By Robert Jackson: News broke this past Monday that the comebacking Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather Jr. was injured during training making it necessary to cancel or postpone his July 18th fight against Mexican Warrior Juan Manuel Marquez.
Some boxing insiders have suggested that this is just a ruse or ploy for ‘Money May’ to get out of the Marquez fight all together and face Pacquiao in November of this year, and that the injury claim is bogus. As of today further information regarding Mayweather’s injury has yet tobe disclosed. Also notable is the fact that the Mayweather/Marquez fighthasn’t been officially rescheduled.
if it is the case that Mayweather now has Pacquiao in his sights rather than Marquez let’s look at the reasons and ramifications.. First off, Marquez loses a reported $4M payday. Reports have it that the interest and anticipation for the Mayweather/Marquez fight was lukewarm at best and that ticket sales were floundering. Cotto’s valiant but lackluster victory over Ghanian Joshua Clottey could also be a negative factor for staging a Pacquiao-Cotto bout. Shane Mosley while trying to land the fight with Pacquiao gave into all of Team Pacquiao’s terms, but alsoprematurely-announced that the fight between himself and Pacquaio was all but a done deal, a false proclamation as we now know, making Shane Mosley seem desperate. This will be the BIGGEST money fight out there for Pacquiao and PBF!
This writer believes that ‘Money May’ was genuinely hurt while training, more accurately while sparring, most rib injuries during training occur when you take shots to the ribs. Having not fought for a year and a half the body loses its fighting toughness, and the hardest thing to get used to physically and mentally after being out of the ring for a while is getting hit again.
If the Mayweather/Marquez fight is bypassed for a more lucrative match-up in November featuring ‘Money May’ and Manny Pacquiao it will have taken more than just Mayweather getting hurt for this to happen. Higher-ups in the boxing hierarchy: those who have a financial stake in this happening will have to co-sign and underwrite this endeavor.
But…if the past is any indictor all of the criticism, naysaying, and disdain will be directed towards the ‘Pretty Boy’ and if this fight does happen the only questions that ‘Money Mayweather’ will need to answer will be answered in the ring in November.