By Simon Sheppard: Tick, tock…tick, tock,….tick, tock,…..The countdown timer that Bob Arum has set for Floyd Mayweather is tickin away. And yet, as of now, there is not even a blip nor a rustle in the Mayweather camp. One can just feel the palpable silence throughout the boxing world.

Never in the history of boxing have we witnessed such a debacle. Never have we seen so many complications in setting up a fight. Big fights in the past were easy to set up for the simple reason that the fighters were willing to test their mettle against the best of the era .
And even fighters of this generation, will surely chomp at the bit in getting a fight this huge.

But not Floyd Mayweather Jr. It has always been said that no athlete is bigger than the sports. Athletes will come and go, but the sports remain. Some athletes will leave behind such an illustrious career that becomes the measuring stick of coming generations. Some may even transcend the boundaries of the sport. Creating an indelible mark and a lasting impact that sometimes bring the sports into a wider audience.

Taking it into the biggest stage of all – the world. The people shouting “bumaye” with Ali never even saw a boxing ring before in their lives.

But never, even with those feats, never was an athlete bigger than the sports itself.

Some people criticize Bob Arum for setting the deadline. Most applaud him for it.

But the simple fact is, nobody can force Floyd Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao. Nobody.

He is not even holding a title belt to defend against a mandatory challenger.

If he wants to face Pacquiao, it is of his own free will and volition..

But in a way, it is all Mayweather’s own fault. He kept shouting to the world that he is the greatest.

Even greater than Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson, if you get to hear him.

So there, lies the problem. To be the best, then face the best. It can not get simpler than that.

And in this generation, he is not alone. Two of the best. The other one, half a world away is Manny Pacquiao.

The other ‘best’. Not of Pacquiao’s own declaration, but in the eyes of most, in the sports and even beyond.

So then Floyd is challenged. Prove to the world what he has been harking about all along.

One simple fact that most people miss is that Pacquiao can just move along. Set another world record by gunning for an 8th weight class.

Why bother at all waiting and putting up with all this nonsense. His legacy is already set in stone.

So why bother at all. For the simple reason that this is the fight that everyone wants to see.

And like every warrior before him, Pacquiao wants to give the fans what they clamor for.
To give us a chance to see a fight of this magnitude happen in our lifetime.
Going out of his way to please every boxing fan.

I’m so not sure we can say the same about Floyd Mayweather Jr.

So in a way, Bob Arum in setting the timer, is setting an example.

You either agree or not. You either sign the contract or not.

You either fight or not. Simple.

Pacquiao never declared himself to be the best nor the greatest.

If he loses, many will still remember him for what he has contributed to the sports.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. sometimes runs out of words to describe just how great he is.

If he loses, the ensuing humiliation will be more devastating than the loss itself.

The sports of boxing will go on.
Fights will go on.

Life will go on.

With or without Floyd Mayweather Jr.

His choice. Nobody else’s.

So, Floyd, what’s it gonna be?