By Babatis Banda: I have no doubt in my mind that if Manny will agree to take the random blood tests that Floyd is asking for, the fight will certainly take place early 2012.
Forget the childish arguments that are sang day-in and day out that Floyd is scared to fight Manny. In the first place, we need a clear statement from Manny’s camp about RBT and not the dis-jointed talk from Manny’s camp. Manny’s camp should come out with a single strong statement about wanting to take the RBT. Likewise, Floyd’s camp must be willing to come to an agreement about how these tests can be conducted without losing their essence. I also believe that the rest of these other issues are subject of the contract negotiations.
It is key then, that Manny should state in no uncertain terms that he is willing to take the tests without cut-off dates unlike the present time when Manny hints at something and somebody from his camp says something to the contrary. If we look closely, Manny and Floyd are not far apart on their ability to sell their fights and so, negotiations should be key to iron out any differences. For the moment, the fans of the two fighters spend more time arguing and insulting each other, more than their fighters are willing to sit down and make the fight happen.
A lot of opportunities lie bare for both fighters. Facts are that if Floyd defeats Manny, it will never be called an upset, people will quickly forget about it and go on their business some happy, some sad. However, Floyd can then decide to move up, beat up more champions and establish himself as a no-doubt, great of all time. If Manny happens to beat Floyd, the whole boxing fraternity will talk about it for weeks, if not months. Manny will be exalted to a level of a saint and the media will be in a frenzy trying to paint a god-like image of Manny not to mention how the whole of the Philippines would come to a stand-still. This all just tells you who really holds the edge.
Those that have difficulty looking at who is the better fighter or boxer, there are a few things you can look at to see who really has the edge. I want to use the fights that we have all watched before. Take a close look at Manny vs. Cotto. This fight showed us that Manny can hit hard. It also showed us that Manny can be hit almost at will. Cotto landed throughout the fight even when he was ridding the bicycle in the latter rounds after testing Manny’s power. This fight proved that Manny is deadly for any aggressive fighter with a poor defence. For sure, stiles make fights and Floyd has the best defence. Cotto did well when he moved well. Cotto also cuts-up easily and I believe the red substance has a negative impact on his mind, I saw that with Margarito too.
Take the Ortiz Vs Floyd fight, I noticed that Floyd has a habit to launch forward at times either with a jab, or a straight right. While he is quick enough to get back to his comfortable posture, I see him getting into trouble with Manny because Manny is fast and hits hard. He may be caught off-balance. However, this seems to me to be the only worrying part on Floyd’s part, but we know how he is able to adjust. In that fight, those who understand boxing saw that power without ability is useless.
Ortiz was never given an opportunity to demonstrate his power, rather he was power-punched through-out. Floyd’s intelligence was again exhibited, when Ortiz came in with a flurry, Floyd never lost his cool, he either rolled with most of the punches or blocked then with his shoulder and elbows but what all this tells you is that, Floyd never gives you an opportunity by swinging with you. I am wondering how Floyd would deal with Pacman’s flurries. Hard punchers are deadly when you swing with them.
Magarito vs. Manny, this fight was nothing, but about Manny’s speed versus the snail-like speed of the spider-like long armed Magarito. In that fight, it was proved that speed kills and there are no special moments brought up in that fight. It can be summarized as speed and power against a slow-plodding fighter.
Both Sugar versus Floyd and Ortiz versus Floyd showed that Floyd has a luxury of picking his shots and choosing when to engage. This gives him time to think and catch a breather. I don’t see this happening with Packman. He is likely to have all guns blazing through-out the fight unless he takes a measured approach against Floyd, knowing how good a counter-puncher he is. The question people who understand boxing ask is how Floyd would handle Manny if he manages to constantly land, and how Manny would react if he fails to land enough to do the damage. What we are all certain about is that Manny will get hit all the time, and I mean all the time.
For this fight to happen, Manny should come-out clean and leave Floyd dirty, and we know Floyd will fight him then.
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