By Yan D: I don’t think I need to remind anybody that Floyd Mayweather Jr has the biggest following of “haters” since maybe the great Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
I have no problem with not liking someone especially an athlete or other public figure it comes with the work, but when the hate gets bigger than reality itself it becomes a problem. Here is a list of the most common things a hater has to say about the greatest boxer of his generation.
1) Mayweather is afraid of Manny
Ok, first let me tell you that anybody who thinks a boxer is afraid of another has NEVER put on a pair of gloves for more than once. How can a guy who has been training and boxing ever since he was a little boy, and was almost always at a weight disadvantage can be afraid to get into a boxing ring? The question answers itself.
2) Most of them will replied that he is afraid to lose his precious ‘0’
Ok well to that I say: “NEWSFLASH” Floyd has already lost 6 times as an amateur, so he is most then certainly not afraid of losing since he already tasted defeat. He even gave a rematch to the only fighter who arguably beat him (I had Floyd winning by 1 round but I can understand very well people who had Castillo winning) and close that debate with a one sided win.
3) Mayweather is a cherry picker
Well to that I’ll reply every boxer at some point in their career are. Name me one fighter from any era and I’ll find you some “cherry pick”. What people should understand is that those guys put their life on the line every time they step in the ring and they have the right once in a while to take an easier fight. Even champions are allowed to do “optional” defense of their world title, it’s been that way ever since belts existed. They guy has defeated more than 20 world champions, I’ll admit some are weaker champion then others but they were still “champs”. They put in the hard work to get where they were and if it was that easy to do every boxers today would have a resume like Floyd and the fact nobody else does, is proof enough of how special Floyd is, just like Manny and his 8 titles (not world titles) in 8 different weight class, if it was easy well why nobody else is doing it?
4) Mayweather is a woman beater
Ok nobody can defend him here. What he did was wrong but the guy ain’t the pope. What he does outside a boxing ring should concern only him and the people involve and he paid for his mistakes (not enough in my opinion). The guy is not a role model he is a BOXER, an ENTERTAINER. Role model should be people close to the kids like parents, family, and neighbors. Floyd can be used as a model for people who wants to box and learn some of his craft by watching his fights but in no way is he a role model and I am sure even his biggest fans know this, and parents who let their kids watch this guy do what he does on all access and 24/7 should be ashamed of themselves. To close this chapter, I would like to remind every one that Floyd was charge with a misdemeanor and not a felony and as wrong as he was for doing what only him, his kids and their mom know what truly happens, I don’t believe he actually gave her a beating since no pictures or any other media came out like what happened with Chris Brown or Ray rice more recently and I find it hard to believe that a professional boxer (hence the most paid athlete on the planet) wouldn’t leave a single mark or bruise on a woman he “allegedly” beat and even more strange no media showed any proof of it.
5) Mayweather avoided lots of fighters
I think this is the funniest part. People come up with different names that Floyd supposedly “duck” but failed to realize the big picture. Some names are just hilarious like Barrera or Morales who never fought in the same weight class. Floyd started as a super feather in 1996 and both of these guys reached that division in 2004 when Pretty boy was already fighting Chop-Chop at light welterweight. People also tend to forget that “Pretty boy” was the most avoided fighter at some point.
Mosley is on record saying he needs a vacation because his tooth hurt, Arum is on record saying Cotto was too green for Floyd when he was undefeated. Oscar is on record saying he had bigger fish to fry no to mention those guys were all in weight class above Floyd and they wanted no part of that humble small guy from Michigan. Floyd also called out Kostya Tszyu but when Floyd reached LWW in 2004, Tszyu suffered an injury and had shoulder surgery which kept him out of the ring for a while until he came back to fulfill his contractual obligation to a rematch with Sharmba Mitchell only to lose to Ricky Hatton the next year by TKO when he quit in the 11th round announcing his retirement.
Then came the Margarito “affair”, Arum was still hurting at the loss of his golden goose Oscar de la Hoya, and wanted no part in matching Floyd with him even when Floyd was begging for the fight and the recognition that came with it, Arum offered 8 million to Floyd for fighting Margarito with no grantee the Oscar bout was next and we all know the rest, Floyd bought out of his contract (Arum still owes him money) fought Baldomir who had taken Judah’s lineal title right before Floyd fought him and then went on to challenge Oscar at the full 154 limit with Oscar putting demands on everything from ring size, to purse, to glove size, music, entrance, etc. etc. which is OK since it was the Golden Boy show after all.
Margarito then when on to lose to Paul Williams killing his shot at the best fighter in the world. Floyd took over the PPV world that day with his new personae of “Money” Mayweather, he knew very well he had to be the villain against the more popular Oscar. People also bring in the names of Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez and again they don’t take in the big picture. Williams made a name for himself after beating Margarito in 2007 the same year Floyd fought Oscar and Hatton.
This was perfect William’s gain a belt and a “household” name casual fan knew in Margarito but in his very next match-up he found a way to lose to Quintana killing any buzz of that fight ever happening since Floyd won’t come out of his retirement to beat someone who just lost his last fight less than a year later Williams was already fighting at Middleweight.
As for Sergio Martinez, most people don’t seem to know he only fought as a welter in Argentina with the exception of his first loss against Margarito in 2000 when Floyd was year away from that weight class. He then relocated to Spain and moved up to light middle weight and only started to make a name for himself in 2008 winning the interim WBC belt and then battling Kermit Cintron to a majority draw (I know all the controversy regarding that fight) only to see Vernon Forrest get stripped of his title because of a rib injury and Martinez became the WBC LMW champion in 2009. With the never ending talk of a potential fight between newly superstar Manny Pacquiao and himself, Floyd came out of retirement that year to face Marquez, Pacquiao archival, that’s when Martinez decided to move up to middleweight to face Paul Williams.
Since then he talked a lot about a fight with Floyd and Manny also saying he would come down to 154, even a 150 but he never showed the world that was true. A fighter should never have to come down in weight with very rare exceptions, and especially not a full weight class. Haters will say Martinez was a small middleweight but then why did he stayed there for over 10 years when the likes of Cotto, Canelo (both good pay days) even Mosley would have taken that challenge, were starting to make a name for themselves at that weight class. If a fighter wants to challenge someone smaller and he claims he can do the weight well he needs to prove it and start fighting in that weight class instead of just talking.
As for today well people who claim Floyd is avoiding GGG are completely delusional and there is no way a guy who makes welter weight without a sweat should be force to face a career middleweight and please Golovkin has been fighting at 160 for the past 12 years almost so there is no way he can make 154 without really draining himself, anybody who says otherwise never had to make weight for a fight.
6) Mayweather always have excuses not to fight Pacquiao
OK I won’t go into that debate because there is no end unless they actually fight. They are both at fault for the fight not happening, Bob Arum being the major issue here, Manny walked (sorry, Bob advised Manny to walk away because like it or not Manny has NO SAY in the matter) from the first 2 negotiations. His camp just like Floyd made over 100 excuses to this day as to why this fight never happened from the blood test weakens me to the cut that won’t heal, to the stadium that needs to be build etc. etc.. They only thing we know for sure because it is public and have been confirmed by both side is Top Rank walked away the first time in 2009 when all their demands were met (50/50, ring size, glove size, entrance, 10mil/pound over limit etc.) over the only demand made by Floyd which is strict drug testing and later Manny hand up on Floyd asking for 50/50 again when the week before he was claiming everywhere he would take less money. You can argue that Floyd is not the NSAC but in this day and age where drug users and cheaters are caught everywhere I still can’t believe it is not MANDATORY to use those tests in any fighting sport. And anybody who refuse to pass them should be seen as suspicious no matter the reason. Bottom line they both have their list of excuses and whenever Manny says something people should remember this line “It’s up to my promoter”.
The biggest irony in all this saga is Floyd will be miss when he is truly gone from the sport, but the ones who are going to miss him the most are his haters since they won’t have anybody to talk about. But I guess it is OK since they are his biggest fans since 2007.
Good day to all.
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