Comments Thread For: Larry Merchant on The State of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao

[GRUSTLER]

i do think so,i don't know why a man who had no significant wins at the time was considered such a threat to some of you fans,most of you probably didn't even know margo before arum started sayin that floyd was duckin margarito it's funny how his greatest accomplishment at the time was the fact that people thought floyd was ducking him

EXACTLY! When Margarito stepped to Floyd asking to fight him, it is a fact that Floyd was following Oscar and looking for him to try to get the fight with him. Also, not sure how they would think Floyd ducked Margarito and Cotto when he made an offer to Arum to fight both but Arum didn't want to meet the price. On top of that, Floyd told Margarito to continue to win and it would be greater later and what did Margarito do?

Lose to Paul Williams. ACTUALLY Margarito was avoiding Paul Williams to fight Miguel Cotto but was force to fight because Paul was his mantory and Margarito didn't want to lose his belt because he wanted to step in the ring against Cotto as a champion. He fought PWill and lost. Now I'm supposed to believe that Floyd would lose to Margarito, when Paul Williams outboxed Antonio? Pac fans be reaching. Oscar De La Hoya at 154 is far more dangerous than Margarito and 147, considering Floyd had to move up and fight the much bigger man. Not at a catchweight by the way.

[Chaos]

Everybody hating on Mayweather becaus he's seemingly ducking Pac but truth be told, he'd probably be the favorite imho. He'd have a reach advantage, a height advantage, and size advantage. You add that to the guy's superior technical skills and theres no doubt in my mind he'd beat Pac. The only thing that might affect him is the long layoff. I'm not a May nuthugger by the way, and I respect both fighters skills equally but you gotta call it like it is.

What you say is true, which makes it all the more perplexing that he won't do the fight. Even if Manny was actually on something, I think Floyd is still the favorite just because of his style.

[Mr. Philadel]

Floyd's fanbase on here consists of a few dudes I like and respect....but how can you dudes say Shane ducked Floyd with the tooth thing?!?... KNOWING that Oscar wanted the first dibbs and Floyd's "0" because he was feeling the desperation and pressure of having NEVER beat a ELITE fighter in their PRIME....IF Shane ducked Floyd then Floyd had to duck Margarito....all those roads lead to Oscar wanting to fight Floyd....Oscar was the cash cow and you didnt really need a map to know where all roads led to back then.....Floyd steppin' out the line of fire when Cotto was breathing down his neck wasn't a good look for Money....now THAT was obvious.....Floyd didn't want it with Cotto....do I think Cotto would've beat Floyd?!?...HELL NO!!!!!!....but retiring WITHOUT having fought Cotto back then will ALWAYS play a big role on where I rank Floyd when he's done!!

[MindBat]

I don't know what the heck is going on lately but my God there has been some VERY strange things happening. Kahn firing Ariza, rumors of Manny firing Ariza, Arum and Manny leaving HBO, Roach admitting he actually wanted the Marquez fight, Floyd hanging out with Arum, Floyd finally interviewing after a long silent spell...does no one else think some of this stuff is ****ing weird?

I will say this, I have been watching a TON of tape lately, like multiple fights per day from both Manny and Floyd. I don't know if they will fight, but if they do mark my words, this is going to be a MASSIVE technical mismatch. Manny is a great fighter, but he has been relying on his hand speed and stamina to beat these guys lately. He has been fighting guys who simply haven't been able to deal with his hand speed and conditioning. IMHO those are the 2 biggest advantages Pac has in every fight. However against Mayweather both of those advantages would be nullified, Mayweather is equally as fast and equally as well conditioned. I rewatched the entire Cotto fight yesterday and it was an EXCELLENT performance by Manny, top notch. However all of this talk about him all of the sudden being a fabulous 2 handed technical boxer simply isn't true. His right hook has improved, and is a decent weapon now, but his jab is still nothing more than a range finder for his straight left. And after watching the Cotto fight again, I think Manny's defense is actually WORSE than I had thought it was before. Cotto literally couldn't miss for the first 5 rounds, and then Manny's hand speed and conditioning were simply too much for him after that. However, one thing Mayweather doesn't get nearly enough credit for is just how accurate of a puncher he is. People, Floyd Mayweather is the most accurate puncher in the HISTORY of Compubox. Since its inception no one has landed a higher percentage of punches than Mayweather. If Cotto, Clottey, and Margs can each land well over 200 punches on Pac what the heck is the most accurate puncher of the last 20 years going to be able to do?

Hence why the majority, including some Pacquiao fans, pick Floyd to win it.

The discussions were all so smooth...negotiating...laying their cards on the table...arguing ... etc. After a week when all is said and done, Floyd balked and introduced this ****** blood testing.

You can give Mr. M;weather credit though. With all his antics, and craziness, and ******ity the boxing audience are anxious now for him to get in the ring and have his mouth shut. Of course they'll have to pay tickets or PPV to enjoy the sight. Smart, very smart.

You, sir are one of many who needs to review the events which started in 2009. It was posted that drug testing was in the contract from the beginning of negotiations. Those who don't do the research before posting make themselves look dumb and ignorant in writing.

[GRUSTLER]

Floyd's fanbase on here consists of a few dudes I like and respect....but how can you dudes say Shane ducked Floyd with the tooth thing?!?... KNOWING that Oscar wanted the first dibbs and Floyd's "0" because he was feeling the desperation and pressure of having NEVER beat a ELITE fighter in their PRIME....IF Shane ducked Floyd then Floyd had to duck Margarito....all those roads lead to Oscar wanting to fight Floyd....Oscar was the cash cow and you didnt really need a map to know where all roads led to back then.....Floyd steppin' out the line of fire when Cotto was breathing down his neck wasn't a good look for Money....now THAT was obvious.....Floyd didn't want it with Cotto....do I think Cotto would've beat Floyd?!?...HELL NO!!!!!!....but retiring WITHOUT having fought Cotto back then will ALWAYS play a big role on where I rank Floyd when he's done!!

Floyd had a rematch with Oscar De La Hoya in play at 147 when he retired, so how could he have ducked Cotto? That wasn't the only time Shane didn't want to fight Floyd. Floyd moved up chasing Oscar and Shane after Bruseles. Cotto watched Floyd whupped his boy, sparring partner, coached by his uncle (Henry Bruseles) and then Arturo Gatti. Cotto NEVER said a word or really pushed for the fight.

Roger even mentioned that Cotto was an option for Floyd if he got past Margartio. Margarito? Please. That dude avoided Paul Williams and when he did finally fight PWill, he got beat. Paul wasn't even close to being on Floyd's level back then and Antonio got outboxed. Oscar De La Hoya at 154, sparring with Shane Mosley and Freddie Roach in his corner is a way more riskier fight than Margarito who couldn't even hold his own at 154 against Santos. Margarito proved his worth. How is it considered a duck when Arum said Floyd would have fought Margarito for 10MIL guarantees on Cotto/Hatton and a mega fight for 20MIL with Oscar? Arum didn't do it and guess what? The fight with Oscar got made. How can that be considered a duck when the ball was in Arum's court to deliver? Shane getting turned down by Roach because he was too good to fight Pac is a duck.