Connect with us

Articles of 2010

Mayweather Or Pacquiao: Who Will Be The First To Give A Concession?

Published

on

After hearing Floyd Mayweather interviewed at ring center by HBOs Larry Merchant last week moments after his unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosley, it doesnt sound as if the biggest welterweight clash of 2010 will be realized. The same stumbling block that prevented Pacquiao-Mayweather / Mayweather-Pacquiao from being realized this past March, that being the format as to how drug testing for PEDs are to be conducted, looms just as large today as it ever has.

Since the proposed bout between them fell apart this past January, Pacquiao dominated Joshua Clottey over twelve rounds enroute to a lopsided decision victory – and Mayweather accomplished the same feat last weekend versus Shane Mosley. The anti-Pacquiao faction has implied that Mannys showing was due more to Clotteys ineptness than it was a testament to his ability, just as the anti-Mayweather faction is suggesting Floyds brilliance was more the case of Mosleys age and long layoff. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle on both accounts. However, it cannot be disputed that both Pacquiao and Mayweather scored overwhelming victories against fighters who despite being big Vegas underdogs, were expected to be more competitive than they were.

Mayweather is adamant about the drug testing issue and Pacquiao is just as adamant about not letting Floyd win the first two rounds by dictating the terms of the fight. Amazingly, Mayweather looked pretty muscled up against Mosley who probably struggled to get down to 147. Yet no one is talking about that? If I were Pacquiao, Id agree to the Olympic style drug testing if Mayweather was willing to part with some money or made a concession of his own like agreeing to fight in a sixteen foot ring.

With both fighters looking terrific and appearing to be at the top of their game, its hard to see either side giving into the other. Had Mosley come out on top against Mayweather can anyone imagine Shane looking to tilt the field in his favor against a fighter who began his title tenure as a flyweight? Of course not. And after how big Floyd looked in the ring against Mosley, he has a lot of nerve being accusatory about Pacquiaos physical stature.

Since May of last year boxing has experienced five significant PPV bouts: Pacquiao-Hatton, Mayweather-Marquez, Pacquiao-Cotto, Pacquiao-Clottey and Mayweather-Mosley. Three involving Pacquiao and two involving Mayweather. That pretty much says everything regarding the current state of professional boxing in 2010. The fact is Manny and Floyd are the face of it beyond a doubt. Minus Pacquiao or Mayweather, theres no super-fight out there that could generate monumental fan interest without one of them being part of it. Perhaps David Haye meeting either Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko with a few of the alphabet heavyweight title belts on the line, but thats certainly not a given.

The problem is both Pacquiao and Mayweather have other options where they could make a ton of money. Manny can make a fight with one of the junior middleweight title holders in an attempt to gain his eighth title and Floyd could make a ton of money fighting one of the belt holders at 154 just as well. Neither fighter holds an advantage over the other as to who should be promoted as the marquee attraction. They both need each other to make a legitimate super-fight. The only hope is Bob Arum (who promotes Pacquiao) needs them to fight in order to get paid a percentage of what would most likely be the biggest grossing fight of all time. So its plausible that hed be more willing to help nudge the fight along behind the scene than he would appear to in public.

The stumbling block preventing a showdown between the two biggest stars in boxing will be Floyd Mayweathers insistence that Manny Pacquiao unnecessarily subject himself to the same type drug testing that Shane Mosley did. The difference is Mosley needed Mayweather and admitted to using a so-called performance enhancing drug before, knowingly or not. Pacquiao has never failed a drug test during his seventeen year career. And this is where Mayweather just doesnt get it as to how he comes off as a fighter who wont agree to a fight to where as he likes to say, the field of play is level.

Floyd Mayweather may be one of the two best fighters in boxing, but he cant deal with facts. Yes, he looked great versus Mosley, but beating Shane at almost 39 is not the same as Vernon Forrest dominating him when he was 30. On the other hand it is Mayweathers signature career victory and sets him up perfectly to meet another great, all be it a smaller fighter, in his prime.

If Mayweather wants his just due, something no educated boxing fan wants to deny him, maybe he should consider dropping the ridiculous drug testing subterfuge after looking like a bigger welterweight than Emile Griffith in his last fight. Coming off such a masterpiece of a performance against Mosley, this is the ideal time for Mayweather to prove his critics wrong, just once. But based on Floyds track record does anyone expect him to agree to one fight against another great in his prime without working an angle to his advantage before the bell rings for the first round?

Boxing needs the infusion that a bout between its two greatest fighters could provide it. Sadly, the fight is as far away from being made as its ever been, and everyone knows who the force behind that is. The guess here is if the fight is to be made, once again Mayweathers opponent, not him, will be the one who steps up and makes some sort of a concession in order to make the fight a reality. Like the boxing public expected it to unfold any other way!

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles4 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles4 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles5 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Gibbons
Featured Articles17 hours ago

From the Boondocks to the Big Time, The Wild Saga of Manny Pacquiao’s Sidekick Sean Gibbons

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles4 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles4 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles5 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending