By John F. McKennas (McJack): Many boxing fans and writers are wondering if Floyd “Money” Mayweather (41-0, 25 KO’s) really wants to fight Manny “Pacman” Paquiao (52-3-2, 38 KO’s). Floyd announced to the boxing world recently that he wants $100 million dollars to fight “Pacman”. Floyd’s behavior over the past year or so makes one wonder if he really wants to fight Pacquiao.
There is no dispute that Mayweather is a great fighter. How great he is and where he will stack up against the greatest fighters in history are the questions being asked. To hear “Money” tell it he is the greatest fighter of all time. Greater than Ali and Leonard, yes even greater than almost everyone’s number one on the all time greatest list, Sugar Ray Robinson. The problem that most people have with Floyd’s overinflated opinion of himself is that almost no one agrees with him. It is not for a fighter to judge his own greatness. Sure Ali used to refer to himself as “the greatest”, but that was usually done with tongue in cheek. When Ali ran into Joe Louis and other great fighters, he would knock off the clowning and defer to their greatness. Ali one time referred to Jack Dempsey as “the greatest”. Dempsey good naturedly responded by saying “ I thought you were “the greatest”. Ali shot back “That is all BS, you are the greatest.” Ali showed respect for the former great fighters when he encountered them.
You get the sense that Floyd is not kidding when he refers to his own greatness. When referring to great fighters from the past, it must be kept in mind how frequently they fought. Sugar Ray Robinson won all eighty five amateur fights, sixty nine by KO. Forty of those KO’s came in the first round. Robinson won his first forty pro fights. After a loss to Jake Lamotta, which he avenged three weeks later, he won his next ninety fights in a row, fighting as often as sixteen times a year.
The bottom line is, it is much more difficult to win on a consistent basis when you consistently fight the best competition. No excuses, no outlandish demands. If you want to be considered the best of your own generation you have to challenge those fighters and find a way to make it happen. There is also the danger of fighting too infrequently to keep that edge. As great as Sugar Ray Robinson was, when he took the two and a half year layoff in 1952, he was not the same fighter when he came back. That is the danger Floyd faces by not fighting frequently enough. A fighter who relies on speed and timing needs to keep active.
As great a fighter as Mayweather is he will be judged by his contemporaries. The boxing writers, historians and fans will judge him based on who he fought while he was active. He cannot pass up the opportunity to fight the other great fighter of our time, that being Manny Pacquiao. That challenge will prove to everyone who is the greatest fighter of this generation.
One gets the sense that if this fight is not made in 2011 it will never happen. Boxing fans will be the big losers, but Mayweather and Pacquiao will also lose. As far as the money each fighter will receive for this historic matchup, it is hoped that the egos that are preventing this match from happening will be put aside at least long enough to allow the fight to happen. There will be more than enough money for everyone.
Comments are closed.