By Kristofer Williams Sr. The first mistake Floyd Mayweather Jr made was to insult and disrespect Manny Pacquiao. You don’t act unprofessionally if you truly intend to fight another elite level fighter. Let’s rewind, shall we.

In 2007, Floyd retired after narrowly defeating Oscar Delahoya by split decision. It surely wasn’t a convincing win by any stretch of the imagination, but that’s a topic for another day. The fact is, Delahoya was the primary reason the fight with Floyd brought in 2.4 million PPV, and this in turn helped spearhead Mayweather’s popularity and fan appeal. At that point, Floyd became the sport’s number one attraction.

So what, then, did Floyd do in response? He retired. Instead of challenging the best in the 147 and 154 lb divisions, Floyd acted as if he had done enough. No wonder why millions around the world criticize Floyd for being the greatest cherry-picker of all time. But again, this is another topic for another day.

Meanwhile in 2007, Pacquiao had begun to carve his name in the chronicles of boxing. He had already defeated the great Marco Antonio Barrera twice as well as avenging his loss to Erik Morales in decisive fashion. His nemesis, Juan Manuel Marquez, fought him to a controversial draw which Pacquiao should have won if one of the judges didn’t err in the scorecards. All that was left for Pacquiao and Marquez to do was fight a second time in order to determine who really won that epic 2004 fight of the year.

By the time Pacquiao defeated Marquez in the rematch, everyone in boxing turned their attention to the Pacman. Would he move up in weight and test himself against bigger foes? Or would he stay at super featherweight and continue to dominate the lower divisions?

Floyd was retired and wasn’t showing any signs of coming back after his signature win against Ricky Hatton. Floyd thought he had proven himself after defeating an undefeated Hatton who, by the way, fought Floyd at 147 lbs which was something Hatton was obviously not accustomed to doing. While Floyd sat on his couch counting his millions, Pacquiao slowly began to stockpile his.

Pacquiao, under the guidance of the brilliant Bob Arum, did what any rising mega-star should’ve done. He moved up in weight to challenge bigger men and tested himself in order to prove that he could become one of the game’s best and most exciting stars since Mike Tyson. Most importantly, Pacquiao realized what Floyd had left behind – the opportunity to seize the spotlight. And boy did Pacquiao take it. Carpe diem.

After beating Hatton at 140 and doing it better than Mayweather did, and after making Delahoya quit on his stool in an official 147 lb bout, Pacquiao moved up two weight divisions and showed the world the excitement and fury Mayweather couldn’t bring to the sport. He defeated Mayweather’s opponents in exhilarating fashion, much more thrilling than Mayweather could ever bring to the table. Mayweather was watching. Mayweather was taking notes. Floyd was taking notice. Most importantly, Al Haymon was drawing up a new gameplan.
By the time Pacquiao annihilated the Mayweather-trained Hatton, the Mayweather defamation gameplan began to take form. Floyd Sr. immediately questioned Pacquiao’s credibility. Then Floyd Jr followed.

The moment a Pacquiao-Mayweather matchup turned from imagination to highly likely, Floyd and Haymon slowly began to carve their position. It’s been documented regularly by insiders that Haymon is the sole person responsible for blocking the fight in 2009 when initial negotiations took place. Haymon didn’t want to see Floyd battle the hard-nosed Pacquiao right away. He wanted to capitalize on Floyd’s marketing power and reputation. Indeed, why put Floyd in with Pacquiao in 2009 when Floyd had been retired and Pacquiao was at his peak? It just didn’t make sense from a financial and career standpoint. Therefore, Haymon advised Floyd to keep his distance. And what better way for Floyd to accomplish this by disrespecting, defaming, discrediting, taunting, and accusing Pacquiao of steroids so that it wouldn’t appear as if Floyd were ducking him. This was the Mayweather master plan, and it was genius. It’s amazing how many naïve and gullible fans actually fell for it.

The first mistake Mayweather did was to accuse Pacquiao of doing PEDs without any proof. You don’t do that at the negotiation table especially if you call yourself a professional. To add insult to injury, Floyd disrespected Pacquiao by using racial slurs and continued his PED accusations with no regard for the integrity of the sport. Having done all of this, do you honestly expect Pacquiao to agree to his silly demands and take Floyd’s posturing lightly? Of course not. Not when you’re a man of pride, honor, and dignity. Anyone who would’ve agreed to Floyd’s demands after Floyd blatantly disrespects you in front of the whole world is called an idiot.

The message to Floyd was: you won’t get me to do what you want so easily. Not when I just did 1.25 million PPV apiece versus Cotto and Delahoya. Not when I’m the current welterweight champion and undisputed PFP King. Not when you’ve been retired for over a year and I suddenly took your throne. Not when everyone in the sport is talking about me instead of you. And certainly not when I’ve proven to the sport that I’ve passed each and every drug test they’ve given me since I became a fighter in the United States. It doesn’t work like that Mr. Mayweather. I’m a professional and if you want to fight me, you better act like a professional.

In other words, Pacquiao gave the envious, disrespectful, and unprofessional Mayweather the middle finger. That was the end of the negotiations.

2009 and 2010 passed, and Pacquiao was still terrorizing opponents. Pacquiao solidified his name as arguably the best fighter of his era, his pound-for-pound ranking stayed at the top, and endorsements began to come in by the bundle. Indeed, Pacquiao had become a name brand. He was admired all over the world, and his public reverence grew to an all-time high when he became a Congressman in the Philippines in 2010.

While all this was happening, Mayweather continued to watch and take notice. Haymon was paying attention as well. And Team Mayweather continued its unwarranted PED accusations even in light of Pacquiao’s defamation suit against Floyd. It was so hilarious seeing Floyd accuse Manny of taking “power pellets” without any proof that it reminded me of the black kid in high school who was jealous that the white kid took his girlfriend away therefore the black kid tries to start a fight with the white kid after school. Floyd was acting as if Pacquiao stole his money, when in reality Pacquiao stole his spotlight. It was terribly difficult for Floyd to bear, to the point Floyd was seen complaining to America that America needed to support Floyd like Puerto Ricans support Puerto Ricans, like Mexicans support Mexicans. It started to become comical how desperate Mayweather began to act.

Fast forward to 2012, and we’re still seeing much of the same posturing from Floyd. When negotiations seemingly took place in the beginning of the year, Floyd once again disrespected Pacquiao by offering a measly flat purse of $40 million. Mayweather had the audacity to actually call up Manny’s cell phone and tell Manny that all he would get is $40 stinkin’ million when he damn well knew a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight would generate well over $250 million in revenue. Is that what you call a fair and respectable offer from someone who says he really wants to fight the best? Only a simpleton would agree.

Message to Floyd: Manny Pacquiao is no Miguel Cotto. For one, you can get away with offering Cotto 20% because Cotto knows he needs big fights in order to maintain his name brand. Cotto knows he doesn’t have the worldwide appeal and cache of a Pacquiao. And Cotto knows Pacquiao knocked him out. Therefore, Cotto has no choice but to accept 15-20% because it’s his only way to stay relevant – by fighting Floyd.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao is considered by millions as the 1A to Floyd’s number 1. Pacquiao is considered by numerous American companies as its spokesperson, something Cotto can’t say he holds. Pacquiao is considered by millions as the only fighter not named Mayweather who can lead a fight card on his own without the help of fighters like Canelo Alvarez, Shane Mosley, and Erik Morales fighting on his undercard.

Floyd, to this day, has continued his PED accusations. He has continued to lowball Pacquiao. He has continued to try and fool his fans by claiming Bob Arum is the one responsible for the fight not being made even though it is clear that the number one roadblock to the fight not happening was Floyd’s insistence on keeping 100% of the PPV profit.

The bottom line is that Pacquiao deserves 40% of the PPV at the very least. He has proven his PPV worthiness the last 5 years. He has proven that fans from all over the world clamor to watch him. He has proven that companies all over the world want to endorse him. Most of all, he has proven to bring some of the most exciting wars and battles this sport has seen since the 1980s and because of this he deserves at least 40%. The fact of the matter is, of the 3 million households who will purchase Pacquiao-Mayweather, at least 1.5 million will be rooting for Pacquiao. And another 500,000 are probably watching just to see Mayweather lose.

When people try to debate and ask, “How come Pacquiao didn’t agree to Floyd’s demand in the first place back in 2009? Why didn’t Pacquiao just prove that he was clean so he could shut Floyd’s mouth?”

The answer is simple. You don’t give a low-class, lying, disrespecting clown the satisfaction, even more so when that jealous and envious narcissist is a racist.

No wonder Pacquiao said recently that if he were to agree to Floyd’s ridiculous $40 million flat fee, Floyd would laugh at his back. Pacquiao’s absolutely right. No way does he give in to such ludicrous terms. No way does Pacquiao allow Floyd to disrespect him again. No way does Pacquiao give Floyd the satisfaction. No way does Pacquiao give that condescending, pretentious, patronizing, and pompous jealous freak the satisfaction.

If Floyd is serious about fighting, he better offer Pacquiao a lot more than $40 million. Didn’t Pacquiao just make $35 million against Marquez last November? Are you taking notes, Floyd? Didn’t Pacquiao just make $35 million against Marquez last November? And Floyd has the nerve to offer $40 million to Pacquiao, who would solely be responsible for bringing in 50% of the fans in what will be the single biggest event in sports history. I know Floyd’s nickname is “Easy Money” but c’mon folks. Floyd doesn’t think he can get away with robbery so easily, does he? What a joke.

Floyd thinks Pacquiao is stupid. Floyd’s fans think Pacquiao is stupid. That’s funny, because Floyd is proving to the world his ignorance. That Floyd doesn’t know what Filipinos are all about.

It’s time for Floyd to take notice. The inmate’s world has fallen apart since Pacquiao took the sport by storm in 2006. The only thing Floyd is lucky to have is his money. Oh yeah, he’s also undefeated, my bad. Without his money, Floyd is nothing. Without his millions, Floyd is seen as a criminal. Without his money, Pacquiao still has an entire nation and a world that admires, reveres, and respects him.

If Floyd would have never insulted and accused Pacquiao of doing PEDs without any proof, this fight would have happened a long time ago. If Floyd would have offered Pacquiao 50/50 on the PPV, or perhaps even 40-45%, it would have shown Pacquiao that he was serious and this fight would have happened in 2012. The first mistake Floyd Mayweather made was thinking he was above the sport. The last mistake Floyd Mayweather made was thinking he was above any justice system and above any man.

Time is running out for both Pacquiao and Mayweather to make this fight happen. Time is running out for Arum and Haymon to agree to terms. After all, Arum could literally drop dead any day of the week and so could Haymon. Floyd better get his act together once he gets out of prison or else he can keep fighting the Cotto’s and Ortiz’s of the world and pad his fabricated, cherry-picked, and made-for-TV legacy. This era in boxing belongs to Pacquiao and Mayweather, and for both fighters the end is in sight.

Nobody in the Mayweather family has ever taught Floyd the meaning of respect, humility, and professionalism. If any true negotiation is to happen, this is where it starts.

No wonder Pacquiao is constantly praying for Floyd. But like they say, you can take the man out of the ghetto but you can’t take the ghetto out of the man.