By Kristofer Williams Sr. Boxing fans all over the world have heard the lies and smokescreens before. From “Manny, you’re next” to “I never said that,” Floyd Mayweather Jr. has proven over time to be the master manipulator of the vernacular. He’s the best at it, hands down. This is what promoters like to do – talk the talk. Just ask Bob Arum who, early on in Floyd’s career, taught Floyd everything he knows about the business aspect of professional boxing.

Not too long ago, shortly before Floyd checked into jail, he conducted a brief interview session with several journalists in his gym. Floyd discussed everything – his opinion about the media, how he’s going to handle jail, preserving his health late in his career, drug testing, and of course, Manny Pacquiao.

What wasn’t surprising was his candor and wit. What did catch me off guard was his nerve to state another lie.

When asked about his advantages over opponents, Floyd told Tribune.com.ng, “Like I said before, I’ve never fought a guy at a catchweight. I don’t fight guys at catchweights. I don’t plaster my gloves. These are things I don’t do, because I’m not that type of guy.”

So then what type of guy is Floyd? A truthful, honest, and straight up individual Floyd is certainly not. This isn’t the first time Floyd has lied to the public, and it definitely won’t be the last.

Maybe Floyd’s impaired genetics have caught up with him. It’s hard for any fan to see any sincerity in Floyd’s comments. And it’s not as if Floyd could have quickly forgotten something that happened less than three years ago, which of course was Floyd’s catchweight bout against Juan Manuel Marquez. A Marquez that we know was ill-equipped to handle 144 lbs at the time since Marquez had never before fought anywhere above 135 lbs, let alone 140 lbs.

In case Floyd forgot, ever since he became a welterweight he has always fought opponents who had certain handicaps, be it physical, mental, or age related. So yes, Mr. Mayweather, I beg to differ. You indeed have fought guys at catchweights – one guy by the name of Marquez and another “unofficial catchweight” against a guy by the name of Ricky Hatton. Mr. Mayweather isn’t fooling anyone.

It’s not that difficult to surmise Floyd’s intentions here. He was clearly taking a shot at Pacquiao. What he said was another blatant attempt to discredit, disrespect, and diminish Pacquiao’s career.

Yes, Pacquiao has fought three catchweight bouts since 2009. But lest we forget, the diminutive Pacquiao, who stands barely a fingernail above 5’6”, should not have been fighting at welterweight in the first place. I challenge those who criticize catchweight fights with this question: How many 5’6” fighters in the history of boxing have ever fought at or above welterweight AND been highly successful at those divisions? You’d be hard-pressed to find two or three. So go ahead, look it up, and place your answers in the comments section below. I urge you.

But because Pacquiao isn’t afraid to test himself, he took on the challenge of moving up two weight divisions from featherweight to welterweight to challenge himself and test his limits. It’s too bad Floyd Mayweather isn’t wired the same way as Pacquiao.

Floyd is such a master at fooling ignorant fans that Floyd is even doing “catchweights” in his drug testing crusade, if you know what I mean.

When Tribune.com.ng asked Floyd about his plans to implement mandatory Olympic style random blood and urine testing, he replied, “Like I said before, let’s do it on an even playing field; that’s what I truly believe. I think that Manny Pacquiao has done a lot in the sport, but he should also stand behind me and say ‘We should clean up the sport because I’m a clean athlete.’ So I’m letting the world know that Floyd Mayweather is a clean athlete, and if you’re the best, step up and take the test.”

Yes, folks, Floyd Mayweather is letting every inhabitant of planet Earth know that he is a clean athlete. The problem is, Floyd is only doing “catchweight” testing – random testing ONLY when he is in training. Floyd’s version of Olympic style random testing isn’t even “the real deal Holyfield” because “the real deal Holyfield” Olympic Style random testing consists of year-round testing. This means the fighter is getting tested randomly during peak and off-peak periods, during season and during the off-season, during training and outside of training. Basically, it’s testing 365-24-7. And Floyd does not do this. So how can he say with a clear conscience that he is truly “cleaning up the sport” for the good of the sport? As far as this writer’s opinion is concerned, Floyd has failed to step up and take THE test.

Meanwhile, Nonito Donaire has signed up for VADA’s proposed year-round random testing as it applies to boxing. Donaire, not Floyd, is the one who is truly cleaning up the sport as far as I’m concerned.

So there you have it. Floyd says he never does catchweights. Turns out he’s “catching” his own dead “weight” without even knowing it.