By Joss Gooseman: Photo credit: Sumio Yamada.
Impressive choice
When Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced his choice of opponent for a fight after his self imposed hiatus from the sports, everyone was impressed.
To think that this is his first fight after two years off from boxing, facing a young, strong and hungry fighter like Ortiz is, to many people, remarkable indeed. Add to that the fact that Ortiz just defeated Andre Berto in his last fight. A young and hungry lion coming off a win. Really impressive. But is it really?
Crafty businessman
Floyd Mayweather Jr. himself declared that he is first and foremost a businessman. Boxing is a means to him. His legacy is not his first priority. His words – “legacy don’t pay no bills”. So, I will assume that we are all in agreement in saying that the previous statement is the truth. That “Money” Mayweather is really all about the money.
Business venture
So, we are all in agreement that to Mayweather, it’s all just some sort of a money-making business venture. So then, let me ask you all a question – Who in his right frame of mind would go out on a business venture if you know that it’s a losing proposition? Will you buy shares from a losing company? Will you invest your money on a bankrupt corporation? No? I thought so too. Now if it’s a business venture to Floyd, it follows that he will not take risks. He knows something that we all don’t. That this fight is a positively winnable fight for him. When he was at the ringside watching Ortiz fight Berto, he saw things, openings, weaknesses in Ortiz. That while he was watching the fight, he was already playing out some moves on what he would do if he was in that ring. He imagined the scene. He pictured the fight so clearly, that there was no more doubt in his mind. He could beat Ortiz. No risk. And it is playing so well with his fans.
Nothing is certain
In boxing, as in life, nothing is ever sure. Anything can happen. In boxing, one lucky punch you didn’t see coming can end it all. Like Floyd himself said once, being a boxer is like being a cop – one shot can end it all. So maybe he miscalculated the risks. Oh sure, financially, he can not lose. But maybe that is all there is to it for him. That at the age he is now, his common sense and practicality tells his ego to learn to accept the loss of his “0”. Maybe in his mind, he can not lose, meaning, he gets to earn millions again, that is a given, but if he wins the fight, he can add that to his bragging rights. And if he loses, he can just take another vacation spending all his millions. But what I feel is that after this fight, win or lose, Floyd Mayweather will take another long break. A very, very, very, very long vacation.
So what about the megafight?
The drug test. The mantra of all Mayweather fans. Testing is good, not only for boxing , but for all sports. The only problem is, Floyd went about it the wrong way. He should have stood up to the NSAC during the talks. He should have hyped it all up to the media of which he so good at. He calls himself the face of boxing, so why not petition and pressure all the sanctioning bodies, if he is really serious about it? But anybody with an iota of common sense knows that this is not the case. Initially, Pacquiao agreed to the tests but with a cut-off date. Then, maybe exasperated with the issue, he said recently that he will take the test all the way to the sixth round, in a manner of speaking. But to Floyd again, this is not good enough. He demanded that the USDA do the testing, of which the mother agency, the WADA is what team Pacquiao wants. And Floyd further added that Pacquiao should train in the US. So, if it’s not one thing, it’s another thing to Floyd. There is limit to what you can tell, or order someone else to do your bidding. In the end they were all just excuses. So the megafight? I feel it won’t happen in this lifetime. Floyd Mayweather Jr. should know better than to bully around everybody. Even his father.
Floyd, don’t change the player, change the game.
I know that Floyd can win this fight, but still, who knows, one shot, just one huge shot from the 2008 ESPN Prospect of the Year Awardee and that “0” will have to go.
Heck, maybe he already accepted that fact.
He’s not just giving Manny Pacquiao the satisfaction of trying to do it first, if ever.
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