By Sizzle JKD: Here’s the thing, Floyd’s Folly is continuing at such a breakneck pace that movie producers just may consider a sequel to “Liar Liar” starring the one-and-only Floyd Mayweather Jr.
In December, Floyd was interviewed by Showtime boxing analyst Steve Farhood in front of a worldwide audience and without hesitation, as if he were more sincere than the Dalai Lama, Floyd stated, “I just want to be on an even playing field.”
Of course he does.
This is why, in my opinion, Floyd was so intent on hiring former Team Pacquiao strength and conditioning errand boy, Alex Ariza, so that he can get as much inside information as possible on the fighting congressman from the Philippine Islands. Some people will say there’s nothing wrong with doing this because it’s all about gamesmanship and strategy. Most people, however, will question Mayweather’s true motive, because after all what can Ariza teach Floyd that the veteran boxer doesn’t already know?
Even playing field? It’s more like “worried to play the field.”
If anything, Ariza’s involvement with Mayweather’s camp could even backfire and cause unnecessary distraction because this is what Ariza does. He’s a “poisonous pill,” according to current Pacquiao strength and conditioning coach, Justin Fortune in an interview with Fightsaga.com.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UPToQpA9rw
Having Ariza as part of the Mayweather team could potentially stir up more havoc inside the stealthy confines of the Mayweather Boxing Club.
I believe that Team Mayweather hired Ariza not just to help Floyd’s strength and conditioning program but more importantly to get insider information about Pacquiao hence obtain a competitive advantage.
But no matter what Mayweather does, it’s no secret Pacquiao is quick to respond in spite of the misconception that Floyd is leveling the playing field.
Floyd throws a punch that is the hiring of Ariza. Team Pacquiao counters with a combo, by Fortune advising the media about Ariza being nothing more than a cancer to the Mayweather team.
“The more talk he hears, the more [ticked] off Manny gets,” said Fortune in a recent article on FightSaga.com. “The [angrier] Manny becomes, he takes it out on whoever is in the ring. He definitely still has that killer instinct.”
Ever since Mayweather started attacking Pacquiao in 2009 and discrediting Manny’s career. Pacquiao has done nothing but quietly and effectively counter Floyd’s transgressions. Case in point #1: Team Pacquiao’s successful defamation countersuit against Mayweather. Case in point #2: Top Rank being named co-promoter of the event after Floyd’s incessant insistence in never fighting Pacquiao if Top Rank were involved in the promotion. Case in point #3: Team Pacquiao’s successful negotiation with Haymon and Les Moonves to secure a 40% split after Floyd saying that Pacquiao would never receive more than $40 million for the fight.
The interesting thing about this narrative is that the psychological battle being played by both camps is perhaps a foreshadowing of what will happen in the ring; a microcosm of sorts.
It is this writer’s opinion that on May 2 Pacquiao will shock the world by putting on a boxing clinic in front of the millions around the world who think that Pacquiao’s only chance at winning is by knockout. Yes, Pacquiao will be the aggressor. Yes, Floyd will fight back. But what the world won’t expect is for Pacquiao to be the more effective counter-puncher. This will be an evening when all conventional thought is trumped.
“I just want to be on an even playing field,” asserted Mayweather.
Of course he does.
As the two combatants are now well into their two-month training camp, it’s what happens behind the scenes that usually takes on the most importance when it comes to all of the so-called mind games being played.
A few days ago, it was reported by Freddie Roach to ABS-CBN News that Floyd’s boss, Al Haymon, was allegedly bribing potential Pacquiao sparring partners with more cash than what Team Pacquiao was paying them in an effort to prevent Pacquiao from getting in solid work. Sparring is an integral part of training and creating a game plan, but it’s even more critical for fighters to get acquainted with their opponent’s style by sparring against stylistically similar fighters.
A sign of desperation? Maybe so. A sign of fear? More likely.
Mayweather, it seems, has once again taken the initiative. He throws his fans another curve ball by creating the impression that his crusade to be on an even playing field is designed to “clean up” the sport when in fact it’s nothing but a farce. That is why it’s called Floyd’s Folly.
Splendid gamesmanship? One can make this argument. Poor sportsmanship? It’s probably what most people are thinking. A sign of fear? No question about it.
Meanwhile, Mayweather has enlisted the likes of 40-year old Demarcus Corley and 37-year old Zab “Super” Judah, who have a combined 31 losses (gasp), in hopes he can get an accurate depiction of what he’s about to face on May 2nd.
The good news is that both fighters are southpaws who hurt Mayweather in their previous bouts against the P4P king, therefore Floyd is probably thinking he will put in and receive quality work and thus be able to feed his ego some more of those “TBE” and “Hard work! Dedication!” chants.
The bad news is that Corley fights more like “Flop Flop” instead of “Chop Chop” now that he’s this close from being an AARP member, while the former Brooklyn great who knocked down Mayweather in 2006 is more known these days as Zab Judah, a shell of his former self who has lost 3 of his last 4 fights since 2011. In other words Floyd is tuning himself up by sparring against has-beens who, at this point in their careers, have slower reflexes than Uncle Roger on the mitts.
While Floyd is busy plotting and scheming, the workman-like Pacquiao goes about his business without uttering a single word about his arch nemesis. As it has been for years, it’s Pacquiao’s fists that will do the talking and it’s Roach who takes on the responsibility of psychology professor.
Roach confirmed early this week that he has secured the services of a former Mayweather camp sparring partner in order to help facilitate Pacquiao’s sparring sessions. Roach declined to name the fighter so as to avoid a media frenzy since he knows that every announced Pacman sparring partner will instantly gain nationwide celebrity status because of the recent developments and rumors surrounding each camp’s sparring partner selections.
At the end of the day, Team Pacquiao has once again counter-punched and counteracted the Mayweather ploy. As Floyd and his team attempt to disrupt Pacquiao’s training camp by allegedly stealing away sparring partners, Team Manny goes on the counter-offensive and hires one of Mayweather’s own.
In the never-ending war of attrition that is the pre-fight gamesmanship that occurs behind the scenes, there is only one winner and it won’t be determined until the night the two fighters step into the squared circle. When Pacquiao and Mayweather finally meet in the ring, that’s when you can truly call it “fair and square.”
“I just want to be on an even playing field,” Mayweather insisted.
Well of course he does.
We are less than two months away from the main event, and the only thing that’s on an even playing field are the MGM Grand Buffet and Floyd’s plump and chunky bodyguards.
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