By Giancarlo Malinconico: Many have wondered why Floyd Mayweather Jr. is upset at Promoter Bob Arum? Is it over money issues? Or is he upset because Arum had publically stated that he did not know why Floyd would not face Antonio Margarito, the biggest money bout for him back in 2006? Instead of facing Margarito, Mayweather decided to face the overrated journeyman Carlos Baldomir, who had defeated the overrated Zab Judah for the “linear” welterweight title.

And after defeating Oscar De La Hoya in 2007 by split-decision (Manny Pacquiao dominated the same De La Hoya a year and a half later), according to a source in the Mayweather camp, Floyd opted-out of facing the “Golden Boy” in a return bout because of contractual issues: Mayweather wanted more money.

And when Mayweather returned after an almost two-year layoff rather than wait one day and face Pacquiao after his sensational knock out of Hatton, Floyd announced a bout with lightweight Juan Manuel Marquez, who he ended up defeating, but not after weighing-in two pounds over the contracted limit. It was bad enough that he avoided Pacquiao to face a smaller and older fighter two division below his weight class, but to come in two pounds over the weight-limit, breaking the contracted agreement, is a disgrace to Floyd’s legacy.

Recently, Mayweather had agreed to terms to face Shane Mosley on May 1, 2010, but he would not sign the contract until Richard Schaefer, the Chief Executive Officer of Golden Boy Promotions, publically pressured him, which demonstrates the pattern of disregard that Floyd maintains for keeping his word on agreements.

Arum has stated that Mayweather and the Ring Magazine Pound-for-Pound King, the Fighter-of-the-Decade, Manny Pacquiao have agreed to all of the terms for a bout in November of this year. And although Dan Rafael has stated that all of Floyd’s terms have not been resolved, he has done a poor job of reporting, and has seemed more like another Floyd sympathizer in the “mainstream” media because he has not specifically stated which terms have not been agreed upon by both parties.

Apart from the De La Hoya bout in which Mayweather did not have enough leverage to negotiate, Floyd has given his opponents a “hard time” during every negotiation of every bout he has been involved in since, including the bout with Ricky Hatton in which he would not accept a 50-50 split of revenue, which almost endangered the making of that bout as well.

Mayweather cannot advance his legacy by taking on any other opponent other than the Pac Man. The latest reports from Roger Mayweather and some in “Camp Mayweather” have Floyd attempting to square off against Miguel Cotto, as a “Plan B.” How exciting, the Mayweather camp is putting forward the notion of Mayweather battling an opponent that Pacquaio has already destroyed rather than facing Manny, himself.

Another issue that has surfaced concerns the availability of Roger Mayweather to train Floyd for the Pacquiao bout. “Uncle” Roger has been allegedly implicated in a felony assault on a female boxer; he has, however, professed his innocence on the HBO series, Mayweather/Mosley 24/7. But why should the general public believe anything “Uncle” Roger has to say when he has accused Pacquiao of using performing-enhancement drugs (PEDs) without a shred of evidence? Roger has even publically stated that Pacquiao has used PEDs that Filipino soldiers had allegedly used that allowed them to survive bullet wounds. Roger’s fairy tales and lack of self-discipline has placed the biggest bout in boxing history in jeopardy. I suppose Roger only believes in the notion of “innocent until proven guilty” when he is the one who is being accused.

Nevertheless, Floyd Jr. has stated on many occasions that his father is one of the best trainers in the world, and he would be available to train his son for the bout against Pacquiao. Since Floyd Sr. is available, what is the delay in signing the contract? Perhaps Floyd will sign the contract and prove me wrong about my belief that he will never accept the bout against the biggest threat to his “unblemished” record since Jose Luis Castillo was robbed of a decision victory against him back in 2002.

Floyd has four options concerning his boxing career: a unanimous decision loss to the Pac Man if he goes back to fighting like the old Floyd, a knockout loss to the Pac Man if he tries to battle toe-to-toe as he did against Mosley, facing another boxer who is not on Pacquiao’s level, or retirement. If history is any indication, the latter seems to be the preferable choice of Floyd because he does not have an obvious advantage in the negotiations, or in a bout against the Pac Man.

I have never seen a boxer demand more, or delay the signing of contract as much as Mayweather in the history of the sport of boxing. If the biggest bout in boxing history does not take place, there is only person to blame: “Money” Mayweather.

(Contact this writer @ GNMalinconico@aol.com or GiancarloNM@aol.com.)