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JEFF MAYWEATHER: "IT CERTAINLY WON'T HURT...ACCORDING TO ARUM, IT WASN'T GOING TO BE MANNY ANYWAY"
By Scott Smith | December 28, 2011
SS: With Floyd being ordered to do three months in jail, obviously the majortiy of people are talking about the negative effect it could have. Do you feel that this could work in his favor and add to the intrigue and pay-per-view figures for a much talked about showdown with Manny Pacquaio?
JM: I think it certainly won't hurt anything at all. It's only three months, not three years. Floyd fights like once a year, so three months from the ring certainly won't have any affect on his skills. I think what will be intriguing is the spin in which the media puts on the entire situation itself. The Manny fight ain't worth talking about until the contracts are signed because this has been going on for two years now. It always seems to be a reason why the fight isn't happening, so at this point, there is no need to even waste press on it until it's official.
SS: With the May 5th date seemingly being put on the backburner for now, who do you feel would be Manny Pacquaio's next opponent?
JM: I think it's a possibility that the May 5th fight will be postponed; according to Arum, it wasn't going to be Manny anyway, so it doesn't affect Manny's plans at all. According to Arum, Manny's eye wouldn't be healed in time to fight Floyd. I have no idea who Manny's next fight is, but I know he can't afford to have another bad showing or it may kill the fight with him and Floyd altogether.
SS: I saw your interview in which you said Pacquaio could not afford another bad performance vs. Marquez. Do you feel this could open the door for more fighters in the selection process, or will it be used as an excuse for Top Rank Promotions and team Pacquaio to wrap him in cotton wool with a carefully matched opponent?
JM: I think the opponents that were lined up for him will make him look bad. Tim Bradley was on board; terrible fight for Manny. Bradley is a solid fighter, but brings nothing to the table in terms of pay-per-view. Marquez will always be a great fight, win, lose, or draw. Manny got lucky last time, solely for the fact that the potential fight with Floyd was kept alive. I said it would happen even before the fight took place, and it did, so Bob has to come up with a new game plan to recreate Manny as a beast once again.
By Scott Smith | December 28, 2011
SS: With Floyd being ordered to do three months in jail, obviously the majortiy of people are talking about the negative effect it could have. Do you feel that this could work in his favor and add to the intrigue and pay-per-view figures for a much talked about showdown with Manny Pacquaio?
JM: I think it certainly won't hurt anything at all. It's only three months, not three years. Floyd fights like once a year, so three months from the ring certainly won't have any affect on his skills. I think what will be intriguing is the spin in which the media puts on the entire situation itself. The Manny fight ain't worth talking about until the contracts are signed because this has been going on for two years now. It always seems to be a reason why the fight isn't happening, so at this point, there is no need to even waste press on it until it's official.
SS: With the May 5th date seemingly being put on the backburner for now, who do you feel would be Manny Pacquaio's next opponent?
JM: I think it's a possibility that the May 5th fight will be postponed; according to Arum, it wasn't going to be Manny anyway, so it doesn't affect Manny's plans at all. According to Arum, Manny's eye wouldn't be healed in time to fight Floyd. I have no idea who Manny's next fight is, but I know he can't afford to have another bad showing or it may kill the fight with him and Floyd altogether.
SS: I saw your interview in which you said Pacquaio could not afford another bad performance vs. Marquez. Do you feel this could open the door for more fighters in the selection process, or will it be used as an excuse for Top Rank Promotions and team Pacquaio to wrap him in cotton wool with a carefully matched opponent?
JM: I think the opponents that were lined up for him will make him look bad. Tim Bradley was on board; terrible fight for Manny. Bradley is a solid fighter, but brings nothing to the table in terms of pay-per-view. Marquez will always be a great fight, win, lose, or draw. Manny got lucky last time, solely for the fact that the potential fight with Floyd was kept alive. I said it would happen even before the fight took place, and it did, so Bob has to come up with a new game plan to recreate Manny as a beast once again.