You’ve seen the blogs, heard the rants….now it’s time for the TRUTH.
A once epic bout, now plagued by bad blood, misinformed fans….and sadly opposite sides trying their hardest to discredit two incredible fighters.
Fans stood in delight as one of the biggest fights in boxing history began to take shape in the Fall of 2009. As Manny Pacquiao awaited what would be a 2 Round devastation over Ricky Hatton, the former Pound-4-Pound King Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced his return to the ring. But as Mayweather dominated the smaller Juan M. Marquez, the bout became skeptical as many boxing observers believed Pacquiao would be facing the same fate.
But all questions were tossed aside as Manny Pacquiao proved himself once again by defeating a true welterweight with power in Miguel Cotto. From that point on the people have rallied behind what would be a fight of epic of proportions. Two top-notch pound-4-pound fighters in their primes, setting out to determine who truly is the best fighter of this generation. But what followed was even more dramatic, as Pacquaio filed a defamation of character lawsuit against team Mayweather during March of 2010.
The March 2010 bout collapsed following a dispute over USADA style drug testing, demanding random blood / urine tests throughout training leading up to the bout.
Mayweather fans immediately jumped on the “Pacroid” bandwagon deriving from rumors (no proof) that Pacquiao had been using PED’s (Performance Ehancing Drugs). This topic began after Mayweather Sr.’s bitterness towards Ricky Hatton’s devastating loss, whom he trained for the bout, and later fueled by Pacquiao’s 12th Round TKO over Miguel Cotto.
The truth is fighters still provide blood / urine tests before & after each bout. Nothing has ever been noted to say Pacquiao used any form of PED’s.
The bout fell apart not over Pacquiao’s refusal to take the tests but because of the cut-off date involved with the tests. Mayweather Jr. insisted on a 14-Day Cut Off while Pacquiao wanted a 24-Day Cut Off. With neither side able to reach an agreement, Bob Arum (Head of Top Rank and Pacquiao’s promoter) declared the fight dead and decided to move on.
I can understand Floyd Mayweather Jr. taking steps to protect himself and keep the fight fair, he has every right to do so. But the request seemed to come out of left field and did not come with any solid evidence. Both sides were made to look bad as not only passing up an epic bout, but for Mayweather in particular who would of netted $30-$40 Million and most likely the highest PPV sales in boxing history.
.
Nevertheless, each fighter moved on.
Truth: Mayweather stated from the beginning that negotiations would be difficult as he and his former promoter Bob Arum have nothing but bad blood between them. The same can be said for Arum and Mayweather’s advisor Leonard Ellerbe. To make matters worse, bad blood also flows between Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather Sr. Negotiations seemed doomed from the start as each part held a strong dislike for one another.
Nevertheless, each fighter moved on and in doing so poured more fuel on the fire to the legion on fans wanting to see Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao square off.
That lead to Bob Arum bringing in Joshua Clottey (also Top Rank promoted)
Joshua Clottey had recently defeated Zab Judah via decision via a cut, which was actually caused by a punch not a head butt. Truly a TKO victory over Zab Judah for the vacant WBO Welterweight Title, Clottey moved on to fight Miguel Cotto in what many see as a disputed loss via Split Decision. Seeing as how he came out feeling “robbed,” giving the relatively unknown but solid fighter a title shot was not such a bad call.
If anything, it would give Pacquiao an opportunity to face a large Welterweight with excellent defense and in the end improve his skills overall. Pacquiao did just that by throwing 100 punches per round to Clottey’s 30 on average and cruising to a Unanimous Decision win.
Mayweather, following Shane Mosley’s post-fight fiasco during his bout with Juan Manuel Marquez , finally settled the terms to take a bout that had been long awaited. After surviving a 2nd Round push by Shane Mosely that nearly saw Floyd Mayweather knocked out, Floyd responded immediately in vintage form. Floyd Mayweather boxed beautifully displaying hand speed and precise punches that led Shane Mosely looking old and gassed as Floyd Mayweather Jr. dominated the bout 11 rounds to 1 or 10 rounds to 2 on the scorecards. But on an ironic note, USADA released a statement saying that both fighters ceased blood/urine testing 18 Days prior to the bout.
Following Pacquiao’s win over Clottey, he immediately said he wanted the winner of Mayweather-Mosely, while Freddie Roach insisted on Mayweather to take the bout.
Mayweather when asked after his win over Mosley, stated that if Pacquiao were to agree to the terms the fight would happen.
Once again fans geared up as negotiations began for a November 2010 bout……and of course the hate on each side became worse.
Honestly, I as a boxing fan, am tired of hearing the back forth arguments and attempts to discredit these fighters.
Here you have two phenomenal fighters who have achieved greatness and carved their place in boxing history, they deserve respect for that.
As far as who’s ducking who or who is on what….time will tell, but for now let’s take a look at the FACTS.
As far as the PED rumors about Pacquiao:
Manny Pacquiao did NOT have an extensive amateur career; he used boxing as a way out of poverty. He began his pro career at 106 lbs.
Mayweather Jr. finished 84-6 as an amateur, starting at 106 lbs. and finishing at 125lbs.
Both fighters began at or very close to the same weight, only Pacquiao jumped straight into Pro Boxing while Mayweather had an extensive amateur career.
Both fighters moved up gradually throughout weight classes and both fighters carried over the same speed, power and “style” that they have always been known for.
Mayweather is five division Champ, as he skipped over certain weight classes in the pro’s that he had out grown in the amateurs.
Pacquiao is a seven division Champ. Winning world titles in the lower weight classes, the same that Mayweather had been fighting at in the amateurs before turning pro.
Mayweather has fought all the way up to 154 lbs. , displaying the same speed, defense, power and accuracy he is known for.
Pacquiao has fought all the way up to 147 lbs. , displaying the same aggressiveness and high punch out put he is known for.
It is easy to see and well known, that after Pacquiao’s loss to Erik Morales, Freddie Roach honed Pacquiao’s skills by training him to be more than just a one-handed fighter. With that Pacquiao began a learning curve that displayed better footwork, more accurate punching and better defense. With that, Pacquiao began anew by knocking out Erik Morales in both rematches.
I believe what we are seeing is not the result of PED’s , but the loss of ground being made up by a good fighter who lacked an amateur career and now has a trainer that has brought out his full potential.
I would not believe Floyd Mayweather Jr. has ever used PED’s just as I would never believe Pacquiao to use PED’s , I see both as the result of hard work and dedicated training.
Roy Jones Jr. displayed this by starting at 160 lbs. and reaching 205 lbs. to become the World Heavyweight Champion.
It’s all a matter of proper conditioning, moving up weight classes gradually and conditioning to become comfortable at a higher weight class without losing any prior skills or abilities.
As far as the fight itself goes, I do not see this fight being easy for neither fighter. I believe both will be tested and both will require their A+ game to be victorious.
Now, onto the messy business.
A well known gag order was placed over the Nov. 13th negotiations, but nonetheless small facts leaked out here and there. Pacquiao of course publicly stated that he would agree to the 14 Day Cut off for USADA testing and Oscar De La Hoya would state on Spanish TV that negotiations were near completion.
Yet the deadline passed with no answers.
Bob Arum declared he would begin negotiating with other fighters.
And then Floyd Mayweather Jr. would later state that “he is not thinking about boxing right now and not looking to rush into anything” as he attended a charity basketball game in Miami.
Later the Mayweather Camp would deny that any negotiations ever took place.
Ross Greenburg, HBO Sports Exec, would later state that negotiations did take place.
And now…Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer and Leonard Ellerbe still deny the negotiations and point to Bob Arum as a liar while stating they do not understand why HBO Sports Exec Ross Greenburg sided with Bob Arum.
So we end up with the Top Rank CEO, Golden Boy CEO, and Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe putting more bad blood in the water and casting a dark cloud over a history making bout.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao gets set to square off against Top Rank promoted Antonio Margarito at 150 lbs. , nothing near the bout we wanted to see. But seeing as how styles make fights it’s sure to provide some excitement. Yet, Timothy Bradley in my opinion was a much better option. Honestly, Bob Arum could have made a better choice and the constant bickering between promoters needs to stop.
As for Floyd Mayweather Jr. , I wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted the rest of the year off. He’s known for extended lay offs between bouts, if that’s the case then so be it. On the other hand Roger Mayweather is facing possible jail time and just as Pacquiao would REQUIRE Freddie Roach for a bout like this, Mayweather would need the same presence of his trainer and uncle.
Until Floyd Mayweather Jr. makes his statement, we do not know.
What I know is this: MMA has gained so much ground because they make the fights that people want to see. The sport of boxing is hurt by events such as this and with the bout falling apart twice now, overall interest is beginning to slip away.
MAKE THE FIGHT HAPPEN
