FLOYD MAYWEATHER TALKS FUTURE

So, no, he didn’t go there. Floyd Mayweather and Showtime analyst Steve Farhood didn’t go toward the elephant in the room, but they did take ont he gorilla. Farhood and Floyd, during the Friday night Showtime boxing event, didn’t delve into or even reference the tragic circumstances which unfolded early this week, as Floyd Mayweather’s pal Earl Hayes snapped, apparently, shot his wife and then himself in a fatal spree.

But Floyd didn’t escape mildly direct queries, as Farhood asked him about that “800 pound gorilla” in the room, the 147 pound ghost named Manny Pacquiao who stalks “Money” and hovers over the ultra-confident and flashy hitter, and spurs endless “will they or won’t they” talk which has driven many fight fans to the edge of a boredom precipice. That said, Twitter blew up last night, like there was a Khloe Kardashian tush sighting, as Floyd said he wanted to fight Manny, on May 2, but the ace pugilist drew fire on social media as he tossed out some equivocations and roadblocks and reasons why this Super Fight hasn’t already been put together.

My timeline reacted mostly with anti-Floyd reasoning, some of it mocking and venomous, as these folks seem to think Floyd, as opposed to the stated level of interest he exhibited on the Friday night fights hit with Farhood, doesn’t truly want to get in there with the Congressman. Does he fear a loss? Think Manny takes super supplements? Doesn’t wish to reward the Filipino with a massive payday? Harbor ill will toward ex promoter Bob Arum, who heads up Manny’s in ring arc? A combination of these explanations? Or something else? Who knows…I don’t pretend to…so we will continue as we have since 2009, postulating, theorizing, spewing conjecture…and shaking our heads at how and why a $200 million fight doesn’t get made, and the voice of the boxing citizenry aren’t heeded…

Here is the release Showtime sent out touting the interview:

Unbeaten boxing superstar and perennial pound-for-pound kingpin, Floyd “Money” Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs) broke his silence and called out Manny Pacquiao during an interview on SHOWTIME^®during Friday’s SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION telecast from San Antonio.

Speaking publicly for the first time in many weeks, Mayweather was interviewed by SHOWTIME expert analyst and boxing historian Steve Farhood.

See below for highlights from the interview and click here to watch highlights from the interview on YouTube: 

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“Absolutely, I would love to fight Manny Pacquiao, we’re trying to make the fight happen. Years ago we had problems with random blood and urine testing. I just want to have an even playing field.

“Now he’s in a very, very tight situation with his loss to (Juan Manuel) Marquez and his loss to (Timothy) Bradley. His pay-per-view numbers are extremely low, so he’s desperate. I’ve wanted that fight a long time ago.

“I’m just waiting on him; we have to make the fight happen on SHOWTIME PPV because SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING is No. 1 and will remain number one.

“Absolutely, Floyd Mayweather is not ducking or dodging any opponent. Bob Arum is stopping the fight. We have been trying to make the fight happen, behind the scenes, for years now. The fans and the people have been fooled because they have been listening to people on just one side. Now it’s time for us to talk, we want to fight. Let’s make it happen. May 2, Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, let’s do it.

“It’s a little bit of everything that makes me want this fight because he’s not on my level. The fans would love to see the fight and of course I want to go out with a bang. So let’s make this fight happen.

“Manny Pacquiao, Bob Arum, you guys have been ducking us for years. We’re tired of you guys fooling the public, fooling the critics. Before we tried to make the fight happen and you guys didn’t want to take random blood and urine testing. So that’s why the fight didn’t happen. Then I offered you $40 million and you didn’t want to make the fight happen. Then you lost twice and now you’re coming back begging for the same money. That’s not going to happen.

Let’s make this fight for the people, for the fans. Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao May 2, Cinco de Mayweather.”

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