By Babatis Banda: Right from his own mouth, Mayweather will tell you that he is a prize fighter. To the contrary, I have never heard Pacquiao call himself one. Mayweather never minces his words when it comes to his love for money, he loves and flaunts it. But who is really a prize fighter?

In my eyes and own understanding, a prize fighter is a germ of the sport. A prize fighter fights for the highest monetary rewards and accolades. Unlike Pacquiao, Mayweather does not speak through a third party, and neither does he shy away from what he believes. He openly points out that he draws the most crowds and grosses more dollars than any other fighter in the history of the sport.
The art of fighting is motivated by monetary gain.

It is a big lie if any boxer says that he fights for his fans alone. Boxing is a hard and unforgiving sport, the effects of which are usually felt long after the leather is hung and everybody else no longer talk about you. Not so long ago, Pacquiao’s fans boasted that Pacquiao fights for his fans and how he does not care for money. They are now so silent on that issue because it emerged that Pacquiao is as concerned about the money just as any fighter is. One of the reasons Pacquiao has not avenged his loss to Bradley is said to be the inability for Bradley to draw a big fan-base. So, in essence, all fighters are inherently prize fighters, but they carry a different value tag.

The signs of a prize fighter are evident in Floyd Mayweather. Firstly, not only does he draw a huge fan-base, but he is not cheap to put in the squared ring. He does not have to worry fighting two, three or four times a year. If Mayweather junior was not a prized fighter, he was going to be side-lined way back because of his inactivity. Who else can be this inactive, and still have everybody itching to watch him fight and still get the highest pay? Who else can stay popular with the kind of Floyd’s in activity? Even if you don’t like him, you will still talk about him.

This issue is a non-contest, it is well proven that Mayweather junior is the prize fighter of this generation. For decades to come, this young man’s name will continue to enrich the sport. As enraged by these facts as you are, consider this; Why would Floyd walk in there with Pacquiao on an almost equal reward? The difference must show and it has to show because Floyd is a prize fighter.