The Cobra
07-27-2010, 04:55 PM
Cobra---
Buckle up kids, this is long one...
and why not? It`s PBF talking LOL...
On the defensive: The uncompromising Floyd Mayweather Jr.
By Ace Freeman (26-Jul-2010)
FightFan.com’s Ace Freeman takes an in-depth look at the polarizing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and examines the recent fallout surrounding his apparent disinterest in working toward a super fight with Manny Pacquiao this year.
Last week Top Rank’s Bob Arum set a well publicized deadline trying to bait Floyd Mayweather Jr. out of his two month long silence pertaining to a potential fall mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao, and that event came and went without a response. Several days after the supposed deadline, through his promotional outlet “Mayweather Promotions”, the Michigan native issued a statement claiming he has not been entertaining the possibility of a Pacquiao bout in recent months and has no intention of discussing it in the near future.
The boxing world quickly erupted with disappointment and frustration at the historic showdown not coming to fruition for a second time. In the last week Mayweather has had his character called into question by many boxing fans and journalists, and has even been accused by some of fearing the fight.
I’m here to tell you I don’t believe that to be the case. While I’m not intending to serve as an apologist for the polarizing Mayweather, I do believe there are several issues within the recent fallout that deserve exploring.
I won’t hide the fact that I am a big fan of ‘Money’ Mayweather. I have always had a huge admiration for the unparalleled fundamental skill and athleticism he displays as a purveyor of the sweet science.
However that admiration has not absolved him of what is some legitimate criticism in my eyes, nor has it caused me to choose sides in what is amounting to a growing war of words between boxing’s two largest fan bases.
I am just as big a fan of Manny Pacquiao as I am Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The Phenomenal Filipino’s reach for greatness has constantly been beyond what should be within his grasp. He has moved up a staggering amount of weight classes and several times over defied conventional wisdom by conquering challenges that many have thought to be too daunting.
Pacquiao takes dramatics risks, and enjoys the spoils that have come with the pronounced victories.
His rise to greatness in the last few years has seen him transcend his generation to rightfully earn a place in the history books.
Mayweather Jr., while cut from a different cloth, has also proved exceedingly vigilant in writing his own personal chapter in boxing lore.
He is a defensive genius whose extensive skill set is on par with any of the sport’s all time greats. His physical and mental discipline is virtually unparalleled in all the sporting world.
He is an athlete who runs for miles in the middle of the night… a boxer who is well known for sparring umpteen ten minute rounds with several sparring partners subbed in. A thoroughbred in every sense of the word.
Mayweather’s dedication in preparation has always amounted to a supremely conditioned athlete on game day. When you combine him as a physical specimen with his calculating brilliance in his ability to adapt… you end up with a very formidable fighter.
A fighter who navigates himself in violent combat with the same calm temperament top golfers exude while effortlessly sinking million dollar puts with ice water in their veins.
Yet with all of that said, it’s Mayweather’s cunning and calculated nature that so often finds him under fire from critics around the boxing world.
While -- by contrast -- Manny Pacquiao seems so often eager to jump head first into seemingly insurmountable challenges, ‘Money’ Mayweather prefers to sit back and weigh his options.
What opponents will yield the biggest monetary paydays?
What fights present more risk than the financial rewards and merit would amount to?
cal·cu·lat·ing
marked by prudent analysis or by shrewd consideration of self-interest
The same qualities that make Mayweather a stalwart inside the ring draw him criticism outside of it. He often appears ruthless in determining what moves are in his best interest… and more importantly, when.
They say time is money… but with Mayweather Jr., it might be better stated that timing is money.
Floyd seemingly puts just as much consideration into when he fights as he does choosing who he will fight.
In September 2009, after a self imposed layoff of nearly two years, Mayweather Jr. returned to the ring to dominate Juan Manuel Marquez over twelve effortless rounds. Not only did the bout generate over 1 million pay-per-view buys, it saw the Grand Rapids native dominate a fighter who -- on two separate occasions -- gave Manny Pacquiao all he could handle.
Never mind the fact Marquez was coming off several ring wars and was two weight divisions above his best, the timing and nature of the victory propelled Mayweather right back into spotlight at boxing’s marquee level.
Fast forward several months later and Floyd could be found weighing his options after the first set of negations with Manny Pacquiao went south.
With the biggest payday in boxing history seemingly off the table for the first half of 2010, he wisely signed to face the most marketable fighter outside of Manny Pacquiao (in and around their weight divisions) in Sugar Shane Mosley.
A calm and collected Mayweather stood unscathed at the podium after the Mosley routing and addressed his detractors.
“I’ve got the will to win under the lights,” Floyd said shrugging his shoulders.
“A lot of fighters may train the same… hit the bag the same… but not everybody can go out there and preform under the bright lights like I can. People can say whatever they want about me… but at the end of the day when I get in the ring I forget about all of that and I do what I do best… and that’s preform.”
un·com·pro·mis·ing
showing an unwillingness to make concessions to others, especially by changing one’s ways or opinions
Mayweather’s decision making process has never taken in to account what will sit well with the collective popular opinion. This arrogance has caused him to be vilified in the eyes of many, another byproduct the unbending fighter has long used as a positive.
“These are fights,” Floyd once famously said. “There can’t be two good guys. So f*** it… I’ll be the bad guy.”
It’s a role Mayweather has learned to play to perfection, and it has also served as a catalyst for him to simply dismiss (un)popular opinion.
The criticisms and accusations hurled his way from around the boxing world seem to roll off him like the jabs and hooks he parries with such expertise in the ring.
This most recent uproar at his apparent disinterest in fighting Manny Pacquiao this fall has culminated in a potential PR nightmare, but a resolute Mayweather remains unapologetic.
There is no way around it… it’s outright puzzling that a man who goes by the moniker ‘Money’ seemingly remains so indifferent toward what could amount to one of the biggest single paydays in sporting history.
Yet when questioned, Mayweather just insists he’s enjoying some down-time and not thinking about boxing right now.
en·ig·mat·ic
difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious
A deeper looks suggests the obvious reason for Floyd’s apprehension points to the uncertainty currently surrounding his uncle and head trainer Roger Mayweather. Floyd’s longtime corner-man has an Aug. 2 court date in Nevada for a year-old battery case that could see the former world champion do jail time.
In surveying the risks that accompany a bout with Manny Pacquiao, one can safely assume an unwavering Mayweather would find taking on the historic bout without the services of his head trainer an unfavourable variable.
Even a strangely apologetic Bob Arum pointed out that Manny Pacquiao would have similar concerns were the situation reversed and Freddie Roach’s availability was in question.
Having known about the Roger factor for months, Mayweather put himself in a very good position to lay low for a while, resting his hat on the impressive Mosley win. The victory was the most emphatic in boxing this year to date, and surely it’s single biggest payday.
With Top Rank tipping its hand that they are fully prepared to move forward with a Nov. 13 date for Manny Pacquiao against Antonio Margarito, Mayweather now has the option of sitting back and waiting to see how that move plays out for Team Pacquiao.
Anything less than a dominating performance by the tremendous Filipino (in a bout that sells a minimum of a million pay-per-views) and the covetous Mayweather potentially gains negotiating power if talks with Pacquiao are revisited in 2011.
Whatever his motivation, Mayweather’s reluctance to march to the drum of popular opinion has thrown fuel on the fire for his detractors.
The consequences of not stamping his golden ticket to fight Manny Pacquiao when it was available may indeed come back to haunt Floyd.
It’s his prerogative to dictate the course of his career as he sees fit, and if this current path results in no storybook showdown with Pacquiao… so shall it be noted in the history books.
However that is a chapter that’s yet to be written, and no one can argue that Mayweather hasn’t done an astute job of authoring his own story so far.
Floyd’s excellence has always been in his attention to detail and that very much includes his strategically navigated career choices.
His actions this year would appear to be thinly veiled pretexts to a greater end, and while many in the boxing world grow tired of this seemingly superfluous game of chess, the star boxer remains steadfast. He remains the uncompromising Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Buckle up kids, this is long one...
and why not? It`s PBF talking LOL...
On the defensive: The uncompromising Floyd Mayweather Jr.
By Ace Freeman (26-Jul-2010)
FightFan.com’s Ace Freeman takes an in-depth look at the polarizing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and examines the recent fallout surrounding his apparent disinterest in working toward a super fight with Manny Pacquiao this year.
Last week Top Rank’s Bob Arum set a well publicized deadline trying to bait Floyd Mayweather Jr. out of his two month long silence pertaining to a potential fall mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao, and that event came and went without a response. Several days after the supposed deadline, through his promotional outlet “Mayweather Promotions”, the Michigan native issued a statement claiming he has not been entertaining the possibility of a Pacquiao bout in recent months and has no intention of discussing it in the near future.
The boxing world quickly erupted with disappointment and frustration at the historic showdown not coming to fruition for a second time. In the last week Mayweather has had his character called into question by many boxing fans and journalists, and has even been accused by some of fearing the fight.
I’m here to tell you I don’t believe that to be the case. While I’m not intending to serve as an apologist for the polarizing Mayweather, I do believe there are several issues within the recent fallout that deserve exploring.
I won’t hide the fact that I am a big fan of ‘Money’ Mayweather. I have always had a huge admiration for the unparalleled fundamental skill and athleticism he displays as a purveyor of the sweet science.
However that admiration has not absolved him of what is some legitimate criticism in my eyes, nor has it caused me to choose sides in what is amounting to a growing war of words between boxing’s two largest fan bases.
I am just as big a fan of Manny Pacquiao as I am Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The Phenomenal Filipino’s reach for greatness has constantly been beyond what should be within his grasp. He has moved up a staggering amount of weight classes and several times over defied conventional wisdom by conquering challenges that many have thought to be too daunting.
Pacquiao takes dramatics risks, and enjoys the spoils that have come with the pronounced victories.
His rise to greatness in the last few years has seen him transcend his generation to rightfully earn a place in the history books.
Mayweather Jr., while cut from a different cloth, has also proved exceedingly vigilant in writing his own personal chapter in boxing lore.
He is a defensive genius whose extensive skill set is on par with any of the sport’s all time greats. His physical and mental discipline is virtually unparalleled in all the sporting world.
He is an athlete who runs for miles in the middle of the night… a boxer who is well known for sparring umpteen ten minute rounds with several sparring partners subbed in. A thoroughbred in every sense of the word.
Mayweather’s dedication in preparation has always amounted to a supremely conditioned athlete on game day. When you combine him as a physical specimen with his calculating brilliance in his ability to adapt… you end up with a very formidable fighter.
A fighter who navigates himself in violent combat with the same calm temperament top golfers exude while effortlessly sinking million dollar puts with ice water in their veins.
Yet with all of that said, it’s Mayweather’s cunning and calculated nature that so often finds him under fire from critics around the boxing world.
While -- by contrast -- Manny Pacquiao seems so often eager to jump head first into seemingly insurmountable challenges, ‘Money’ Mayweather prefers to sit back and weigh his options.
What opponents will yield the biggest monetary paydays?
What fights present more risk than the financial rewards and merit would amount to?
cal·cu·lat·ing
marked by prudent analysis or by shrewd consideration of self-interest
The same qualities that make Mayweather a stalwart inside the ring draw him criticism outside of it. He often appears ruthless in determining what moves are in his best interest… and more importantly, when.
They say time is money… but with Mayweather Jr., it might be better stated that timing is money.
Floyd seemingly puts just as much consideration into when he fights as he does choosing who he will fight.
In September 2009, after a self imposed layoff of nearly two years, Mayweather Jr. returned to the ring to dominate Juan Manuel Marquez over twelve effortless rounds. Not only did the bout generate over 1 million pay-per-view buys, it saw the Grand Rapids native dominate a fighter who -- on two separate occasions -- gave Manny Pacquiao all he could handle.
Never mind the fact Marquez was coming off several ring wars and was two weight divisions above his best, the timing and nature of the victory propelled Mayweather right back into spotlight at boxing’s marquee level.
Fast forward several months later and Floyd could be found weighing his options after the first set of negations with Manny Pacquiao went south.
With the biggest payday in boxing history seemingly off the table for the first half of 2010, he wisely signed to face the most marketable fighter outside of Manny Pacquiao (in and around their weight divisions) in Sugar Shane Mosley.
A calm and collected Mayweather stood unscathed at the podium after the Mosley routing and addressed his detractors.
“I’ve got the will to win under the lights,” Floyd said shrugging his shoulders.
“A lot of fighters may train the same… hit the bag the same… but not everybody can go out there and preform under the bright lights like I can. People can say whatever they want about me… but at the end of the day when I get in the ring I forget about all of that and I do what I do best… and that’s preform.”
un·com·pro·mis·ing
showing an unwillingness to make concessions to others, especially by changing one’s ways or opinions
Mayweather’s decision making process has never taken in to account what will sit well with the collective popular opinion. This arrogance has caused him to be vilified in the eyes of many, another byproduct the unbending fighter has long used as a positive.
“These are fights,” Floyd once famously said. “There can’t be two good guys. So f*** it… I’ll be the bad guy.”
It’s a role Mayweather has learned to play to perfection, and it has also served as a catalyst for him to simply dismiss (un)popular opinion.
The criticisms and accusations hurled his way from around the boxing world seem to roll off him like the jabs and hooks he parries with such expertise in the ring.
This most recent uproar at his apparent disinterest in fighting Manny Pacquiao this fall has culminated in a potential PR nightmare, but a resolute Mayweather remains unapologetic.
There is no way around it… it’s outright puzzling that a man who goes by the moniker ‘Money’ seemingly remains so indifferent toward what could amount to one of the biggest single paydays in sporting history.
Yet when questioned, Mayweather just insists he’s enjoying some down-time and not thinking about boxing right now.
en·ig·mat·ic
difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious
A deeper looks suggests the obvious reason for Floyd’s apprehension points to the uncertainty currently surrounding his uncle and head trainer Roger Mayweather. Floyd’s longtime corner-man has an Aug. 2 court date in Nevada for a year-old battery case that could see the former world champion do jail time.
In surveying the risks that accompany a bout with Manny Pacquiao, one can safely assume an unwavering Mayweather would find taking on the historic bout without the services of his head trainer an unfavourable variable.
Even a strangely apologetic Bob Arum pointed out that Manny Pacquiao would have similar concerns were the situation reversed and Freddie Roach’s availability was in question.
Having known about the Roger factor for months, Mayweather put himself in a very good position to lay low for a while, resting his hat on the impressive Mosley win. The victory was the most emphatic in boxing this year to date, and surely it’s single biggest payday.
With Top Rank tipping its hand that they are fully prepared to move forward with a Nov. 13 date for Manny Pacquiao against Antonio Margarito, Mayweather now has the option of sitting back and waiting to see how that move plays out for Team Pacquiao.
Anything less than a dominating performance by the tremendous Filipino (in a bout that sells a minimum of a million pay-per-views) and the covetous Mayweather potentially gains negotiating power if talks with Pacquiao are revisited in 2011.
Whatever his motivation, Mayweather’s reluctance to march to the drum of popular opinion has thrown fuel on the fire for his detractors.
The consequences of not stamping his golden ticket to fight Manny Pacquiao when it was available may indeed come back to haunt Floyd.
It’s his prerogative to dictate the course of his career as he sees fit, and if this current path results in no storybook showdown with Pacquiao… so shall it be noted in the history books.
However that is a chapter that’s yet to be written, and no one can argue that Mayweather hasn’t done an astute job of authoring his own story so far.
Floyd’s excellence has always been in his attention to detail and that very much includes his strategically navigated career choices.
His actions this year would appear to be thinly veiled pretexts to a greater end, and while many in the boxing world grow tired of this seemingly superfluous game of chess, the star boxer remains steadfast. He remains the uncompromising Floyd Mayweather Jr.