By Simon Sheppard: The fight that is taking the boxing world hostage is nowhere near the point of getting done. So many conflicting rumors abound. So many conflicting statements. But one thing that really stands out is the eerie silence of Floyd Mayweather Jr. himself.

Manny Pacquiao has been openly calling Mayweather out. Even alluding that he will call the bluff and agree to all the terms. But in reality, Pacquiao doesn’t have to do that. He can just say that the NSAC is with him on this. If Floyd keeps making excuses not to face him, fine. Pacquiao can move on. As for the purse split, I think Pacquiao is more than generous for giving Floyd the 50/50 split. Considering the records and awards he’s holding. Some people just mistake PPV numbers as the measure for greatness. They even consider boxing a business. Gosh, they clearly have no sensible perception of the sport. It’s still called a sport, not a business venture. One can just see the generosity and greatness of Pacquiao, even in this regard.

Maybe, like some wrters say, it’s all good for Floyd for the fight not happening. Because having that “0” erased from his resume will hurt Floyd a lot. It’s the only thing he will leave behind in boxing. That zero will not just be erased, but obliterated in such an emphatic fashion that even the paper it’s written on all but disintegrates.

Floyd will keep on ducking Pacquiao because he doesn’t want that “Pretty Boy” face to be busted up. Images of Oscar Dela Hoya, David Diaz, and Miguel Cotto’s faces must be haunting Floyd. The picture of Ricky Hatton on the canvas gasping for dear life must have scared him. Who wouldn’t be? Like Larry Merchant said – “Death by a thousand left hands”.

So, I think it’s better in the long run for Floyd if he doesn’t face Manny. Not only will he lose, but he will lose bad.

By not facing Pacquiao, he can still retire with a zero on his resume. Leave some sort of a legacy.
To him and to most of his fans, that is what counts the most, anyway.