Floyd Mayweather Jr: The fighter some people love to hate

By Michael Vena - 05/17/2014 - Comments

floyd777345By Yannis Mihanos: People love to hate Floyd Mayweather Jr. for some reason. He is the number 1 pound for pound in boxing for some time now, and his record still stands unspoiled at 46-0. He is the richest sportsman alive (anybody out there richer? please let me know…) and apart from boxing, he seems to have it all. Everything that an ordinary person could dream of: expensive cars, planes, spaceships (not yet but maybe soon…), latest and most expensive gadgets, luxury houses, top models, celebrity friends and much more.

Only one thing seems to be missing from his collection: The warm support from the boxing public. For that he is better known as public enemy number 1 in the minds of some angry fans. In other words, the people’s favorite enemy.

For the majority of fans around the world he is seen as the villain. His high profile image is meant to provoke and make others nervous and jealous.

The people despise him not because he is so successful but because he appears often arrogant. People hate that. Just after his last victory over Marcos Maidana on May 3rd, a ton of articles against him surfaced in this website but also other. That happened because he came close to defeat and people loved that. Imagine if he had lost for real…people would have celebrated in the streets!

Lately I have noticed an attempt by Floyd to reverse all this negative climate that surrounds him, and that’s a good sign. He appears more humble and respectful in interviews about his opponents, but every now and then something escapes and brings back the memories and his classic bad image.

It could be some Facebook or Twitter comments or something else. I sense that the enemy role that he has embraced so much and for so long time, has finally begun to bother him a little bit. To describe it even better let’s say that someone throws a boomerang, you know that it will come back, right back at to you, one way or another.

Maybe it’s because he is coming closer to the end of his career (he is 37 with 3 fights left). The older the wiser…

There is also another reason equally important for this sudden change of heart and is no other than his nemesis in boxing: Manny Pacquiao.

The superhero from Philippines has stolen the hearts of the public since long time ago and even his recent setbacks (defeats from Tim Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez) haven’t changed a thing.

That is a pill that Floyd can’t easily swallow and it frustrates him a lot. Knowing that you are number 1 but not feeling recognized as such, it’s indeed tough.

But not all is negative in Mayweather, he is technically more advanced than any other fighter in boxing today. His defensive skills are far superior to any other boxer in the world. He is extremely elusive and likes to stay one step ahead by his opponents.

To my opinion there is a way for Floyd to restore his name in public, it might take a lot of work but it can happen as soon as he starts to do the following in no particular order:

1) Accept fighting Pacquiao right here right now

2) Use money for something with a real purpose



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