By Giancarlo Malinconico: Although I am a bit late, I have just read over comments made (last week) during in an interview with Reeklama by Floyd Mayweather Sr. concerning the proposed November bout between his son, Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr., and the Fighter-of-the-Decade Award-Winner and reigning Ring Magazine Pound-for-Pound King Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao. The Mayweathers are sometimes a great source of comic relief, particularly Floyd Sr.
Floyd Sr. told the interviewer that Floyd Jr. would score a knockout victory over Pacquiao if the proposed bout were to occur.
I beg to differ with Mr. Mayweather. In his last six bouts, Floyd Jr. has only knocked out one opponent, and that was a fighter who has never met a punch he didn’t like to be hit with: Ricky Hatton. Besides, Manny Pacquiao has not been knocked out since he has competed at 113 pounds back in 1999.
Floyd Sr. also stated that he believes that Pacquiao does not have much technical ability, and he believes that Freddie Roach has failed to improve Manny’s boxing ability.
Did Floyd Sr. miss Pacquiao’s outstanding showcase of footwork and boxing ability in bouts against David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya? And I find it interesting that Floyd Sr. seems intent on criticizing the best trainer in the game, Roach, who beat Floyd Sr. head-to-head when Pacquiao destroyed Mayweather’s Hatton in the second round. Not to mention, boxing fans are well aware of the progression and improvement that Roach has made with Pacquiao, including, improving his footwork and head movement, and developing “Manila Ice,” Pacquiao’s right hook — the same hook that sent Hatton to the canvas in the first round.
Floyd Sr., further stated that he believes that Shane Mosley was a tougher bout for Floyd than a Pacquiao bout would be, and he believes that the Pac Man avoided a bout with Mosley, whom his son dominated.
This claim that Pacquiao avoided Mosley is laughable. Yes, Roach has respect for Mosley, but he was merely complimenting Shane by saying that he was “too good.” Nevertheless, the Mayweathers, as they sometimes do, took the comment out of context. Pacquiao faced Miguel Cotto, who defeated Mosley, instead. Cotto was younger, comparably as popular, and held a win over Mosley, so stating that the Pac Man had ducked Mosely by facing Cotto is a reach. Ducking an opponent is more like what Floyd did when he opted to face Carlos Baldomir and Zab Judah instead of Antonio Margarito.
If Roger Mayweather, the primary trainer of Floyd Jr., is convicted of felony assault in the next few months, Floyd Sr. may get another crack at a head-to-head match up against Freddie Roach. But something tells me that if anyone is going to get knocked out, as Floyd Sr. stated, that person is going to be his son, Floyd Jr. Furthermore, not only do I hope that Mayweather vs. Pacquiao gets signed because it will be the biggest bout in boxing history, I also can’t wait to enjoy the comedy that the Mayweathers would bring to the HBO 24/7 series.
(Contact this writer @ GNMalinconico@aol.com or GiancarloNM@aol.com.)
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