I know man...
But I guess Floyd will make sure we will never know if PW can make Welterweight or not won't he...
Mayweather vs. Mosley-Who Wins?
- Thread starter TJervey
- Start date
I know man...
But I guess Floyd will make sure we will never know if PW can make Welterweight or not won't he...
I know man...
After the Mosley fight, we will see what happens. But Ive already accepted that we wont see that fight. I just dont see PW fighting at WW again.Also, floyd is not a throwback fighter who just wants to fight and beat all the best unfortunately. I just take the mofo for who he is...a great fighter who fail to measure up against the all-time greats because of the resume..unless we get shocked and his finishes his career with something like Mosley-Pacman-Williams- etc
Dude is trying to fight for money (prize fight).. there is no demand to see PWs fight at this point... PM has a serious problem... mofo is all risk-no reward... no real money in the fight PLUS the risk of fighting a long mofo that throws 120 punches for 12 rounds.. I feel sorry for dude..
I feel you...he damn sure is not in a good place. He's tryna get paid to and the only Dude who there really is a demand for him to fight is a Dude who won't generate much cheese!! He just needs to fight Pavlik and get his grind on.
Like I said in a previous thread, Paul Williams gotta generate some buzz man.... he needs to show up at the Mosley-Floyd fight and come in the ring after the fight and just slap the shit out of the winner
Like I said in a previous thread, Paul Williams gotta generate some buzz man.... he needs to show up at the Mosley-Floyd fight and come in the ring after the fight and just slap the shit out of the winner
He don't even have to get in the ring, that niccas arms are so long he could do that from the front row.
shane already popping shit
He don't even have to get in the ring, that niccas arms are so long he could do that from the front row.
I know man...
I don't see how only Floyd Mayweather gets painted with the "ducking Paul Williams" brush. Shane Mosley hasn't fought in over a year and was begging Floyd and Pacquiao for a fight. Andre Berto hadn't fought since June when he beat Juan Urango. Pacquiaio didn't call Paul Williams' phone when he was looking for alternatives. Unlike Floyd Mayweather, Paulie Malignaggi really was a name they were interested in and publicly said so.
No welterweight wants to fight Paul Williams and his time is better spent getting that rematch with Sergio Martinez and fighting Kelly Pavlik.
The term "throwback fighter" is a deceptive term in that it makes it seem like fighters fought for the "glory" of the sport before. Nope. Fighters fought the best money fights they could. With fewer titles and weight classes, it was easier to get top fights made, similar to how MMA is now.
Shane has to win this fight. Boxing needs him to win. If Shane wins and fights Manny that would be insane. Two fighters that you know if put together will deliver an entertaining fight. We all know what to expect from the Shane and PBF fight. I just have my fighers crossed because I really want to see Shane and Manny fight. PBF needs this fight because he has the boxing world convinced that he has not faced a real threat since Chico in 01. Which to me is not true. A threat does not drop weight to meet you in. A threat is you going up in weight to meet that person. To me his only threat was Oscar. PBF did an excellent job in winning that match though. Still, one legitimate threat in a decade isn't cool. PBF can not afford to lose because it will be like he has been exposed for his padded resume. I expect this fight to set of a chain of reaction in the boxing world. It is going to hopefully help the sport.
True...I definitely believe all the 'World' Championship belts, sanctioning bodies, etc. have really messed boxing up for real. That's why fighters Today aren't held with as high regard as some of the old school fighters. A lot of people throw the term 'Lineal' around too, but with the corrupt nature of the sanctioning bodies, rating undeserving fighters due to financial considerations, promotional ties, etc. this term is diluted as well. How the hell does a Baldomir end up being viewed as 'The' champ in a division where is is probably at the time not even in the true top ten of the division. I really which we could go back to the day when there were less sanctioning bodies, less belts, which at this point would force the best to fight the best, and we definitely would have less threads about fighters ducking fighters, etc. It would be a true test of 'You have to beat the man to be considered the man!"...
Pretty Decent Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Article (Didn't see the need to start ANOTHER thread about this)
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=25028
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao: Money Goes Up 2-0
By Cliff Rold
As long as they are today’s standard in the subjective world pound for pound ratings, as long as it is certain a bout between Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO) and Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO) remains the richest possible in boxing, both warriors will remain connected in a fight before the fight.
It doesn’t matter that Pacquiao is locked into his next foe and Mayweather is a pen stroke away from locking in his. Everything is a subplot to the main storyline.
In the main storyline, Mayweather is winning big outside the ring. What should have been a successful fight negotiation fell apart over the question of how to test for performance enhancing drugs (PED) and how random the testing would be.
Distinct camps exist now and still, among fans and the press, which lean strongly on the does-he-or-doesn’t-he scale when it comes to Pacquiao and the PED question. Since the negotiations fell apart, both men have passed urine tests demanded by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Pacquiao’s pass rate on the PED tests administered in professional boxing remains flawless.
However, the negotiations were about blood testing procedures and his ultimate refusal despite efforts to negotiate when testing would be cut off, thus allowing for mitigated randomness, left room for debate.
As noted in a piece titled Round Two Begins on January 12th:
In round one of the fight before whenever they actually, well, fight (and they will someday), Floyd won. There is no substantial evidence that Manny Pacquiao has ever cheated. It doesn’t matter. Performance enhancers, or just PED allegations, are sport’s scarlet letter. In negotiating a fight, Pacquiao’s requests on purse parity, weight, glove size, and even monetary penalties for failure to make weight were granted by Camp Mayweather. The fight died because Pacquiao didn’t want to adhere to the rigorous testing standards Floyd proposed and was even willing to subject himself to. It’s enough to cast doubts in some minds even if there are plenty of historical analogies (The Easy Answer That Isn’t, December 25), discussed previously by this scribe, which say everything Pacquiao has achieved makes perfect sense in the context of time. At the point where Pacquiao felt it necessary to sue for defamation, it’s abundantly clear he and his team feel they’ve been besmirched, that his reputation has been injured by the allegations.
There can be no doubt his reputation continues to be harmed. Prior to the failed negotiations, the only debates which mattered for Pacquiao were whether he was the best fighter of his generation and where he was emerging in comparison to the best of all generations. Now, there is an element unbecoming next to the others. Even if one staunchly believes Pacquiao is clean, or allows room for doubt while leaning to the clean side as this author does, it’s out there.
And it’s out there in an athletic world which often looks more juiced than not.
Pacquiao moved on, away from the best opponent on the table to at least a very good, top-five Welterweight in Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO). While not the event some had hoped for, Clottey is a serious opponent and a serious threat. Placing the contest in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, in front of what should be a massive crowd, gives it at least an event feel.
It was a strong step towards winning round two of the fight before the fight.
While Clottey lost in 2009 to Pacquiao’s last opponent, Miguel Cotto, it was a narrow defeat; plenty felt Clottey had earned the nod. Pacquiao has the sort of opponent who can test him while making the sort of exciting action fight that makes unsubstantiated aspersions evaporate in the heat of sweat, blood, and cheers.
Both fairly and unfairly, Mayweather has been labeled a reluctant warrior in recent years, a fighter who wasn’t seeking the best challenges. Early rumors and chatter had names like Paulie Malignaggi, Nate Campbell, and Kermit Cintron floated as possible opponents.
None would have been perceived to be as real a fight as Pacquiao has with Clottey.
They would easily have become fodder for a counter-argument suggesting that, perhaps out of a fear of losing his undefeated record, Mayweather had used testing to get out of having to face Pacquiao.
Mayweather’s apparent opponent selection for May 1st smacks such thinking in the mouth. Mayweather’s so scared of Pacquiao he chooses to fight WBA Welterweight titlist “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO)?
Yeah, that argument isn’t getting anyone anywhere.
In round one, by being willing to submit himself to the same testing he asked of Pacquiao, and through the decision of Pacquiao and his team to walk away from what some thought would be record money over the issue, Mayweather and his team cast enough doubt on the validity of his chief pound-for-pound rival to sully him.
Now, he has one-upped Pacquiao in terms of opponent while also taking the one fight which could silence any criticism. It’s a moment of personal and professional validation, Mayweather ending up in a fight likely worth less than Pacquiao but every bit as dangerous.
Clottey is good. Mosley, a future Hall of Famer widely perceived as the top of the Welterweight mountain since his devastating early 2009 knockout of Antonio Margarito, is better. It is a fight over a decade in the making, a fight which both men can win or lose without anyone feeling safe in their bets. It came together quickly when the intended January 30th bout between Mosley and Andre Berto fell apart and will carry an air of championship legitimacy.
As the former and last clear lineal champion of the division, one who retired his title rather than lost it, Mayweather’s choice of Mosley gives him the chance to reclaim his crown. Mosley has a chance to solidify his claim as the true king at 147 lbs.
While the contract is not yet official, Mayweather-Mosley appears all but certain. And, to further enhance this frame for Floyd, Mosley has agreed to the advanced PED testing Pacquiao would not. Round two goes to Mayweather 10-8.
How will round three take shape?
The development of that chapter will be all about the fights at hand both in and out of the ring. There will be comparisons of both men’s next performances and the potential for a reshuffling of the pound-for-pound pecking order. If they both win, how they win and how they perform in terms of pay-per-view will all be talking points among fans and negotiating points as they inevitably try again to make “Superfight 2010.” Should either Mayweather or Pacquiao lose, for now if probably not forever, the issue of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao falls to the side.
And it would definitely be worth a solid laugh if May 2nd saw the birth of a Mosley-Clottey debate, both of the sports current megastars pumping their septic tanks for the millions flushed away. Round three would end Rocky II style, both men on the deck, but neither making it to their feet.
As far as subplots go, with two quality fights on tap, fans couldn’t have asked for much better in lieu of the actual showdown they wanted.
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=25028
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao: Money Goes Up 2-0
By Cliff Rold
As long as they are today’s standard in the subjective world pound for pound ratings, as long as it is certain a bout between Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO) and Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO) remains the richest possible in boxing, both warriors will remain connected in a fight before the fight.
It doesn’t matter that Pacquiao is locked into his next foe and Mayweather is a pen stroke away from locking in his. Everything is a subplot to the main storyline.
In the main storyline, Mayweather is winning big outside the ring. What should have been a successful fight negotiation fell apart over the question of how to test for performance enhancing drugs (PED) and how random the testing would be.
Distinct camps exist now and still, among fans and the press, which lean strongly on the does-he-or-doesn’t-he scale when it comes to Pacquiao and the PED question. Since the negotiations fell apart, both men have passed urine tests demanded by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Pacquiao’s pass rate on the PED tests administered in professional boxing remains flawless.
However, the negotiations were about blood testing procedures and his ultimate refusal despite efforts to negotiate when testing would be cut off, thus allowing for mitigated randomness, left room for debate.
As noted in a piece titled Round Two Begins on January 12th:
In round one of the fight before whenever they actually, well, fight (and they will someday), Floyd won. There is no substantial evidence that Manny Pacquiao has ever cheated. It doesn’t matter. Performance enhancers, or just PED allegations, are sport’s scarlet letter. In negotiating a fight, Pacquiao’s requests on purse parity, weight, glove size, and even monetary penalties for failure to make weight were granted by Camp Mayweather. The fight died because Pacquiao didn’t want to adhere to the rigorous testing standards Floyd proposed and was even willing to subject himself to. It’s enough to cast doubts in some minds even if there are plenty of historical analogies (The Easy Answer That Isn’t, December 25), discussed previously by this scribe, which say everything Pacquiao has achieved makes perfect sense in the context of time. At the point where Pacquiao felt it necessary to sue for defamation, it’s abundantly clear he and his team feel they’ve been besmirched, that his reputation has been injured by the allegations.
There can be no doubt his reputation continues to be harmed. Prior to the failed negotiations, the only debates which mattered for Pacquiao were whether he was the best fighter of his generation and where he was emerging in comparison to the best of all generations. Now, there is an element unbecoming next to the others. Even if one staunchly believes Pacquiao is clean, or allows room for doubt while leaning to the clean side as this author does, it’s out there.
And it’s out there in an athletic world which often looks more juiced than not.
Pacquiao moved on, away from the best opponent on the table to at least a very good, top-five Welterweight in Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO). While not the event some had hoped for, Clottey is a serious opponent and a serious threat. Placing the contest in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, in front of what should be a massive crowd, gives it at least an event feel.
It was a strong step towards winning round two of the fight before the fight.
While Clottey lost in 2009 to Pacquiao’s last opponent, Miguel Cotto, it was a narrow defeat; plenty felt Clottey had earned the nod. Pacquiao has the sort of opponent who can test him while making the sort of exciting action fight that makes unsubstantiated aspersions evaporate in the heat of sweat, blood, and cheers.
Both fairly and unfairly, Mayweather has been labeled a reluctant warrior in recent years, a fighter who wasn’t seeking the best challenges. Early rumors and chatter had names like Paulie Malignaggi, Nate Campbell, and Kermit Cintron floated as possible opponents.
None would have been perceived to be as real a fight as Pacquiao has with Clottey.
They would easily have become fodder for a counter-argument suggesting that, perhaps out of a fear of losing his undefeated record, Mayweather had used testing to get out of having to face Pacquiao.
Mayweather’s apparent opponent selection for May 1st smacks such thinking in the mouth. Mayweather’s so scared of Pacquiao he chooses to fight WBA Welterweight titlist “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO)?
Yeah, that argument isn’t getting anyone anywhere.
In round one, by being willing to submit himself to the same testing he asked of Pacquiao, and through the decision of Pacquiao and his team to walk away from what some thought would be record money over the issue, Mayweather and his team cast enough doubt on the validity of his chief pound-for-pound rival to sully him.
Now, he has one-upped Pacquiao in terms of opponent while also taking the one fight which could silence any criticism. It’s a moment of personal and professional validation, Mayweather ending up in a fight likely worth less than Pacquiao but every bit as dangerous.
Clottey is good. Mosley, a future Hall of Famer widely perceived as the top of the Welterweight mountain since his devastating early 2009 knockout of Antonio Margarito, is better. It is a fight over a decade in the making, a fight which both men can win or lose without anyone feeling safe in their bets. It came together quickly when the intended January 30th bout between Mosley and Andre Berto fell apart and will carry an air of championship legitimacy.
As the former and last clear lineal champion of the division, one who retired his title rather than lost it, Mayweather’s choice of Mosley gives him the chance to reclaim his crown. Mosley has a chance to solidify his claim as the true king at 147 lbs.
While the contract is not yet official, Mayweather-Mosley appears all but certain. And, to further enhance this frame for Floyd, Mosley has agreed to the advanced PED testing Pacquiao would not. Round two goes to Mayweather 10-8.
How will round three take shape?
The development of that chapter will be all about the fights at hand both in and out of the ring. There will be comparisons of both men’s next performances and the potential for a reshuffling of the pound-for-pound pecking order. If they both win, how they win and how they perform in terms of pay-per-view will all be talking points among fans and negotiating points as they inevitably try again to make “Superfight 2010.” Should either Mayweather or Pacquiao lose, for now if probably not forever, the issue of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao falls to the side.
And it would definitely be worth a solid laugh if May 2nd saw the birth of a Mosley-Clottey debate, both of the sports current megastars pumping their septic tanks for the millions flushed away. Round three would end Rocky II style, both men on the deck, but neither making it to their feet.
As far as subplots go, with two quality fights on tap, fans couldn’t have asked for much better in lieu of the actual showdown they wanted.
Pretty Decent Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Article (Didn't see the need to start ANOTHER thread about this)
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=25028
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao: Money Goes Up 2-0
By Cliff Rold
As long as they are today’s standard in the subjective world pound for pound ratings, as long as it is certain a bout between Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO) and Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO) remains the richest possible in boxing, both warriors will remain connected in a fight before the fight.
It doesn’t matter that Pacquiao is locked into his next foe and Mayweather is a pen stroke away from locking in his. Everything is a subplot to the main storyline.
In the main storyline, Mayweather is winning big outside the ring. What should have been a successful fight negotiation fell apart over the question of how to test for performance enhancing drugs (PED) and how random the testing would be.
Distinct camps exist now and still, among fans and the press, which lean strongly on the does-he-or-doesn’t-he scale when it comes to Pacquiao and the PED question. Since the negotiations fell apart, both men have passed urine tests demanded by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Pacquiao’s pass rate on the PED tests administered in professional boxing remains flawless.
However, the negotiations were about blood testing procedures and his ultimate refusal despite efforts to negotiate when testing would be cut off, thus allowing for mitigated randomness, left room for debate.
As noted in a piece titled Round Two Begins on January 12th:
In round one of the fight before whenever they actually, well, fight (and they will someday), Floyd won. There is no substantial evidence that Manny Pacquiao has ever cheated. It doesn’t matter. Performance enhancers, or just PED allegations, are sport’s scarlet letter. In negotiating a fight, Pacquiao’s requests on purse parity, weight, glove size, and even monetary penalties for failure to make weight were granted by Camp Mayweather. The fight died because Pacquiao didn’t want to adhere to the rigorous testing standards Floyd proposed and was even willing to subject himself to. It’s enough to cast doubts in some minds even if there are plenty of historical analogies (The Easy Answer That Isn’t, December 25), discussed previously by this scribe, which say everything Pacquiao has achieved makes perfect sense in the context of time. At the point where Pacquiao felt it necessary to sue for defamation, it’s abundantly clear he and his team feel they’ve been besmirched, that his reputation has been injured by the allegations.
There can be no doubt his reputation continues to be harmed. Prior to the failed negotiations, the only debates which mattered for Pacquiao were whether he was the best fighter of his generation and where he was emerging in comparison to the best of all generations. Now, there is an element unbecoming next to the others. Even if one staunchly believes Pacquiao is clean, or allows room for doubt while leaning to the clean side as this author does, it’s out there.
And it’s out there in an athletic world which often looks more juiced than not.
Pacquiao moved on, away from the best opponent on the table to at least a very good, top-five Welterweight in Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO). While not the event some had hoped for, Clottey is a serious opponent and a serious threat. Placing the contest in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, in front of what should be a massive crowd, gives it at least an event feel.
It was a strong step towards winning round two of the fight before the fight.
While Clottey lost in 2009 to Pacquiao’s last opponent, Miguel Cotto, it was a narrow defeat; plenty felt Clottey had earned the nod. Pacquiao has the sort of opponent who can test him while making the sort of exciting action fight that makes unsubstantiated aspersions evaporate in the heat of sweat, blood, and cheers.
Both fairly and unfairly, Mayweather has been labeled a reluctant warrior in recent years, a fighter who wasn’t seeking the best challenges. Early rumors and chatter had names like Paulie Malignaggi, Nate Campbell, and Kermit Cintron floated as possible opponents.
None would have been perceived to be as real a fight as Pacquiao has with Clottey.
They would easily have become fodder for a counter-argument suggesting that, perhaps out of a fear of losing his undefeated record, Mayweather had used testing to get out of having to face Pacquiao.
Mayweather’s apparent opponent selection for May 1st smacks such thinking in the mouth. Mayweather’s so scared of Pacquiao he chooses to fight WBA Welterweight titlist “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO)?
Yeah, that argument isn’t getting anyone anywhere.
In round one, by being willing to submit himself to the same testing he asked of Pacquiao, and through the decision of Pacquiao and his team to walk away from what some thought would be record money over the issue, Mayweather and his team cast enough doubt on the validity of his chief pound-for-pound rival to sully him.
Now, he has one-upped Pacquiao in terms of opponent while also taking the one fight which could silence any criticism. It’s a moment of personal and professional validation, Mayweather ending up in a fight likely worth less than Pacquiao but every bit as dangerous.
Clottey is good. Mosley, a future Hall of Famer widely perceived as the top of the Welterweight mountain since his devastating early 2009 knockout of Antonio Margarito, is better. It is a fight over a decade in the making, a fight which both men can win or lose without anyone feeling safe in their bets. It came together quickly when the intended January 30th bout between Mosley and Andre Berto fell apart and will carry an air of championship legitimacy.
As the former and last clear lineal champion of the division, one who retired his title rather than lost it, Mayweather’s choice of Mosley gives him the chance to reclaim his crown. Mosley has a chance to solidify his claim as the true king at 147 lbs.
While the contract is not yet official, Mayweather-Mosley appears all but certain. And, to further enhance this frame for Floyd, Mosley has agreed to the advanced PED testing Pacquiao would not. Round two goes to Mayweather 10-8.
How will round three take shape?
The development of that chapter will be all about the fights at hand both in and out of the ring. There will be comparisons of both men’s next performances and the potential for a reshuffling of the pound-for-pound pecking order. If they both win, how they win and how they perform in terms of pay-per-view will all be talking points among fans and negotiating points as they inevitably try again to make “Superfight 2010.” Should either Mayweather or Pacquiao lose, for now if probably not forever, the issue of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao falls to the side.
And it would definitely be worth a solid laugh if May 2nd saw the birth of a Mosley-Clottey debate, both of the sports current megastars pumping their septic tanks for the millions flushed away. Round three would end Rocky II style, both men on the deck, but neither making it to their feet.
As far as subplots go, with two quality fights on tap, fans couldn’t have asked for much better in lieu of the actual showdown they wanted.
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=25028
Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao: Money Goes Up 2-0
By Cliff Rold
As long as they are today’s standard in the subjective world pound for pound ratings, as long as it is certain a bout between Floyd Mayweather (40-0, 25 KO) and Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO) remains the richest possible in boxing, both warriors will remain connected in a fight before the fight.
It doesn’t matter that Pacquiao is locked into his next foe and Mayweather is a pen stroke away from locking in his. Everything is a subplot to the main storyline.
In the main storyline, Mayweather is winning big outside the ring. What should have been a successful fight negotiation fell apart over the question of how to test for performance enhancing drugs (PED) and how random the testing would be.
Distinct camps exist now and still, among fans and the press, which lean strongly on the does-he-or-doesn’t-he scale when it comes to Pacquiao and the PED question. Since the negotiations fell apart, both men have passed urine tests demanded by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Pacquiao’s pass rate on the PED tests administered in professional boxing remains flawless.
However, the negotiations were about blood testing procedures and his ultimate refusal despite efforts to negotiate when testing would be cut off, thus allowing for mitigated randomness, left room for debate.
As noted in a piece titled Round Two Begins on January 12th:
In round one of the fight before whenever they actually, well, fight (and they will someday), Floyd won. There is no substantial evidence that Manny Pacquiao has ever cheated. It doesn’t matter. Performance enhancers, or just PED allegations, are sport’s scarlet letter. In negotiating a fight, Pacquiao’s requests on purse parity, weight, glove size, and even monetary penalties for failure to make weight were granted by Camp Mayweather. The fight died because Pacquiao didn’t want to adhere to the rigorous testing standards Floyd proposed and was even willing to subject himself to. It’s enough to cast doubts in some minds even if there are plenty of historical analogies (The Easy Answer That Isn’t, December 25), discussed previously by this scribe, which say everything Pacquiao has achieved makes perfect sense in the context of time. At the point where Pacquiao felt it necessary to sue for defamation, it’s abundantly clear he and his team feel they’ve been besmirched, that his reputation has been injured by the allegations.
There can be no doubt his reputation continues to be harmed. Prior to the failed negotiations, the only debates which mattered for Pacquiao were whether he was the best fighter of his generation and where he was emerging in comparison to the best of all generations. Now, there is an element unbecoming next to the others. Even if one staunchly believes Pacquiao is clean, or allows room for doubt while leaning to the clean side as this author does, it’s out there.
And it’s out there in an athletic world which often looks more juiced than not.
Pacquiao moved on, away from the best opponent on the table to at least a very good, top-five Welterweight in Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO). While not the event some had hoped for, Clottey is a serious opponent and a serious threat. Placing the contest in the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, in front of what should be a massive crowd, gives it at least an event feel.
It was a strong step towards winning round two of the fight before the fight.
While Clottey lost in 2009 to Pacquiao’s last opponent, Miguel Cotto, it was a narrow defeat; plenty felt Clottey had earned the nod. Pacquiao has the sort of opponent who can test him while making the sort of exciting action fight that makes unsubstantiated aspersions evaporate in the heat of sweat, blood, and cheers.
Both fairly and unfairly, Mayweather has been labeled a reluctant warrior in recent years, a fighter who wasn’t seeking the best challenges. Early rumors and chatter had names like Paulie Malignaggi, Nate Campbell, and Kermit Cintron floated as possible opponents.
None would have been perceived to be as real a fight as Pacquiao has with Clottey.
They would easily have become fodder for a counter-argument suggesting that, perhaps out of a fear of losing his undefeated record, Mayweather had used testing to get out of having to face Pacquiao.
Mayweather’s apparent opponent selection for May 1st smacks such thinking in the mouth. Mayweather’s so scared of Pacquiao he chooses to fight WBA Welterweight titlist “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO)?
Yeah, that argument isn’t getting anyone anywhere.
In round one, by being willing to submit himself to the same testing he asked of Pacquiao, and through the decision of Pacquiao and his team to walk away from what some thought would be record money over the issue, Mayweather and his team cast enough doubt on the validity of his chief pound-for-pound rival to sully him.
Now, he has one-upped Pacquiao in terms of opponent while also taking the one fight which could silence any criticism. It’s a moment of personal and professional validation, Mayweather ending up in a fight likely worth less than Pacquiao but every bit as dangerous.
Clottey is good. Mosley, a future Hall of Famer widely perceived as the top of the Welterweight mountain since his devastating early 2009 knockout of Antonio Margarito, is better. It is a fight over a decade in the making, a fight which both men can win or lose without anyone feeling safe in their bets. It came together quickly when the intended January 30th bout between Mosley and Andre Berto fell apart and will carry an air of championship legitimacy.
As the former and last clear lineal champion of the division, one who retired his title rather than lost it, Mayweather’s choice of Mosley gives him the chance to reclaim his crown. Mosley has a chance to solidify his claim as the true king at 147 lbs.
While the contract is not yet official, Mayweather-Mosley appears all but certain. And, to further enhance this frame for Floyd, Mosley has agreed to the advanced PED testing Pacquiao would not. Round two goes to Mayweather 10-8.
How will round three take shape?
The development of that chapter will be all about the fights at hand both in and out of the ring. There will be comparisons of both men’s next performances and the potential for a reshuffling of the pound-for-pound pecking order. If they both win, how they win and how they perform in terms of pay-per-view will all be talking points among fans and negotiating points as they inevitably try again to make “Superfight 2010.” Should either Mayweather or Pacquiao lose, for now if probably not forever, the issue of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao falls to the side.
And it would definitely be worth a solid laugh if May 2nd saw the birth of a Mosley-Clottey debate, both of the sports current megastars pumping their septic tanks for the millions flushed away. Round three would end Rocky II style, both men on the deck, but neither making it to their feet.
As far as subplots go, with two quality fights on tap, fans couldn’t have asked for much better in lieu of the actual showdown they wanted.
Thanks TJ for NOT starting another thread. Good read and I agree with the premise that Floyd, with picking Shane Mosley as his opponent, has beaten Manny twice in public relations game.
This type of thinking is another detriment to boxing. Now fighters are less willing to fight challenging but financially less rewarding fights because a single loss can cost you millions in subsequent fights. Malignaggi said it in his loss to Juan Diaz "He gets to challenge Mayweather and Marquez, while I get to be someone else's "opponent"". In MMA, it's more the quality of the fighter and his fights that help determine whether he gets title shots or high profile fights.
Paul Williams wins a tough fight against a top jr. middleweight and he's "exposed". A Mayweather loss to Shane Mosley (truly the top guy at welter, fuck any rating that says different) and he's "exposed". How about guys lose. Ray Robinsone lost. Ray Leonard lost. Thomas Hearns lost the two biggest fights of his career. Ali lost to guys who make no one's all time lists. I'm not saying guys don't get exposed, Luis Collazo virtually pulled Ricky Hatton's pants down and turned a spotlight on him. But loss by a top fighter to another one is a different matter.
I got Floyd by a split but I expect Shane to catch him and get a 10-8 round early.
the only thing that are a detriment to the sport are the fans that can't accept people having different viewpoints and fighters that don't fight the best when they should. the sport is only as good as the matches put on.
On a side note Shane agreeing to the testing is his own choice. GBP wouldn't do the testwhen Shane was going to fight Zab, but now that he is fighting another GBP fighter he is going to. That is convenient, lol. But at the end of the day, Shane is a fighter that used PEDs. So he doesn't have a leg to stand on in this agrument.
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Exactly...plus Shane realizes his window of opportunity is closing and he has to accept certain concessions to get the career defining fight. The cool thing is, if this fight is any good, it will elevate both Shane and PBF. Contrary to popular belief, PBF needs Shane almost as much as Shane needs him. It may not take away the bad taste the last five years of PBF's career has left in a lot of boxing fans mouths, but, it will at least provide an argument to offset the negativity. More power to Floyd, but I am concerned that this fight means more to Shane than Floyd, and I think that extra motivation and drive will cause him to fight on a different level. For anyone who believes Floyd is going to just lay back and pot shot Shane all night, I believe they have a real wake up call coming...
"There can be no doubt his reputation continues to be harmed. Prior to the failed negotiations, the only debates which mattered for Pacquiao were whether he was the best fighter of his generation and where he was emerging in comparison to the best of all generations. Now, there is an element unbecoming next to the others. Even if one staunchly believes Pacquiao is clean, or allows room for doubt while leaning to the clean side as this author does, it’s out there."
I believe it is this paragraph right here that adds validity to Manny's lawsuit and will ultimately lead to either a large out of court settlement or an in court victory. Even though there is reasonable doubt about Manny's cleanness, without any valid evidence to support the contention, PBF camp will ultimately be held responsible for slander, which in the court of law is painted with broad brush.
I believe it is this paragraph right here that adds validity to Manny's lawsuit and will ultimately lead to either a large out of court settlement or an in court victory. Even though there is reasonable doubt about Manny's cleanness, without any valid evidence to support the contention, PBF camp will ultimately be held responsible for slander, which in the court of law is painted with broad brush.
I think there will be a settlement simply because it's almost always cheaper to settle than to fight. Pacquiao probably has little interest in this dragging out anymore than Mayweather.
If you don't understand what I've said or don't have a sound counter argument, move on. As I said, thinking like yours is why fighters don't always fight the best available fight, especially if there's a better/more high profile payday waiting.
As for accepting people having different viewpoints, grow up. Accepting a different viewpoint and agreeing are two things. I accept all viewpoints but if I don't agree, I'll say so and tell you why.
That's the writers viewpoint, and I agree with certain things he says. But as far as Manny picking Clottey, he did so BEFORE we found out that Mosley and Berto was off. We can't say oh Shane was there to be chosen as an opponent and Manny passed him up for Clottey, as Floyd has done shit like that in the past. Secondly, I don't believe for one second that Floyd CHOSE this fight. This fight has basically been shoved on him. Floyd was all set to fight Manny even though Shane had been loudly calling him out and even stepped in the ring and "stole his shine" after beating Marquez. It wasn't until negotiations with Manny fell apart and Berto pulled out of the fight with Shane that the door was open for the MAyweather/Mosley fight to be made. With a myriad of fans and writers basically breathing down Floyds neck talking about his propensity for not taking the big challenges and avoiding certain fighters, and that talk continuing to grow very loud, you guys tell me, what choice did Floyd have? Fight Paul Williams? Take on ANOTHER b-list fighter like Nate Campbell? Nope. Floyd had really no choice but to take this fight, it was also the biggest fight that could be made for Floyd moneywise aside from Pacquiao. And as for Shane agreeing to the PED test being a victory for Floyd? Please. GTFOH. Shane is so hard up for a big money fight he'd have worn pink in the ring if Floyd requested it. I agree with the shit the writer is talking about Manny but dude sounds like a straight Mayweather fan. The only way Floyd ends up smelling like roses in this situation is if he either beats the shit out of or embarasses Mosley, and Pac somehow loses or looks bad against Clottey. Truthfully if Molsey/MAyweather reminds fans of the first Castillo fight, it won't end well for Floyd in the media. Though I believe the judges will find a way to crown Floyd the winner no matter how close this fight is so a Pac/May fight can be made though. Too much paper involved. Close fight, Mosley will get the short end of the stick.
I didn't forget about the weight issues we were discussing earlier I'm actually waiting on microsoft office to download so I can post my response to that.
The only thing I want to say about this is that niggas forget that early on when Manny was acting suspect about the testing, Floyd's team came out and said Mosley was next if the shit fell through. There was no reason for Floyd to do that shit at the point and from what I've seen that was the only alternative that was mentioned by Floyd's team. Nigga are now acting like Floyd pulled this shit out his ass because he was forced into it at the last second.
I didn't forget about the weight issues we were discussing earlier I'm actually waiting on microsoft office to download so I can post my response to that.
The only thing I want to say about this is that niggas forget that early on when Manny was acting suspect about the testing, Floyd's team came out and said Mosley was next if the shit fell through. There was no reason for Floyd to do that shit at the point and from what I've seen that was the only alternative that was mentioned by Floyd's team. Nigga are now acting like Floyd pulled this shit out his ass because he was forced into it at the last second.
All these belts/bodies fuck shit up, but I get your point.
The Paul Williams thing is a little different because Williams almost seemed invincible and what got exposed was his weakness. It wasn't that Martinez was just the better fighter who had the better night... Martinez was able to get his shit off the same way over and over again and Williams had no counter or plan b.
All real shit if boxing worked like it should. There would be one welter and fighters would have to work there way up to fight. Imagine if Paul Williams was the welter weight champion and he could not pick and choose the challengers, and the sanctioning bodies didn't pick bullshit contenders. Floyd/Manny/Shane/Berto/Cotto/Clottey could have fight each other if they wanted but to be champ they had to fight a real champion. Also Williams would have to run through a gauntlet before he could claim to be the best.
Absolutely, that's why the days of Hearns/Hagler, Hearns/Leonard, Leonard/Hagler, Duran, etc. are long gone. It really speaks to the sad state of boxing when there are so few competitive fights at the top levels, and the Mayweather/Mosley fight, which would be an exceptional fight in any generation don't get me wrong, is the exception rather than the rule. And to speak to Dave's point about a fighter losing but not necessarily being 'exposed', I don't believe for the most part when a fighter loses he has been exposed, but basically styles make fights. Contrary to popular belief, there is a fighter out there with the perfect style to beat Floyd, Manny, etc. it's just that at this point, with all of the political BS, those fighters are avoided by their contemporaries, you have Trainers like Emmanuel Steward talking after a tough loss by a fighter about 'this was a bad fight for him, if I was his trainer I would have avoided this fight'?!?!? Why!!! He said it after Shane lost to Forrest and Wright, after Oscar loss to Manny...I mean damn, let the fighters fight.
At any rate, I believe this fight will go a long way in accenting Floyds legacy. Some may say he waited until Shane got 'old' to fight him, etc. but I sincerely don't believe this. Good Fight, if it goes to the cards it will be a difficult fight to score because Floyd has a low punch volume but is mad accurate, Shane throws a lot of wild punches but is more active. It is a pick em' fight if you ask me...
I never heard Floyd's team mention anything about Mosley. Not saying your lying, it's just the only name team Mayweather threw out there themselves if I remember correctly is Nate Campbell. I don't remember them even mentioning Mosley as an opponent after Shane crashed Floyds party after the Marquez fight. Floyd was on some old "we'll talk" shit and then next thing he was negotiating with Manny. And I don't blame Floyd for that shit falling apart. Anyway, Floyd had a date set for March 13th. Mosley was already assumed to be fighting on Jan. 30th throughout the whole negotiation between Pac and May, so how could Floyds team actually think that after just fighting on Jan 30th that Shane would be ready to fight on Floyd's date of March 13th? I still maintain that Floyd had this fight shoved in his face.
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=23586
My bad this I think this was even before the drug testing came up. I think the idea was that Floyd would just wait on Shane.
Nate Campbell's name came up out of nowhere and I still don't know the source on that.
I'm not sure but I think Richard Schaefer mentioned that name when he was negotiating on Floyd's behalf against Manny.
With Williams, it's the same weakness most of us knew he had before the Martinez fight. I definitely remember myself and merce (maybe some others but I'm going with what I can recall right now) saying Martinez would be tough because he's a defensive counterpuncher and Williams showed from the first Quintana fight that he's vulnerable to those types of fighters. And Williams did make adjustments but, to Martinez credit, so did Sergio, that's what made the fight great. Williams couldn't rely simply on his physical gifts and had to use more strategy.
I'm not sure how Nate Campbell's name came up. I tried looking for the earliest reference and I still couldn't nail down where this rumor started.
I called it before the fight too. Martinez is mad underrated...his record should be even better because he had a fight stolen from him...
I knew we're weren't the only ones but I couldn't remember everyone.
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