[Note: This article was originally posted at this site on November 20, 2009.]
Floyd Mayweather is so totally and completely intimidated by Manny Pacquiao that he is now renegging on his earlier stance to duck Shane Mosley which we all saw happen in the moments after the Marquez fight. Mayweather’s team stated that if the Pacquiao fight falls through – they know it will because they want it to because deep down know they can’t win it (”I’m in a no-win situation,” admitted Floyd) – they will now look to fight Shane Mosley next – if he defeats Andre Berto in January.
What that means is that obviously they fear being knocked out by Manny Pacquiao to such an extent that now they will go back to the 38-year-old Mosley with tail between legs because it’s the only viable option the frustrated public will accept. Though it’s probably safe to assume Mayweather will be on his hands and knees praying Mosley a.) does not win and b.) looks nowhere near as devastatingly impressive as he did one year ago against Antonio Margarito.
It will be interesting to see if Ross Greenburg and HBO will accept this hugely disappointing option – which would be contradictory to Greenburg’s firm statements expressing his desire to make the Mayweather- Pacquiao fight a reality. It will be interesting to see if HBO lets Floyd duck Pacquiao and will they continue to permit this fraud to pollute it’s network airwaves with his continuous ducking, dodging and handpicking act. Pacquiao vs. Mayweather is the fight everyone wants now, which could singlehandedly re-launch the sport of boxing back into the mainstream, where it belongs. It should not be underestimated how one fight can explode an entire golden era for the sport, such as Ali-Frazier I, Duran-Leonard, etc.
We have that fight now and it’s ready to be made – Pacquiao vs. Mayweather – but the powers that be who rule the sport now have to be strong and make it happen. Or are they inept?
I have a fear that Mayweather and his man Al Haymon, who has a curiously strong influence over HBO, will cost the sport the most important fight of this century and Mayweather will fulfill his desire to preserve his undefeated record by shamelessly ducking Manny Pacquiao under the masquerade disguise that they tried to make a deal but couldn’t reach accord. Using the 60-40 angle as their escape hatch.
It’s a shame on Mayweather, Haymon and everyone involved, who sit back and let this nonsense happen. How could one single manufactured pseudo star who is an actual bully coward underneath the cloak of arrogance, be allowed to get away with costing the sport so much?
But this really is not a surprise. It was well known by insiders that Mayweather will never ever fight anyone with half a chance to knock him out, He ducked Margarito, Cotto and Mosley, why would Floyd suddenly be expected to start now to fight the most dangerous and formidable risk of all – Manny Pacquiao?
And I have some news for you. If Mosley wins against Berto and looks impressive, just watch how Floyd will try to worm and weasel his way out of that fight with whatever excuses and reasons his team comes up with. And you can count on Al Haymon and Richard Schaefer to once again be able to sweet talk HBO and Ross Greenburg out of making that fight.
But the bottom line is Pacquiao vs. Mayweather is not going to happen next. I guarantee you that.