By John F. McKenna (McJack): Back in 2007 World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 38 KO’s) sang a totally different tune about WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) then he does now. At that time Floyd praised “Pacman” as a “hell of a fighter.”

Mayweather was quoted in the Filipino Sports Examiner saying the following in 2007:

“I love Manny Pacquiao. I love going and watching his fights. He’s an extraordinary fighter.”

It just so happens, that Floyd was caught on video uttering the above comments. It’s ironic that Mayweather no longer sings the praises of a fighter he then referred to as an extraordinary fighter. But at that time Manny was not seen by Floyd as a potential future threat to his own status as the number one Pound for Pound fighter in the world.

When Mayweather started taking long extended absences from the ring, Pacquiao rose to the top and eclipsed him as the best fighter in the world. Pacquiao moved up in weight and wound up winning championships in eight different divisions. Manny also become far more popular, not only in his native Philippines, but globally. “Pacman” also began securing advertising endorsements which bring in millions of dollars to him on an annual basis.

When Mayweather felt threatened by Pacquiao’s unparalleled success his perception of him changed dramatically. He began to lash out, cursing and hurling insults at a fighter he once proclaimed to love watching. Worst of all, Floyd began making racist comments about Pacquiao and putting them on the internet.

Mayweather then began to insinuate that Pacquiao was using performance enhancing drugs (PEDS) although he did not have a shred of evidence. When Manny filed a defamation law suit against Floyd through his attorneys, Mayweather dodged the deposition for months. Keep in mind that Pacquiao has never come up dirty in any drug test.

Mayweather has insisted for a number of years now that he wants to fight Pacquiao, but instead of going through normal channels he challenges him on Twitter. Granted he and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum have a strained relationship at best. But Top Rank’s Todd Du beof and Mayweather have a decent relationship. Why not contact him?

It is inconceivable to think that in a fight which will bring in well over $100 million that anyone would want to do the negotiations through the media and on Twitter. It was predictable that Arum would reject May 5th as a date for the much anticipated Mayweather – Pacquiao fight at the MGM Grand Arena. There are other venues and dates to be considered. It is all part of the negotiations. Why would anyone arbitrarily pick that date and venue without first discussing it with the opposing camp?