By Rod Bautista: What has dominated discussion on this site is the scheduled fight between Sugar Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao. Everyone has opined about the quality of this bout questioning the reasoning behind this. To look at the reasoning for this bout you must look at the big picture. Unfortunately no matter how you look at it there is one fighter that has been affecting the fights that are being made by not being involved in them, Floyd Mayweather.
The “Pretty Boy Floyd Effect” or PBFE for short has created a lot of chaos since Manny Pacquiao beat Oscar De La Hoya. From that point the comparisons started being made, especially because of the way Pacquiao beat De La Hoya. Floyd had been retired for a year and with this coming out party Pacquiao was being anointed as the successor to the P4P crown. Manny and Floyd were forever linked and with every step or punch there was no escaping Floyd’s shadow. The PBFE on Pacquiao was clearly evident especially when it was announced that Manny was taking on another one of Floyd’s former foes in Ricky Hatton.
Experts and Fans were salivating at another chance to directly compare Manny and Floyd through another common opponent. The PBFE came into effect as Mayweather announced that he was coming out of retirement, effectively taking the spotlight somewhat off the new face of the sport.
In my opinion Floyd couldn’t sit there and listen to all the praise Pacquiao was receiving. Here is an Asian fighter who was a warrior who came forward and exchanged with his foes. Floyd of course was always dogged with accusations not only of ducking the toughest fights, but also dancing around his competition. He was the slickest defensive boxer in the world, but his recent wins were not a source of inspiration for the masses. He always did enough to win and stay pretty, but his fights weren’t exactly the most exciting. Combine that with the fact that Floyd Mayweather wasn’t always the media’s darling compounded the fact. Remember the Brian Kenny interview?
Experts and writers openly wrote about the differing styles and the energy Pacquiao was injecting into the sport of boxing again. His demeanor was refreshing, his story was compelling, but most of all his tenacious win at all cost mentality is what endeared him to not only the boxing world, but the general public. Look at what was being written around the time Pacquiao fought Hatton, and you’ll see a kind of love that Mayweather never got.
In announcing his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez Floyd worked to do the opposite. PBFE was working to not only take away some of Pacquiao’s glory, but to show a favorable comparison in common opponents favoring Floyd. Why else would Floyd fight Marquez. With all the people available to fight for his first fight back he chose Marquez not for his drawing ability and not for the challenge, it was to get a direct comparison. Just like Manny did when he fought Oscar.
The fans ate it up. It fed to the appetite of rabid boxing fans wanting to compare the two.
Floyd beat Marquez thoroughly though he didn’t beat him up, he convincingly beat Marquez, and regardless of what people say about the weight issue Floyd won convincingly. To Floyd fans it was vindication, and validation that he still was the best.
PBFE succeeded in creating doubt in Manny’s legacy and created even more heat for the match up that everyone truly wanted.
Manny then took on Miguel Cotto. A boxer that many believe Floyd ducked. Manny annihilated Cotto, and Mega Fight Mania hit a fever pitch!
We all know that fight never happened and PBFE did it’s best to convince the general public that the reason for Manny’s success was PED’s. Most experts don’t buy into it, but it has divided the boxing fans who were already divided on either side. The real reason the PED debate started and Floyd’s willingness to fight Manny or Manny’s willingness to take the tests is not what I want to talk about, but the effect that PBFE has had on the boxing world.
Let’s get passed the fact that the fight hasn’t happened. The real effect it has had is number one who Manny Pacquiao fights is not clearly evident. PBFE has prevented fights that should have taken place. Look at it this way other than Floyd the only true established welterweights are Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosley, and Antonio Margarito. Now don’t mistake what I’m saying I’m not debating who is the better fighter, but only stating who would be considered top tier fighters. If Floyd isn’t around or doesn’t come out of retirement there definitely would have been more action between those three and the up and coming welterweights out there putting more legitimate welterweights on that list. We’d see more fights the likes of Berto, Bradley, and Alexander. Historically Champions need to step out of the limelight to allow the future of the sport to begin. PBFE has subjected us to constant speculation. Really Floyd are you in or are you out?
Think about it. Every boxer has had to take a back seat to the Manny and Floyd show. Andre Berto could have had a “better” fight or Shane could have fought Manny after Cotto. Who knows? Truth is without Floyd in the picture Manny’s opponents would have more clear. Berto could have fought Cotto, Margarito would be mixing it up with whoever. Fact is the whole Mega Fight meltdown created a scramble to make other fights happen. Clottey definitely wouldn’t have been an option, and at the time Berto was to fight Mosley.
If Floyd vs. Manny wasn’t on the table then the winner of Mosley vs. Berto would have been the next foe. Furthermore Floyd has hindered Berto’s progression by taking his fight with Mosley away. We’re caught in a state of flux where there is no certainty of what is to happen next.
PBFE has dictated that although Manny has to stay active it makes putting the right fight difficult, because he needs to fight, but with every fight Pacquiao’s handlers to make sure that they don’t jeopardize the shot of having the greatest pound for pound fight ever.
Don’t kid your selves people this fight with Mosley would not have been made if Bob Arum didn’t think Manny was likely to win. The question you have to ask your selves is
can you blame Manny for making this fight? PBFE has put a wrench in the progression of boxing. Until Floyd gets in to the ring with Manny or until he stays away permanently the Pretty Boy Floyd Effect will water down the type of fights we’re going to see.
I know it sounds dumb, but do you really want to see Manny lose so that Floyd never really has to fight him. That is the risk Manny is taking with every fight. If your place in history was in jeopardy would you risk facing an up and coming unknown fighter and lose that chance? If Manny loses to Shane he will never have a chance of fighting Floyd. Floyd will be let off the hook. By getting into legal trouble Floyd literally gets a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. He has another built in excuse not to fight. Funny thing is Floyd still manages to Jet Set around the world and he still has court side seats, but he doesn’t have the time to make history, and guess what no one is talking about it. PBFE at it’s finest, I’m sure.
Floyd has successfully taken the spotlight off himself and it’s pointed square at Manny. Now Manny’s ducking the competition and he’s the one on PED’s and he’s the one who is ripping off the fans. The truth is it’s Floyd’s fault that you all think that the Pacquiao-Mosley fight sucks or at least you’re being led to believe that it does. If Floyd wasn’t going to fight Manny anyway he should have stayed retired instead of literally taking long vacations between fights and taking the boxing world hostage. When Floyd came out of retirement did you all seriously think that it would be the year 2011 and we’d still be waiting for the Mega Fight?
The fight on May 7, 2011 may not be what you all want to see, and it might not be the most competitive. I for one think that it’s going to be a great fight. I know it won’t be a defensive battle, and Shane won’t have to chase Manny or wait for him to exchange. Punches will be thrown early and often. In the end you can blame Manny and Top Rank for making this fight, but in the end you should know that ultimately The Pretty Boy Floyd Effect is equally to blame.
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