquiao’s punk ass, most fans see him doing the fine art of ducking. Again.
But with Pacquiao’s move to fight the tough and durable Joshua Clottey on the same date as their supposed megafight, Mayweather is trapped. He now needs to one-up Pacquiao if he wants people to see him as the greatest boxer in his generation. And the only way he could do that is challenge Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez or wait for the winner of Shane Mosley-Andre Berto.
With Berto withdrawing due to understandable reasons, Mayweather just found himself boxed in. Fight Mosley. Fight Sugar Shane Mosley. If he wants to man up now and prove his detractors (writer included) wrong, he has to battle with Mosley.
Floyd was not always a ducker. But his recent choices of opponents suggest otherwise. Unless he faces off with Sugar Shane, he is boxing’s greatest ducker.
Boxing fans are ready to embrace greatness when they see it and more than willing to boo you out if they feel you deserve it. Mayweather was great, and if he wants to reclaim the greatness he lost along the way, Mosley is his ticket.
Will the real Floyd Mayweather please man Up?
http://www.8countnews.com/news/125/A...010-01-20.html
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