Mayweather in Jail: potential to turn bad news into mega millions

by Simo Masondo: When it became public knowledge that Floyd Mayweather Jnr is going to jail the boxing world reacted predictably. All articles were highlighting what a bad year 2011 was for boxing in general and for Floyd Mayweather Jnr specifically.

While others are predicting this is the beginning of an end for “Money” Mayweather, others are alleging that this ruins any opportunity for a Mayweather / Pacquiao fight in 2012.

However, my first reaction was opening my boxing archives and I found a good story that could be used as a good lesson from our recent boxing history. In 1992, Mike Tyson was convicted for raping Desiree Washington, for which he was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment although he only served half of the sentence. Mike Tyson got released in 1995 and subsequently fought an almost nameless fighter but sold approximately 1,55 million PPVs. The blue print exists as this has been done before by the great Mike Tyson. What would stop Floyd Mayweather Jnr from rewriting the same or similar script?

Do you remember who Mike Tyson fought in 1995 upon being released from jail? Mike Tyson’s first post-prison fight was with Peter McNeely, who looked good on paper with a 36-1 record although this was mainly against habitual losers. Who is Peter McNeely?

Why is this important? It is because Mayweather’s jail sentence could be turned into another good 24/7 script. He could either repent in jail and change his ways outside of the squared circle and/or he could join the Muslim brotherhood like the other greats before him (e.g. Muhamed Ali) and/or bring his uncle Roger Mayweather and crew to train him while he is still incarcerated to create more hype and keep his May 5th, Cinco de Mayo, date alive. The options are limitless to create another good 24/7 storyline.

In-jail training priviledges could be organized, this is the United States of America we are talking about. In fact, Mike Tyson was given the same priviledges before.

On the one hand, like Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather Jnr may design his first post prison tune up fight with a small name fighter (e.g. Robert “The Ghost” Guerero, etc.) knowing well that the expected negative prison impact will create more hype compared to his infamous extended breaks a.k.a. retirements. Most boxing analysts and writers are assuming he will not be the same as he is getting older and he will have his 35th birthday in jail come Feb 2012. Most of this inference by boxing analysts is based on the boxing career of Roy Jones Jnr who also relied on reflexes and speed but never possessed Floyd Mayweather’s superior defense ability.

With the above mentioned option, Floyd Mayweather Jnr could cash out before the mega show with Manny Pacquiao while giving Bob Arum a chance to put together Pacquiao / Marquez IV – “The Finale”. Boxing fans across the Mayweather / Pacquiao divide will hope that this time Pacquiao will win to revive interest in the fight against Floyd Mayweather Jnr and not Pacqiuao / Marquez V instead.

However, on the other hand, to add spice to an already mega fight on paper, Floyd Mayweather Jnr could retain his May 5th date and instruct Al Haymon and team to resume negotiations for a fight with Manny Pacquiao, the Phillipino boxing superstar and congressman. Floyd Mayweather Jnr could start his training camp while in jail and continue outside of jail in mid-March and April in his Las Vegas gym, assuming an early release based on good behavior.

Most boxing analysts and writers will see this as the biggest risk ever taken by Floyd Mayweather Jnr and most would automatically expect to see a disrupted and less focused / less sharp Floyd Mayweather come May 5th. Who knows, maybe this will even influence the betting odds in Pacquiao’s favor for the first time and overshadow the Pacquiao’s last two uninspiring outings with both Mosley and Marquez respectively.

In my dream world, this is all possible and could potentially create enough suspense to revive interest in the Mayweather / Pacquaio fight. This will create a better storyline and hopefully also bring closer finality to the never ending negotiations or lack thereof, for the mega fight of the decade to take place.

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