Mayweather-Pacquiao: No fear, no mercy, no excuses

In just a few hours, the boxing world's Fight of the Century will commence at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. The protagonists, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, have proclaimed that they have done their homework and are ready to rumble. They promise to give the fans the fight of a lifetime and we expect them to deliver nothing less.

Thus, we expect them to be at their best when the bell rings. It will be a fight between two fighters considered to be among the best of all time. We will witness tonight a chess match between the best defensive fighter of his era versus the most explosive offensive fighter of his generation.

The case for Floyd Mayweather, Jr, to defuse Manny Pacquiao's attacks lies in his ever-present intelligent jabs and a very vicious right. Add the patented shoulder roll, the ring smarts and ring generalship to the lot and you will have a defense that will be hard to penetrate. Mayweather can pick his spots and can snipe Manny Pacquiao with clean shots every time Pacquiao strays into his territory.

On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao's unorthodox fighting style that gave many of his previous opponents fits must be present tonight if he wants to break into Floyd Mayweather's vaunted defense. Pacquiao's footwork, power and speed must work in unison in order for him to deliver his bombs to Mayweather.
The old classic offense versus defense boxing cliche will still be a factor here. Both fighters are considered to be some of the best, if not the best, when it comes to their craft; thus we expect them to try to impose their will and their brand of fighting on each other.

In a fight of this magnitude, an offensive juggernaut like Manny Pacquiao should start fast and deliver his 'shock and awe' early to put Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on the defensive. Pacquiao's relentless attacks should put a siege that will paralyze Mayweather's defensive fortifications. Pacquiao should rain hell coming from all angles into Mayweather by using his superior hand speed and powerful straight lefts down the button to obliterate his foe. Pacquiao's seldom used right hand, the "Manila Ice," can be a big factor in the fight.

But Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is not an easy prey to collar -- the main reason why he is still undefeated going into the megafight. If Mayweather survives the Pacquiao onslaught in the initial stages of the fight and adjusts as he always does to disrupt his opponent's rhythm, his pin-point accuracy with both hands can put Pacquiao in trouble, as the Filipino dynamo is still susceptible to the overhand right that Juan Manuel Marquez used to demolish him in their fourth fight. Timothy Bradley tried this strategy as well and was successful at times, but ultimately failed to crack Manny Pacquiao's now suspect chin in their second fight.

In order for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao to deliver on their promises, the fighter who will emerge victorious in tonight's match should be able to stick to his game plan and impose his will over his nemesis. The winning fighter should be able to control and dictate the tempo of the fight and should show no mercy in finishing off his opponent when the opportunity knocks.

Hence, this writer will go against the majority flow and have Manny Pacquiao taking out Floyd Mayweather, Jr. inside the distance of a brutal albeit tactical fight.

Note: Any comments, reactions, and suggestions are welcome. Hit me up at detexam@yahoo.com or join us at Detroit Boxing Examiner Facebook Page.

*This article was first published on Detroit Boxing Examiner.

Mum's the word: How many times did USADA tests Mayweather for the Super Fight

Lost in the hoopla of the Super Fight is the story about the USADA-led drug testing protocol for the fight. In this day and age of illegal performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), the deafening silence on the Mayweather front is quite intriguing, considering the media mileage that he got when he launched his so-called crusade to clean up the sport of boxing some five years ago.


The camp of Manny Pacquiao has stated that the Filipino pugilist has been tested thirteen times already, with the latest one occurring just hours before Friday's weigh-in for the Super Fight. On the other hand, we have no information on the side of Mayweather about his United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) visits. And unlike in past editions of Showtime's All Access that showed Mayweather being visited by the drug testing team before previous fights, the pre-fight Inside Mayweather Pacquiao did not show any clips of the USADA team paying a visit to the pound-for-pound king to collect his blood and urine specimen.

For about five years, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his minions regularly attributed the failure of the "super fight" with Manny Pacquiao to come to fruition back in 2009 to the Filipino superstar's refusal to take an "Olympic-style drug testing."

For years, "Take the test! Take the test!" was Mayweather 's battle cry -- he claims that he wants a clean fight and a level playing field against any fighter that he will face.

But whether he was serious enough about cleaning up the sport, or if it was just a ploy to avoid Manny Pacquiao, we now all have our own conclusions and opinions that will warrant another article. Suffice it to say, some of the boxers who were caught doping after the much-publicized call for random Olympic-style drug testing were members of The Money Team (TMT).

Manny Pacquiao, since being kayoed by a 'suspicious' Juan Manuel Marquez in their fourth fight, has undergone and passed drug-testing for most of his succeeding fights under the auspices of the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), hands-down the best entity that administers drug testing in the fight game today.

The Mayweather-Pacquiao Super Fight has been dubbed as the "Fight of the Century." Interest in the fight from both die-hard and casual fans is at an all time high, and the corresponding media coverage is on overdrive. What better way to promote Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s advocacy of a clean sport that can reach across the board than his showdown with his bitter nemesis Manny Pacquiao?

Sadly, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., whether it was by design or not, failed to capitalize on the opportunity that was presented on his lap to further enlighten the boxing world of the benefits of systematic drug testing in boxing. Not only was he silent about the visits of the USADA team during his training period, but also he employed people with checkered pasts who were in one time or another linked to the illegal performance-enhancing drug trade.

It was alleged by some boxing observers and writers alike that chemist and an admitted steroid dealer Angel "Memo" Heredia, the architect behind Juan Manuel Marquez's hulking transformation preceding the fourth Manny Pacquiao fight, is in bed with the Mayweather camp for this fight.

Alex Ariza, the erstwhile strength and conditioning coach of Manny Pacquiao who, on several occasions, has been credited by Mayweather for Pacquiao's success, has hinted about the S&C's role in Manny Pacquiao's fist power on several occasions, including in a May 2, 2012 interview with David Mayo of MLive: "Eventually, it'll come out. The truth's going to come out now. I told you. Everybody's about to point the finger- 'He's done this, and he done that, and he was taking this, I didn't tell him to do it, you told him to do it.' That's what everybody is going to say."

Bob Ware, Mayweather's cornerman since the Marcos Maidana rematch, was once implicated by TMT boxer J'Leon Love as the source of the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide that he took before his fight against Gabriel Rosado. Following the fight, the Detroit boxer was suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission for six months, fined $10,000 and had his contested split decision win changed to "no-contest." In a June 28, 2013 report by David P. Greisman of BoxingScene.com about the controversy, J'Leon Love "took a pill... without asking what it was... from strength and conditioning coach Bob Ware."

It is puzzling to many boxing observers why Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who has professed on many occasions that he wants to clean the sport of drug cheats and purveyors, would remain mum before the biggest fight of his career on the testing regimen that the USADA administered on him, which could have potentially immensely helped enlighten people in and around boxing about the process.

It is mind-boggling to the boxing world that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would still surround and associate himself with controversial strength and conditioning trainers and coaches whose characters are suspect when it comes to illegal PEDs, while at the same time wants to picture himself as boxing's poster child of Olympic-style drug testing.

As one commenter on an online boxing forum opined: "It is really funny that the one who was accused without proof of being on illegal PEDs is the one who is more open and vocal about the random testing for this fight than the one who proclaimed that he wants an Olympic-style drug testing to clean up the sport, who decided to be secretive. What's the real score, USADA?"

Note: Any comments, reactions, and suggestions are welcome. Hit me up at detexam@yahoo.com or join us at Detroit Boxing Examiner Facebook Page

*This articles was first published on Detroit Boxing Examiner.

Mayweather wins ugly fight, dangles September rematch with Maidana

 

After all the last-minute hullabaloo (see: #glovegate) en route to Saturday night’s ‘The Moment,’ as well as the last-ditch effort by the fighters and promoters to make a ruckus of the possibility that the Mayweather-Maidana fight may not push through -- which many boxing observers noted to be just for show to hype and encourage the fence-sitters to buy the pay-per-view... whether the people behind the punch-and-judy show succeeded with their objective remains to be seen.

The fight that many fans lambasted from the get-go produced an unexpected twist inside the ring but turned up with the usual expected result -- a win by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to snatch Marcos Maidana’s WBA welterweight belt and add to his WBC and Ring versions and stay undefeated at 46-0.

Still, Marcos Maidana, who, before the fight, was condemned to the slaughterhouse by oddsmakers, writers and fans alike, defied expectations and made Money Mayweather worked hard for his money, as the Argentine banger brought the fight to Mayweather right off the bat and made it ugly.

Thus, the anticipated 12 rounds of one-sided shellacking that many expected Mayweather would dish off to Maidana quickly vanished into thin air the moment the bull from Argentina came out of his corner and started firing in the first round.

Marcos Maidana rushed Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to the corner and bullied the American champion to the ropes as he unleashed his unorthodox but powerful shots with mean intentions. Maidana threw wicked left hooks in succession as well as those bad and swift overhand rights, combinations that would make a lesser fighter cringe in horror and abandon all hope in the face of adversity.

But Marcos Maidana is not fighting an ordinary fighter. He is fighting one of the best fighters of his generation, with a prodigious boxing talent to boot and a defensive whiz. Despite the early hiccups, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., as was his wont, put his game face on and buckled down to work. Mayweather found a way to escape all the traps that Maidana laid out for him: he timed and pot-shotted the slow and plodding Argentine, and held and wrestled his way to clinch the victory.

After Jimmy Lennon, Jr.'s announcement of the 114-114, 117-111, and 116-112 majority decision victory in favor of Floyd Mayweather, Jr., the powers that be at Showtime and Golden Boy, as well as the camps of the protagonists, immediately jumped the gun and announced that they planned to have a rematch of the fight in September.

And because of the said announcement, some boxing fans have already shared a piece of their mind regarding the possibility of a Mayweather-Maidana rematch via social media. Many opined that they smelled a fix, but whether their allegations or conclusions are true or not, we really do not know, since there is really no evidence to support the said issue. But as the late Jimmy Cannon once wrote, “boxing is the red light district of sports,” and so we can say in a way that everything is possible until proven otherwise.

As for this writer, all I can say is thanks but no thanks. There is really no rhyme or reason nor a compelling narrative to warrant a repeat performance of what has just transpired right before our very eyes.

Do we really think that a slow and plodding fighter like Marcos Maidana will be better off the second time around and do his thing against Floyd Mayweather, Jr.? Do we really think that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will change his style and stand toe-to-toe and knock out El Chino in a rematch?

Yes, the fight was close, but not really close. Yes, Marcos Maidana gave Floyd Mayweather, Jr. something to think about in the future, but there was really no way that a rematch can top the result of the first fight.

To illustrate the fight, it was not what many would have expected, but it failed to provide the necessary fireworks to be considered an exciting fight. At first, there was an element of surprise, a surge of adrenaline in anticipation of what could potentially unfold inside the ring, but as the fight wore on, round after round, it was just the same old refrain that eventualy became tiresome, predictable and futile. Mayweather may have been caught off guard by Maidana’s game plan, but he was never in serious trouble, let alone in any danger of losing the fight. To paint the big picture, Marcos Maidana tried his best, but his best just was not good enough to put a dent in Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s undefeated run.

One Hit Wonder: Maidana's chance against Mayweather

Marcos ‘El Chino’ Maidana, the bull from Argentina who sports a record of 35-3 with 31 wins coming by way of knockout, has worked his way up the boxing ladder due to hard work, brave heart and punching power.

Marcos Maidana always comes to fight, and has persevered and overcame adversity on his way to become one of the most exciting fighters in boxing today. He packs a wallop in both hands, and with the exception of one or two occasions, he was never involved in a dull fight.

After taking the brash and then undefeated champion Adrien Broner to hell to snatch the WBA welterweight belt, Maidana won the biggest sweepstakes of them all -- the megafight tonight with the current pound-for-pound king Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather, Jr. for the WBA, WBC, and Ring welterweight belts and then some.

But the boxing world has already written him off and proclaimed that Mayweather will just waltz through him en route to 46-0 to maintain the American champion’s unblemished record and move on to another fight in his quest of being The Best Ever (?) in the history of the sport.

They say that Marcos Maidana is no match for the skill and talent of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and that Money will just blitz El Chino with his blinding hand speed and dazzling footwork to carve out the customary lopsided UD victory that is the hallmark of every Floyd Mayweather, Jr. victory.

Yet Marcos Maidana is unperturbed by the odds stacked against him for he believes in himself; he knows how to handle pressure, get out of a bad situation, and come back to win the fight. Most of all, El Chino has confidence in the power behind his fists that have brought him to where he is now -- the biggest fight of his boxing career.

Marcos Maidana’s list of victims is not as impressive as his foe’s, but is quite solid. The list includes Victor Ortiz, Victor Cayo, Jesus Soto Karass, Josesito Lopez and Adrien Broner, just to name a few. After tonight’s fight, the Argentine banger wants to add to that list the biggest fish of ‘em all -- Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

But that is easier said than done considering that “45 have tried and 45 have failed” against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Marcos Maidana is “not as talented and skillful” as the American superstar and will surely be outworked and outclassed as pointed out by many boxing observers -- that’s why he is a huge, huge underdog in this fight.

There is one thing that is going for Maidana in this fight, though: unlike many of Floyd Mayweather, Jr’s opponents in the past, El Chino is not afraid nor in awe of Mayweather’s mystic as a fighter and aura of invincibility because El Chino believes in himself -- that he will be the one that can blemish Mayweather’s immaculate record.

So, the question that will be answered tonight is: can Marcos Maidana do it?

It will be a very long shot, but Marcos Maidana has the shot that can drop an opponent with one punch, and Floyd Mayweather’s chin has not been tested this much since Shane Mosley cracked and penetrated the pound-for-pound king’s vaunted defense in 2010.

And yes, as they usually say, “if you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it’s OK.”

Note: any comments, reactions, suggestions are welcome. Hit me up at detexam@yahoo.com or join us at Detroit Boxing Examiner Facebook Page.

*This article was first published on Detroit Boxing Examiner

Moment of Truth: The Mayweather-Maidana fight is a hard sell to boxing fans

It is the eve of the big event in Las Vegas dubbed ‘The Moment,’ which features Floyd Mayweather, Jr and Marcos Maidana vying for the world’s welterweight championship, yet as of this writing, a lot of tickets remain unsold or still available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com and other ticket outlets that this writer checked online.

It is unfathomable that a big fight that will purportedly showcase the talent and skill of undefeated Floyd Mayweather, Jr., the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, against Marcos Maidana, one of the most determined and biggest punchers in the division, is having a hard time selling tickets. Unless a miracle happens, ‘The Moment’ is bound for a disastrous showing at the box office.

It is unthinkable because Showtime Networks and MGM Grand, together with their friends in the boxing media, are not remiss in advertising, pushing and promoting this fight at every nook and cranny of the boxing world (which even sparked the ire of Top Rank impresario Bob Arum because of the way MGM Grand handled their promotional end on the recent Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley rematch last April 12). Yet the responses from the fans are anemic at best, and most show derision and contempt for what many perceive as a ‘sham-down’ between two opposing fighters who should have no business facing each other and should have been squaring off against different opponents this coming Saturday night.

On various social media outlets and boxing forums, the sentiments of the majority of boxing fans are very palpable and glaring. Yes, while they have nothing but respect for Marcos Maidana’s achievements in the ring, they are unanimous in proclaiming that Maidana has no chance whatsoever against Mayweather. Thus, they regard the Mayweather-Maidana bout as just not worth their time and money.

That is why, no matter how hard the promoters are pushing Mayweather-Maidana’s ‘The Moment’ down the boxing world’s throat, they are having a hard time convincing the majority of boxing fans (except for the die-hard supporters of the contending fighters) to buy the $70 pay-per-view price tag.

Here are some of the comments one can encounter on social media regarding ‘The Moment’:

“Mayweather 11 rounds to 1. I will not pay $70 for this bull****.”

“Set up fight... Slow Maidana got no chance.”

“Who cares?”

“We all know Money May is going to tear his a** up!!!”

“One-sided fight. We deserved a better fight than this one.”

“Boring fight. A waste of money as Floyd will just dance the night away.”

Judging from the comments above and the ones that will inevitably pop up on social media in the wake of this fight, it is a far-gone conclusion who in their minds will emerge victorious on Saturday night. To many of them, ‘The Moment’ is just a formality or a validation of what they expect as another easy win for Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

It is really interesting how the fans’ overt outrage affects the pay-per-view sales of the Mayweather-Maidana tiff off -- or how the vitriol towards the ‘The Moment’ will affect Floyd Mayweather, Jr.‘s future fights with Showtime to fulfill his rich contract.

Note: any comments, reactions and suggestions are welcome. Hit me up at detexam@yahoo.com or join us at the Detroit Boxing Examiner Facebook Page

*This article was first published on Detroit Boxing Examiner

The Moment: Mayweather-Maidana folly

On Saturday, Floyd Mayweather Jr. will return to the ring against Marcos Maidana in an event dubbed as ‘The Moment’ as part of his six-fight, 30-month pay-per-view deal that the Grand Rapids native inked with Showtime Networks a year ago, which was described by the boxing world as the “richest individual athlete deal in all of sports” and will make him $200 million plus richer when he is done with the contract.

At present, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. commands the biggest purse in boxing and owns, or is part of, the biggest pay-per-view returns in boxing history. And there is no doubt that Mayweather is a major draw, not only because of his talent and skills inside the ring, but also because of his colorful personality outside of it, and at first glance, the investment by Showtime seems to be justifiable.

But if we dig deeper into Mayweather’s recent fights, most boxing fans will agree that with the exception of Canelo Alvarez, who posed the possibility of ‘danger’ (yes, danger here is in parenthesis because some people in boxing have come up with allegations that the fight was rigged, so as not to squander the huge investments by the network) to Mayweather’s myth of ring invincibility, there is no other fighter out there (aside from a few that include Manny Pacquiao, who he won’t dare fight even in his sleep) that can touch him.

In an ideal world, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., being crowned as the world’s no. 1 pound-for-pound fighter and proclaimed as the best in the business by many boxing organizations and media outlets, should have been tangling with a fighter that is equal or near his caliber on Saturday night. And Marcos Maidana should have been fighting Adrien Broner in a rematch of their highly-competitive fight. But this is the world of boxing nowadays, wherein the legitimacy of many major events is questionable and most of the time, the paying boxing fans are left with nothing but disappointments at the end of every major pay-per-view fight.

And if only the fight fans will realize who really holds the ‘power of the purse’ in this business and begin to show their disdain for inconsequential fights that insult their intelligence, then this Mayweather-Maidana charade should have never been considered nor made in the first place.

So, the buying public is left with no other recourse but to accept what the powers that be at Showtime, aided by their rah-rah boys in the boxing media, put on their plate and swallow hook, line and sinker that Marcos Maidana deserved the shot to be Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s next dancing partner?

Forking over $70 of hard-earned money for a fight that both the die-hard observers and casual fans alike at this day and age consider to be a sparring session is insane. And no disrespect to Marcos Maidana and his never-say-die attitude, but he is not in Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s class, and Maidana is not who the boxing world really wants to see squaring with Mayweather inside the ring on Saturday night.

Picture this: Marcos Maidana, a natural light welterweight and the smaller guy, will climb into the ring against Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who is considered to be the most talented and the best fighter in the world, and is a natural welterweight/junior middleweight. What else would we expect the result will be?

Picture this: Marcos Maidana, a slow and plodding boxer (his power punches notwithstanding) trying to hit Floyd Mayweather, Jr., one of the most elusive fighters in the world blessed with fast hands, very good footwork, and superior boxing IQ to boot, and we think that Maidana has a chance of pulling an upset?

Just two scenarios point out that it doesn’t take a genius or a rocket scientist to realize that this so-called championship fight is a mismatch and a sham. That is why whatever contempt and derision held by the fight fans towards The Moment is just right and justified.

Note: This article was first published on Detroit Boxing Examiner

ShoBox: Do not hate on J'Leon Love

In the main event of Friday night’s ShoBox: The New Generation at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, Inkster’s J’Leon Love (17-0-1, 10 KOs) stopped the overmatched but pesky Vladine Biosse (16-2-2, 7 KOs) in the final round of the 10-round super middleweight bout.

Vladine Biosse, who played football for the University of Rhode Island in college, was never in the fight, as the talented and skillful J’Leon Love kept him at bay with his stiff jabs, good footwork and well-timed combinations for most of the night.

The only significant thing that Biosse did to Love was when he was able to inflict a cut above the latter’s left eye courtesy of a headbutt in the fourth round. Otherwise, it was a one-sided affair in which the outcome was never in doubt. Another win, another successful outing for the young fighter being groomed for bigger things by The Money Team.

Love cut, bloodied and punished his opponent all night with shots coming from all angles, and the game Biosse took them all. It was a picture of contradiction as Love had all the talent and skill but Biosse had all the heart and determination. Biosse ate all the leather that Love could give, but still did not quit. Biosse withstood Love’s onslaught for 9 full rounds and even up to those fateful last minutes of the 10th, or so we thought.

That is why when the referee Benjy Esteves finally decided to end the fight with more or less a minute and a half remaining in the 10th and final round to give J’Leon Love the TKO victory, many fans were dismayed, since although Vladine Biosse was cowering and cornered on the ropes and J’Leon Love was teeing-off, the shots were not landing solidly and were in fact deflected by Vladine Biosse’s glove and movements.

As one of my friends put it, “C’mon, give the man a break. He lasted this long; let him finish the fight on his feet.”

“They just want to put a TKO on his record,” added another. Sometimes this writer found it amusing when people would throw in the ‘conspiracy angle’ on things that did not suit their tastes or beliefs.

The ShoStats showed J’Leon Love’s overwhelming dominance over the hapless Vladine Biosse by outlanding him 263 to 99 in total punches, with a 224 to 85 edge in power punches.

In pummeling Vladine Biosse in lopsided fashion, J’Leon Love showed us why he is considered to be a future world champion and highly regarded by no less than the great Floyd Mayweather, Jr., as shown by the pre-fight brotherly hug and whispers that the pound-for-pound king gave his fellow Michigander.

Still, to some boxing observers, J’Leon Love’s victory left something to be desired. Yes, he was dominant and showed a lot of weapons in his arsenal, yet people were left wondering that there was something missing in his performance. Yes, all the essential things were there -- movement, accuracy, hand speed and good defense -- but

people want to see in J’Leon Love the spark, the fire and the ability to destroy an opponent, especially if that opponent is a fighter like Vladine Biosse who is not in his league.

Vladine Biosse, in their eyes, had no business to trade gloves with J’Leon Love in the first place, and him lasting that long in the ring was an indictment on Love’s ability as a fighter rather than his opponent’s durability.

As for me, J’Leon Love’s inability to finish off Vladine Biosse early was the only element that was missing in a rather impressive performance in my book. And this writer can live with that small bump at this point of J’Leon Love’s career.

But if J’Leon Love wants to be a bankable star in the future, he needs to elevate his game more. He needs to start fighting and destroying more credible opponents rather than feasting on journeymen and patsies.

How about a rematch with Gabriel Rosado for a start?

Note: This article was first published on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

First Take: Larry Merchant sells his take on Mayweather-Pacquiao megafight

photo credit: HBO Boxing

This morning, respected boxing analyst Larry Merchant graced ESPN's First Take in what host Stephen A. Smith called as "ESPN collaborating with HBO on boxing," that was hailed by many boxing observers as a move in the right direction for the networks.

For people who regularly follow the show, the guest appearance of Larry Merchant was like a breath of fresh air after being exposed for far too long to the daily diatribes of the two hysterical, loquacious, and hilarious motormouths in Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith. On a side note, the addition of Cari Champion as the moderator between the two protagonists is a welcome addition, too.

Larry Merchant, a hard-hitting veteran of the boxing circuit, who is not afraid to speak his mind on any topic, knows his boxing really well. He will not hold any punches to dish out verbal jabs, hooks and straights on anyone if he deems it necessary to convey his point. He is a straight-shooter inside and outside the ring and is probably one of the greatest, if not the greatest, TV boxing analysts of all time.

The topic of the discussion was: "Running Scared: Is Floyd Mayweather really afraid of Manny Pacquiao?", showing video snippets of Pacquiao proclaiming on one of his earlier appearances on First Take that he is willing to accept a lower percentage of the fight revenue (45%-to-55%) and that his earlier objection to random drug testing is now a non-issue ("No problem even at the night of the fight, no problem").

But the most telling piece was when Manny Pacquiao was asked whether Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is afraid of him. Manny Pacquiao laughed at the question and seriously stated that he believes that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is really afraid of him -- "I think it's kind of that."

But true to form, Larry Merchant had a different opinion on the matter: "Mayweather is not afraid of fighting Manny Pacquiao. I think, number one, what's held up this fight, and I've been in the 'yes it's going to happen' category when the nos have been carrying the day for a few years, is that there's a disincentive financially."

He further explained that both fighters are "making upwards of 40-50 million a year: Pacquiao by fighting twice, Mayweather by fighting once. There's no urgency. It's a business as well as a sport."

Stephen A. Smith then offered his 'solution' of "stop buying the pay-per-view other than a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather, Jr." fight and went on to say that he believes that Floyd Mayweather will win it because "he is the best boxer on the planet."

Larry Merchant went on length to convey his views on Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. -- "They are the heavyweight champions in America in terms of their popularity, in terms of reaching beyond boxing to the casual fans."

"I think Floyd Mayweather thinks he's going to beat Manny Pacquiao. He will be the favorite. What Mayweather is afraid of more than anything else is an L, a loss. He has marketed himself as this unbeaten and unbeatable fighter, and to a lot of new fans or unsophisticated fans, they think that's a big, big deal, which it never has been, because if you fight enough good, young fighters in their prime, somebody's gonna beat you. It happened to Pacquiao even in a bad decision, but against a tough, good kid."

Skip Bayless pressed Larry Merchant further, "Does Floyd think he'll win or lose to Pacquiao?"

"I think he thinks that Pacquiao is the greatest threat to him. Why take, in the risk-reward equation, if I can make $40 million for fighting some guy (and) I've only got to give him $3 million to take the fight, why am I going to do that (fight Pacquiao)? There have been comparable situations in the past. Lennox Lewis and Tyson didn't fight 'til well into their careers and broke records; they were past their primes. So, it's business. Will the heat still be there? Will they both have maintained their star status? Will they lose it? It's not unprecedented in boxing. Hopefully it'll happen someday. Meanwhile, we've got 3 big pay-per-view events in boxing in a year instead of one big blowout."

And Stephen A. Smith, not to be outdone, posited this silly question to Merchant-

"Who's the best boxer on the planet right now?"

"I think Mayweather is on top and I think Pacquiao is right there." Merchant then confessed though that he "likes Pacquiao's style as a puncher-boxer."

Then Larry Merchant added this nugget of a wisdom on the possible Mayweather-Pacquiao scenario:
"The old expression "good defense beats good offense." It was the pitcher for the Pirates Bob Veale who said, "good pitching beats good hitting" and vice versa. It's the good hitting that sometimes beats good pitching."

The round-table discussion continues with Skip Bayless interjecting that he is on record that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is "ducking Manny Pacquiao because he fears that Manny is equal to him in hand quickness but has more punching power, and for the first time in Floyd's career, not only does he stand to take the L but he stands to get hurt, to get caught."

Larry Merchant, in his own irrepressible way, delivered the counterpunch: 'I'm surprised that Skip has such strong opinions on this thing" that elicited laughter among themselves.

"My attitude about the fight is I wanna see it happen. Mayweather fought Cotto; it was a good fight, a better fight than expected, and the 4th Marquez-Pacquiao fight may be a better one than the first three, all of which were good fights."

Cari Champion then asked that if Mayweather and Pacquiao get together, "Who do you think is gonna win the fight?"

Larry Merchant refused to answer the question directly but has this to say:

"I'm gonna wait 'til it happens. And because things happen between now and then, there's no doubt that Mayweather will be the favorite. And that if you go by the history of these things, the boxer, the guy who comes out of the dressing room with his first and second thoughts are 'I'm not gonna get hit' and is a master at that," and in Merchant's opinion, "it's hard to beat him."

Many fight fans are hoping that Larry Merchant's first appearance on the show will not be his last. And even if we do not agree with some of his views, it is refreshing to listen to somebody as knowledgeable and eloquent as Larry Merchant sharing his thoughts regarding some of the issues plaguing the sport.

Note: This article was previously published on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

ESPN First Take: Mayweather-Pacquiao Saga Continues

ESPN First Take: Manny Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. speaks about his future, jail time and Manny Pacquiao

Credits: 

David Becker/Getty Images

After his release from jail, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has so far managed to maintain a low profile when it comes to his career and personal life. Except for a few interviews here and there, Mayweather has been quiet on all fronts; no mean feat for a person who historically craves the limelight and a magnet of controversy both in his words and actions.

In one of the interviews he did for FightHype, a sober Floyd Mayweather, Jr. opened up his mind and bared some of his plans. He spoke about his personality ("It's about having personality, you know. You gotta be outspoken and have personality. It's not really the bad guy. I enjoy entertaining. That's what it's about, giving the fans excitement and entertainment. Some pay to see me win, some pay to see me lose, but they all pay."), his relationship with his rapper buddy 50 Cent ("everything that he touch turns to gold"), his promotions company, his time in a Las Vegas prison, and of course, Manny Pacquiao.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. gave us a glimpse of his life in jail which included his distrust of the food that was being served, "I was surviving off commissary. I didn't eat the food at all...I don't like it and I didn't trust it" and the activities that he did to keep himself in good physical shape, like ridiculously pushing himself to do push-ups -- from a few hundreds to a thousand push-ups or more per day -- "I started doing 436 pushups a day. Then I went from 436 to 872. Then I went to 1308, so I was doing like 1300 pushups a day."

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. also divulged that he also found time to read while incarcerated, "I was doing a lot of reading from the fans, and just reading different books, different magazines." It would have been interesting to know what kind of books and magazines Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has found a liking to, except that the interviewer did not pursue the topic.

But the most telling part of the interview was the one regarding his views and positions on fighting Manny Pacquiao. His ambivalence on the topic was palpable as he tried to explain his reasons, as well as reiterating his uncompromising stand on his demands.

"I don't have any hate towards Manny Pacquiao, you know. I respect him, but I'm just saying, it's not a crime. I'm also saying I'ma do random blood and urine testing, you know, just so I can be in a clean sport. That's all I'm asking."

"Actually, we don't do the same type of numbers, so how can we split? We don't draw the same type of money."

"It's kind of hard. I mean, Arum wants money, but the thing is, it's about putting the fighters in a good position. It's about Pacquiao and Mayweather. It's about putting both fighters in a good position, and of course I'm going to put myself in a good position."

"I can't really say why he won't do the random blood and urine tests...at this particular time, I don't know if he wants to do it or not."

These pronouncements are nothing but empty rhetorics though, since we have all heard this before. These pronouncements are nothing but a sad refrain from a fighter who is showing ambivalence in fighting the one person who could test his will and limits as a prizefighter. There is no question that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is one of the greatest fighters of his era and is actually favored to beat Manny Pacquiao if ever they face each other in the ring, but until the day happens we will never really know the answer.

Obviously, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is putting the blame on Bob Arum for the failed negotiations of the megafight. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is still adamant that he will call the shots when it comes to the purse split as well as the percentage of the pay-per-view revenue. And lastly, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. makes it appear that Manny Pacquiao is still against random blood testing. (For the record, Manny Pacquiao has gone on record on numerous occasions that there is no more problem on his part with the blood testing issue -- random, Olympic or otherwise.)

And Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has this to say as a parting shot, "The only thing I can continue to do is, if I do fight again, I'll fight whoever they put in front of me."

It would have been great for boxing if only Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would be true to his pronouncements, but based on his track record, we will all need to take everything that he says with a grain of salt.


  Note: This article was previously published on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

Manny Pacquiao at the crossroads

Credits: 

Jeff Bottari/Getty Images

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao can't seem to find his head these days. Even prior to his controversial loss to Timothy Bradley, Pacquiao's focus regarding his boxing career was already being questioned by many observers. As if his duties and responsibilities as an elected representative in the Philippine Congress were not enough, his newly-found religious fervor now also has to compete with the time that he has to spend in the ring.

As of this writing, Top Rank and Manny Pacquiao cannot seem to agree on the timeframe of his return to the ring as well as on his preferred opponent if ever he decides to fight again this year. This uncertainty coupled with his actions and behaviors in the past is another obvious sign that shows his heart is no longer 100% into his boxing career.

But one thing is certain, whether Manny Pacquiao decides to fight on November 10 or on a later date in December, the list of familiar opponents being touted does not excite even his die-hard fans more so the casual ones.

Timothy Bradley, Miguel Cotto, and Juan Manuel Marquez are all good fighters in their own right, but to many fans they are not the fights that they want to see, especially at this stage of Manny Pacquiao's career. But we also cannot deny the reality that Manny Pacquiao has very little options left except against Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

But since Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is enjoying an extended sabbatical from boxing after his stint in prison and trying his darndest best to evade the Pacquiao question, the boxing powers that be have given us just three choices to pick on who will be Manny Pacquiao's next dancing partner if and when he decides to fight.

In this writer's opinion, Miguel Cotto should not even be in the equation, especially after the brutal beating that the Pacman inflicted on him. There is no drama nor the element of surprise here as the fight was conclusive and one-sided. The loss to Floyd Mayweather, Jr., even though the Boricua fighter gave a good account of himself, further disqualifies him in many boxing observers' minds.

Timothy Bradley, despite all his pronouncements lately, just does not cut it out. The boxing world knows who won the fight that night in Las Vegas, except the boxing judges who robbed Manny Pacquiao of his belt and gave it to Bradley, despite Bradley doing almost nothing to improve his stock in the fight. The dole-out was just inconceivable even to the eyes of the casual boxing fans who probably don't know the difference between a right hook and a bare-handed slap. No boxing fan in his right mind would want to undergo the experience of watching a snoozefest the second time around.

That leaves us with Manny Pacquiao's perennial nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez. The Mexican is probably the only fighter who was able to solve the Pacquiao puzzle and was not intimidated by the Filipino's mystique in the ring. Their trilogy was very competitive albeit controversial as both camps and their supporters believed in their hearts that their own fighter was the rightful winner regardless of the result of the fight.

Juan Manuel Marquez provides danger and a challenge to Manny Pacquiao. The Mexican fighter is like a bad nightmare that never goes away. Manny Pacquiao needs to put a stop to Juan Manuel Marquez's emphatic claims regarding their past fights.

Yes, Manny Pacquiao should choose Juan Manuel Marquez from the list in order for him to put an end to the lingering doubts of the skeptics regarding his close victories over the Mexican legend. Manny Pacquiao needs to stamp his class and put Marquez away decisively and for good.

But before he puts his name on the dotted line, Manny Pacquiao should try to look inside himself and find out whether he still has the fire and desire to continue fighting. Otherwise, it is time to walk away from the fight game.


 Note: This article was previously published on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

The gospel according to Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao once shared a story that one night: after his life and death experience inside the ring with his nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez in November 2011, he was awakened from a nightmare in which God had talked to him about him straying away from His teachings. He promised Him that he will do everything in his power to change and lead a better life.


Manny Pacquiao now avers that he is a completely different person from his old self.

"The old has passed, the new has come."

Manny Pacquiao, as a result of that 'conversation' with God, has transformed himself into what he is now: a man who is at peace with himself and with God, which in his opinion is a turn for the better.

"It's better for me. I know if I die today where I'm going. I'm not worried about what fits in this world. I'm worried about what happens to me in my eternal life."

But we may ask ourselves, how can a man who makes a living through violence, by hurting other people inside the ring, at the same time preach about peace among his fellow men without affecting his job and the manner on which he does it?


The contradiction is obviously not lost to his critics who called his sudden transformation from a man who openly wallowed deep in sin into a Bible-quoting preacher just plain hypocrisy. The same people also quickly jumped to the conclusion that Manny Pacquiao's so-called awakening is nothing but for show. Yes, the transformation has elicited both negative and positive responses from every man on the streets, to everyone who wants to have his two cents heard on the matter.

But Manny Pacquiao's transformation will not come as a surprise to many who religiously followed the Filipino fighter's career. Despite his frailties as a human being and the trappings of being a celebrity in his chosen profession, deep inside Manny Pacquiao is a very religious person and has a huge heart for the downtrodden.

Even when it comes to his rival Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s baseless accusations of PEDs use and constant tirades (that on many occassions border to the absurd) against him, Manny Pacquiao elected to be the better man and never uttered a single bad word against the American (although he opted to charge him for defamation but still, Pacquiao is giving Mayweather a legal forum to defend himself and a chance to prove his allegations).

And with Mayweather's latest predicament that landed him in a Las Vegas jail for domestic battery charges against the mother of his children, Pacquiao has only this to say-

"I don't judge people, I don't condemn people. I'm praying for him that everything will be fine and he will realize the truth."

Manny Pacquiao admits to having erred in his life by indulging in many sinful activities in the past, including indulging in alcohol, womanizing (which almost cost him his marriage), cockfighting (search YouTube for videos showing him betting millions of pesos on a single fight) and other forms of gambling. But now Manny Pacquiao proclaims that since following the teachings in the scriptures and giving up all his vices, he is now a happy and contented man.

"I don't like anymore gambling, drinking, girls, stuff like that, because I was reading the word of God. The sins we committed over and over, I stopped doing that. I found it in my manual for life, the Bible"

Because of Manny Pacquiao's recent pronouncements, a lot of people are wondering whether he still has the desire to fight and inflict harm on his opponents. Yes, a lot of people are now questioning whether Manny Pacquiao still has the heart and the fire to demolish his opponents the way that he used to throughout his storied career. The answer to those questions will eventually be answered on fight night, but here was the answer coming from the man himself-

"This fight?" Pacquiao referrring to his advertised battle royale against Timothy Bradley this coming Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, "this is my job. I have a job to make people happy. . . Yes, I'm happy doing this. This is what God made me to do."

So there.

Manny Pacquiao's claims of finding solace in the word of God is nothing to sneer about. The man is serious regarding his newfound calling. We can just view this as another phase, a stage of man's never-ending search for answers to his questions about Life and Faith.

So instead of casting the first stone, we should just respect his beliefs and be happy for the man as long as he does not renege on his promise to deliver his usual mayhem on fight night.

   *This article was originally published in Detroit Fight Sports Examiner 

 Photo Credit: David Becker/Getty Images

Manny Pacquiao messes up Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s head

Yes folks, contrary to what Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s pronouncements of taking some time off from boxing, his head is actually so full of it.

Despite Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s practiced nonchalance and dismissal of Manny Pacquiao's greatness, the Filipino and Ring Magazine's current pound-for pound king is really plaguing his mind.

If Manny Pacquiao is a non- entity in Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s life and existence, then how do we explain his behavior whenever a whiff of Manny Pacquiao invades Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s air.

It is obvious from the way Floyd Mayweather, Jr. belittles Manny Pacquiao that a big chunk of his brain is haunted by his nemesis. It is obvious that Manny Pacquiao's standing in boxing is driving Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to madness. It is obvious that just by the mere mention of Manny Pacquiao's name in his presence, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. can explode and go to the extreme.

Manny Pacquiao has tormented and continues to torment Floyd Mayweather, Jr. It seems that he just can't get rid of Manny Pacquiao's unwelcome presence wherever he goes. Manny Pacquiao's shadow looms large in Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s daily life. And Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is going bonkers because of it.



Read the rest of the article, HERE

Detroit Fight Sports Examiner Digest #85

If there’s one place that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. can call home, it should be Michigan. Hailing from Grand Rapids, Mayweather put the state on the boxing map for years and many Michiganders are proud of his accomplishments inside the ring.

If there’s one place where Floyd Mayweather, Jr. can clearly claim that his fans far outnumber that of his nemesis, Manny Pacquiao, it will be Michigan. The Grand Rapids native enjoys a huge following in the state and Michigan boxing fans have supported him through thick and thin.

And with Bob Arum’s deadline on the proposed Mayweather- Pacquiao megafight hovering on the horizon, many boxing fans and supporters of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. are clinging to the faint hope that their favorite fighter will sign the dotted line on the eleventh hour.

Click the link for the full article--

Michigan boxing fans want Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to 'Man Up'

Detroit Fight Sports Examiner Digest #84

The writing on the wall even before the Manny Pacquiao- Floyd Mayweather, Jr. megafight was conceived was that it would never happen. Still, many boxing fans are hoping that for a multi-million dollar mega prize all the obstacles will be overcome and the fight will push through. And Bob Arum’s announcement that Manny Pacquiao has agreed to all the demands of the Mayweathers including the contentious random blood testing and purse split brought hope to the boxing faithful. Or so it seems.



Click on the link to read the article-

Mayweather- Pacquiao debacle: Money May passes the buck to Bob Arum via David Mayo

Mayweather- Mosley: Fool's gold?

After an excruciating delay, which could be attributed more to the promoter’s calculated moves to hype the fight, rather than Floyd Mayweather, Jr.‘s seeming reluctance to face Shane Mosley, he finally inked the contract that will put the two protagonists in an All- American welterweight extravaganza on May 1st in Las Vegas.

It is a fight that should have been fought earlier in their respective careers. It is a fight that many boxing fans have been waiting for although it was 10 years, or so, late, so to speak. Still, people in Michigan are excited to see this fight finally happens.

Mayweather-Mosley is not the biggest fight out there that everybody wants to see but it is a fight that most boxing fans can live with. So, whether we like it or not, we still need and want to see the fight with the hope that the eventual winner will trade punches with P4P king Manny Pacquaio later in the year.

For Sugar Shane who has been dogging Mayweather for a fight, it is a sweet testament that patience is indeed a virtue albeit with some help from two different forces combining to finally land him his long- cherished wish: Mother Nature wherein his fight with up and coming superstar, Andre Berto of Haiti, was canceled when the Haitian was unable to concentrate on his training because of the huge tragedy that occurred in his homeland, as well as from Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino superstar who Mayweather was about to face in a mega fight on March 13 until huge egos and disagreement over drug-testing protocol put the said fight temporarily on the wayside.

For Money Mayweather, after talks of his mega fight with Pacquiao collapsed (wherein boxing fans blamed him more for its demise than Pacquiao and the Pacman moving on and electing to fight the tough Ghanian Joshua Clottey in Texas) and with rumors that the IRS is breathing on his neck and debt payments accumulating in his midst, Money May was left with no other choice but to fight the next best fighter out there to salvage his sagging reputation (being labeled a cherry picker and a coward for running away from opponents that can give him a run for his money) and earn some moolah on the side to tide him over for the time being. It is also a fight that could silence his critics even temporarily for despite glowing credentials inside the ring, his opponent Mosley is no longer spring chicken and was not the fighter that he used to be at 39 years of age.

So is this supposed ‘mega fight’ for real? Will it live up to the billing of a super fight? Will it help Mayweather earn the respect of his peers and fans alike?

On paper, with the support of a giant network like HBO and a plethora of boxing writers sympathetic to their cause, it has the making of a huge Pay-Per-View event pitting two Americans with enough name recall to sell the fight. It is a fight with great promise if both fighters want it to be.

But despite all the hype and the obvious scripted dramas that are being peddled to us, this so-called mega fight may disappoint rather than excite and could just be a big waste of money especially if the fighters will come to the ring unwilling to wage a war. This fight will become a stinker and a bore if the fighters would rather dance the night away than engage in a real firefight.

But make no mistake about it: the American boxing public will no doubt shell their hard-earned money to support the fight for they are hungry for an American to carry on the torch that many great American fighters like Ali, Leonard, Hearns and Robinson, just to name a few, carried before them in a sport that they used to dominate.

And since many are that hungry to re-live the American glory days in boxing, it will be easy for the dream weavers to weave their tales that many will be gullible enough to buy, turn a blind eye and justify a fight without drama as a showcase of what the sweet science is all about- that is to run around in circles, pop a few jabs here and there, and with ‘great defense‘, try not to get hit by your opponent inside the ring as the epitome of a ‘great fighter‘.

But a huge PPV success is not always synonymous with a Great Fight.

In the past, they could peddle a ho-hum fight and get away with it. In this day and age of a down economy people tend to hold on more to their money; that’s why fight fans will not tolerate a so-so fight and would want more value for their money.

Mosley’s record as a fighter speaks for itself. We also know how skilled a fighter Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is and what he is capable of. That’s why in a fight of this magnitude, people expect that both fighters will bring their best at fight time and are clamoring for a really exciting fight worthy of the millions that the fighters will earn in the process.

But being a highly-skilled fighter doesn’t give one the license for an easy way out, in this case. And unlike in the amateurs, people want to see in professional boxing a highly-charged and entertaining fight. They want the protagonists engaging in a fierce battle with each other at the center of the ring like the gladiators of yore.

So, the question really is, will Mayweather-Mosley live up to its promise?

Or will it be another robbery of epic proportion?

Food for thought: “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”


Visit my Examiner page for more @ Detroit Boxing Examiner

Mouthpiece: What now, Floyd?

The withdrawal of Andre Berto in his January 30th fight date with Shane Mosley further pushed Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s back to the wall. Earlier in the year, Manny Pacquiao boxed and fenced him in and now Shane Mosley will provide the nail on the coffin for Money May to finally man up and step up to the plate lest he will be labeled as the ‘greatest coward of all time.’

This recent development coupled with his impasse with Team Pacquiao regarding the so-called Olympic- style drug testing put Floyd Mayweather, Jr in a very tenuous position. This recent development means Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s days of shooting from the mouth are over and now he has to let his fist do the talking.

The onus is on Floyd to prove to the boxing world that he is for real, and that all his pronouncements of him being the best there is, are not just idle talk. Whereas if he was able to cherry-pick his opponents as well as fight fighters not his size in the past and get away with it, Floyd Mayweather, Jr literally and figuratively will now have to put his money where his mouth is. .

After the falling out of his mega fight with Manny Pacquiao, boxing fans will not be too keen of seeing him fight a green fighter like Saul Alvarez or a clown like Paulie Malignaggi or an old man in Nate Campbell or even a smaller Timothy Bradley when a real and ‘badder’ welterweight is just around the corner.

After the falling out of his mega fight with Manny Pacquiao, boxing fans will no longer tolerate him evading and ducking fighters that will challenge his claims of being ’the greatest fighter of all time.’

After the falling out of his mega fight with Manny Pacquiao, fans will not look at him too kindly while he continues to fleece them of their hard-earned PPV money.

After the falling out of his mega fight with Manny Pacquiao, his being a disciple of the roadrunner is over. Yes, he can still run but he cannot hide. Or better still, he cannot run and hide at the same time now. He is left with no other choice but to toe the line and fight Mosley, if you ask me.

After Manny Pacquiao, Mosley is the next best thing there is for Mayweather since he would never step up to fight Paul Williams anyway. You bet, he won’t and will never do a Pacquiao, that is, climb up in weight, fight and challenge bigger and meaner fighters than himself.

And despite his age, Shane Mosley is a legitimate P4P elite fighter. Despite his age, Mosley is still sugary sweet and will be a handful inside the ring for any opponent. Another thing, Mosley is a fighter who will bring the fight to his opponent which will make this one a really good fight. Most of all, Mosley called out Floyd and actually embarrassed him right after his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.

But this makes us think if and when the fight actually happens, will Golden Boy Productions and Team Mayweather do an Olympic- style drug testing under the USADA aside from the customary testing being done by the Nevada State Athletic Commission since Mosley is an admitted PEDs user?

If Mayweather will not fight Pacquiao, I believe, this fight is the next best thing although I will not deal now with the hypocrisy of preferring to fight an admitted steroids and EPO user rather than fighting a fighter who has never tested for one nor has proven links to people and companies that deal with PEDs.

But this also makes me realize that if and when the fight actually happens, Mayweather can prove to all of his critics and detractors that he is really the fighter that he says he is. He can now silence them and even earn their respect because this will be his most important fight to date and a step up towards becoming a real man. This will be a very significant one if he is really keen on a ‘Battle Royale’ with the Pacman later in the year.

So, your move Floyd.


Note: This article can also be found at Now Boxing

Manny & Money: Re-mapping Teddy Atlas' brain

ESPN Friday Night Fights host Teddy Atlas just became a rumormonger and he just made a respected network like ESPN a fish market by peddling fishy tales that reeks of Golden Boy’s rotten propaganda machine about the purported emails that began in Tim Smith’s New York Daily News report allegedly coming from Manny Pacquiao’s camp with regards on what to do if and when he tested positive for PEDs in his fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Reading his answers to BoxingTalk’s G. Leon’s interview, I couldn’t help but laugh and be amused of how this self- styled straight shooter was obviously bumbling and fumbling on his answers. He was trying to look cool and confident but we could easily discern that he was following a crooked script while struggling to deliver straight lines.

If I didn’t have any idea of the man’s personality and reputation and on what he was trying to impart to the ill-informed and uneducated habitués of the boxing world about an unsubstantiated issue that is obviously being rehashed by people with vested interests, maybe I could have been easily swayed.




Maybe the people behind this issue are believers of Nazi Propaganda Chief Joseph Goebbels‘ dictum that “if you tell a lie big enough and keep on repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it”, huh? Looking at their records, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are.

But despite the well- thought out and well- rehearsed plan, his slips are quite obvious and his inconsistent statements are glaring.

Teddy Atlas: “I'm really not going to talk too much about this because again, the internet to me is like a graffiti board and it just gets more and more, I mean you got people like Mike Marley out there who are just low-life people. To me, I feel dirty every time I go near the internet. I feel like I got to take a shower or something.”

He can take a shower as many times as he wants but the dirt will not fall off his skin. He belittles the internet and yet he preaches about his belief that the so-called email is genuine and real. If he really understands his thing, he could’ve realized that emails are products of the internet and anybody can make an account, write something and send them to anybody with these and that allegations. Anybody with an understanding of how the internet works should take this kind of allegation as nothing but garbage.

If these alleged emails really exist and that they really came from Team Pacquiao and knowing that there is no love lost between the two camps, they should have come up and showed them to us by now. It’s a known fact that emails can easily be traced to the IP address from where it originated. Thus, these emails simply don’t exist but are, rather, just another black propaganda concocted by people with sinister minds.


In answer to the question, “Why would the Pacquiao people be so stupid to send out such an email?”

Here’s what Teddy Atlas had to say-

"I don't think he has any rocket scientists around his group. You ever watch 24/7? (laughs) I mean none of these guys have rocket scientists around them. That's all I can say. It seems on the surface like a very stupid thing to do, to obviously have a record of something that can be incriminating or potentially look as though there's something that leads towards something inappropriate by even asking such a question? Yeah, I agree. And that was the first thing I asked. Why would somebody be so stupid to leave a paper trail on that? But yeah, these people that are around boxing, both as writers, both on the internet, both as people who get to hang around the camp and wind up becoming people that are involved in their careers, they're not rocket scientists and it just makes me sick.”

Again this makes me laugh really hard.

Obviously, Teddy Atlas has a very low regard with regards to the intelligence of the people on Team Pacquiao as he believes that these people are nothing but a bunch of idiots because they are stupid enough to send incriminating emails to the other side of the fence.

If there is a study in contradiction, it would be Teddy Atlas. He says one thing and does another. He says things as if he is an expert yet his idea of what he is talking about is vague.

I am now beginning to suspect that Teddy Atlas really has no idea what an email is and that he isn’t computer literate at all.

Let me just cite two things in this case-

If he believes that the internet is full of graffiti and dirt, how come he believes an email that is the product of the internet? If he believes that the people in Team Pacquiao are not rocket scientists but are stupid, how come he buys the thinking that they are capable of giving Manny Pacquiao performance- enhancing drugs like hGHs and steroids?

The joke is on Teddy Atlas here and everybody is laughing but himself. Oh, how gullible and silly of him to be peddling this kind of nonsense that should have been confined to the gossip section of National Enquirer where it should be.

As they say in America, show me the money err the emails in this case if it really does exist. Otherwise, he should just keep his mouth shut to spare him of being labeled as a fool.


Note: This article can also be found at Now Boxing

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. versus Manny Pacquiao: Who's Bad? Part II

(Last of a two- part series)

The proposed mega fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr on March 13, 2010 is definitely off owing to disagreements in both camps on the how the contentious and controversial drug testing will be done and what agency will handle it.

Let us look back and answer some issues that contributed as to why the said mega fight went kaput.



Bad Move

Whoever made the decision to come out with the Olympic- style drug testing from Floyd Mayweather Jr’s camp should be crucified for putting the death knell on the biggest fight of our time. This is not only unprecedented and unparalleled in professional sports but it borders to the absurd. On the other hand, this is an admission of the amount of respect Mayweather have on Pacquiao’s fighting prowess despite Mayweather belittling his skills and ability in various interviews.

We should remember that in Mayweather’s 40 professional fights, he did not demand this kind of testing which is unheard of in professional boxing until this fight.

Although they may have some valid points with this demand especially in this day and age of Performance- Enhancing Drugs (PEDs), they could have asked the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which is the proper venue for this kind of issue to consider them in their drug testing. They could have asked the commission for a hearing to hear their apprehensions and I’m sure the NSAC will be up to the task and educate them about the merits and demerits of such tests. I’m sure Team Pacquiao will not refuse the said tests if a competent authority like the NSAC, who oversees all professional sports drug testing in the State of Nevada, demands it and warrants the test.

Instead, they went full throttle with trial by publicity without showing any pieces of evidence or witnesses linking Pacquiao to using PEDs. Mayweather and their minions slander Manny Pacquiao’s name to anybody who would care to listen. It was a move that borders to idiocy. To me, this smacks of bad faith and utter disrespect to Manny Pacquiao.

Why jeopardize the fight with these unsubstantiated accusations that should have been confined only in gossip columns? Why deal in tabloid stuff when you are negotiating for the richest fight in boxing history?

Some people will say if you‘re clean and have nothing to hide, “why not just take the damn test and be done with it?”

We should understand that there’s a big difference between the Filipino and American cultures playing here. Rudyard Kipling once said in one of his poems that, “Oh East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.”

While an American would readily take the test to prove his innocence even if he knows that he is innocent in the first place just to appease his critics, this will not be the case to a Filipino. A Filipino will stand his ground if he feels that he is being coerced to do things that he feels don’t merit any considerations. A Filipino will be stubborn to a fault if he believes that his integrity is being questioned especially if he knows deep in his heart that the accusations are not true.

Manny Pacquiao doesn’t relish the fact that his integrity is being questioned. More so, being blatantly accused of being a cheater without proof by his nemesis. Being a true- blooded Pinoy, I can understand why Manny Pacquiao would rather walk away from millions of dollars than dignify these kind of unwarranted accusations.

Make no mistake about it, like many Filipinos, Manny Pacquiao is a proud man. If this was just an issue between ordinary people in Manila or in any other place in the Philippines and somebody accuses somebody of cheating, you can expect that blood will surely flow in order for the aggrieved party to clear his name.


Bad Press

The press went to town when Manny Pacquiao did not acquiesce to Floyd Mayweather Jr’s demand for an Olympic-style testing. Some media people were blaming Pacquiao for the collapsed of the mega fight yet they turned a blind eye on the fact that the accusations against Pacquiao were concocted by Floyd Mayweather, Sr.

They further fanned the blaze and tooted the line of a convicted felon, a confessed cocaine user and high school drop-out like it was gospel truth. If that is not an obvious indictment of the state of journalism in sports nowadays, I really can’t say. If Floyd Sr. is not the most polluted source that one can find, I really don‘t know.

The media did not bother to check the facts nor research on the issue properly. Instead of reporting facts, they resorted to conjectures. Instead of reporting the truth, they succumbed to rumors and innuendos. Overnight, many respected sports personalities metamorphosed into gossip columnists and tabloid reporters. They stopped being objective and seekers-of-truth and unknowingly became peddlers of lies.


Bad Medicine

If we study the history of doping in sports, we can easily deduce that the usual culprits are athletes from first world countries who have the capability to do systematic sports doping. It all started with the athletes of the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact nations to give their athletes the edge against their western counterparts during the height of the Cold War.

The Mayweathers showed their ignorance regarding the Philippines’ capability when it comes to doping in sports by saying in one of their interviews that “we don’t know what they are capable out there”, or something to that effect, when referring to the country as a haven for steroids and other PEDs.

The only Asian country that is known to conduct systematic doping with its athletes is China. Who can forget the notorious Ma’s Army in athletics and their record-breaking swimmers a while back?

But the US and other western nations are not immune to cheating in sports. The names of Ben Johnson, Linford Christie, Marion Jones and Tim Montgomery are now forever linked to steroids and doping.

In the US professional sports ranks, the baseball ‘roid warriors like McGwire, Clemens, Bonds, Canseco and Sosa forever tarnished baseball. Even Tiger Woods is now being linked to PEDs because of his trainer. Boxing is not spared either. Fighters like Roy Jones Jr, Evander Holyfield, Fernando Vargas and Shane Mosley, just to name a few, have tested positive for steroids at some point in their careers.

In all of these cases, the accusations are backed up with pieces of evidence (syringe for Clemens) and witnesses (trainers) accusing a particular athlete of wrongdoings. In all of these cases, the accused athletes have been linked to people or laboratories/ companies like BALCO (Mosley and Bonds) that are known to deal in sports doping. In all of these cases, the accused athletes have been caught or have tested positive for doping (Jones).

In Manny Pacquiao’s case, not a single piece of evidence has been shown. In Manny Pacquiao’s case, not a single witness has come forward to accuse him of using PEDs. In Manny Pacquiao’s case, he has never tested positive for PEDs. In Manny Pacquiao’s case, the people around him have never been linked, accused nor convicted of engaging in illicit drugs.

Also Richard Schaefer, Golden Boy's CEO was caught lying through his teeth and showed us his plain hypocrisy on this issue. He was on record of refusing a more thorough drug-testing on Shane Mosley, an admitted steroid user in his proposed fight against Zab Judah yet they were very adamant to do this on Manny Pacquiao.

"Whatever tests they want them to take, Shane will submit to that. We are not going to do other tests than the Nevada commission requires.”

"The fact is Shane is not a cheater and he does not need to be treated like one."

The reason Olympic-style drug testing is usually done on athletes in the off-season (e.g. when they are deep in training) is because that’s the time that the benefits of PEDs (e.g. hGH & anabolic steroids) will come in handy to build those muscles and tissues. An athlete should have been using these banned substances for a long time for any changes in the body and the desired results to occur. It’s not as if you will just shoot them into your system, and voila, the dramatic effect will take place immediately. Besides, if one is a long-time user, there will be very visible changes not only in appearance but also in the psychological make-up of the user.

Nowadays, steroids can now be detected in the hair and when a positive test comes back, the urine sample is then tested for confirmation. Also, hGH is only effective if they are used in conjunction with steroids, and contrary to popular belief, it can also be detected in urine (aside from blood) by using molecular ‘markers’ which could be used as evidence of doping.

So in this case, whether you test Manny Pacquiao for hGH and anabolic steroids, 24- days or 14- days or post fight, is really immaterial since if he was really using them in the past, he would have tested positive for both, while on the other hand, if he will be using them just weeks before the fight, with a window period of less than 30 days, the desired outcome will not take effect nor make an impact on his performance. They should be looking for amphetamines and its derivatives instead.


Badass

In this mega fight fiasco, finger-pointing is the order of the day. But one doesn’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure out who’s the real badass and who’s not between the two protagonists.

They say, being a badass is not an act but a way of life. They say a badass doesn’t lie because a badass doesn’t need to lie. He is brutally honest and has a soft spot for the weak. He is a rugged man but possesses a calm and cool demeanor when dealing with everything in life.

So, between Manny and Money, who do you think is the real badass?


Note: This article can also be found at Now Boxing