By Shaun La: In a boxing mega-fight that could reach $300 million dollars in revenue, and with fans on every level ready to spend their hard earned cash for this pay-per-view fight card, it can seem baffling why Floyd Mayweather Jr won’t sign the contract to fight Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd.
Floyd Jr’s stance on taking his time when it comes down to making a decision goes beyond the psychological missiles that boxers will launch at a potential opponent. Bernard Hopkins would wear a mask into the ring with an intent to make his executioner persona become a belief system for his opposition.
Mike Tyson reinvented shock-value for a boxer. Just look at his past attempts of trying to make Lennox Lewis become distracted by his antics at their pre-fight press conference before their fight in June of 2002.
So, the greed is what is important to look at here. We all know that Mayweather can box, owns a defense that is intelligent and that he can take a good punch. We all know that he can promote a bout, willing to wear the bad guy role, and is excited to show us his financially wealthy lifestyle without any shyness.
Then, there is the insight into Pacquiao. We all know that Manny is a giver to his country, politically and financially. He is loyal and respectful to his trainer and team. We all know that Pacquiao throws consistent powerful punches in a rhythm that matches his southpaw stance that shows us quick lateral movements that greet his movements outside of the ring when he shows that he is socially kind to reporters and the media in general.
Publicly, we are all aware that he wants to box Mayweather and that he has accepted demands that he could have labeled unfair. Mayweather is a fellow professional boxer, not a member on the Nevada Athletic Commission, or the president of any championship boxing belt sanctioning body—nor is he Manny’s promoter.
All that Pacquiao has asked from Mayweather was to agree to box by contractually placing his name on a legal document. We have a balance of greed (Floyd Jr.) and compromise (Manny) in a bout that could make history; also, it would allow boxing to get a B-12 shot by boosting up the energy to fans to go watch boxing again; thus telling the masses to give the Sweet Science another chance.
This bout has so many even levels that any boxing fan, sports writer, boxing expert/historian, former boxer, referee, or trainer could unroll reasonable incentives on why either boxer could win by decision from smart boxing or a knockout from an all-out ring war.
The greed of so much money being involved in this bout is a complexity that expounds on human nature and it supports the wall that Floyd Jr. has built that he uses whenever someone presents a question about his lack of signing the contract to meet Manny in the boxing ring. Boxers should make money from their pain, blood and tears. It is a sport where the individual has to depend on instincts, training and the ability of having a strong mind, body and Soul. But greed can shake up any kind of business deal, family or friendship. When you look at Mayweather being able to make over $100 million dollars in one bout, which would be half of his Showtime contractual total of $200 million for six bouts.
If it is not greed disrupting a signature from Mayweather, then it must be some unheard, fictitiously cartoon reason that a new demand should be met by Manny—one that states that Manny should be paid in bubblegum or else there won’t get be a mega-bout.
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