Why I Became A Mayweather Fan

By Andrew Hall – After watching the Pacquiao vs Cotto fight I have become a fan of Money Mayweather. Many of my friends were shocked and dismayed to hear this. You see, I generally favor the puncher. I like watching the fights where there is a sensational knockout. I like to see some blood, I like to see some carnage. Why did I become a Mayweather fan? I have come to realize the guy’s absolute genius in the fight game. I have come to appreciate him for what he is. He does more for the sport of boxing than any puncher ever could. Money Mayweather is an absolute genius and I have 3 reasons why this is so.

There is no doubt that the fight between Cotto and Pacquio was more exciting than any of Floyd’s fights.. However, one can’t deny the dearth of excitement when watching 24/7 Cotto vs Pacquio. It was dry, plain, and almost, dare I say, boring. Why? You had two good guys! Sure, it was fun watching them workout and hearing about the exploits that went on during their camps but something was missing. That something is inherent in any good story. It is the antagonist.! This is a role that Floyd Mayweather plays perfectly. He is not a boring character at all. Nor is he a bad person. Folks just want him licked to satisfy their dislike for his cockiness and braggadocio. Just like Muhammad Ali, people want to see him sprawled on the ring canvas, a battered and defeated man. One must understand, however, that this is done on purpose by Floyd Mayweather. He does it to generate interest in himself and also to create more excitement in boxing. He does the sport a lot of good and we should appreciate him for this. It is good for the sport. It is even good for the opponents he gets in the ring with.

I spent a few years learning the art of amateur boxing. It didn’t take me long to realize that defense is a lot harder to master than offense. Any idiot can get in there and throw punches. It takes a special kind of cool to become proficient in the fine art of elusiveness. It takes patience and the ability to predict the moves of your opponent. It is almost like a game of chess. Floyd Mayweather may look boring but if you watch him closely you will see some truly remarkable things. Firstly, you will see his relaxed state of being in the ring. He uses up very little energy in the ring. Second, you will see his footwork. The guy is a master at being and staying in position and disabling his opponent from doing the same. The third and final thing you will notice is his body position. You will notice that he telegraphs his opponents next move and adjusts himself accordingly. The guy is an utter genius at this. We shouldn’t gloss over these facts. Instead, we should study Mayweather and garner a greater appreciation of his defensive acumen.

Floyd Mayweather is almost as patient in negotiations as he is in the ring. The old saying “everything comes to him who waits” is Mayweathers motto. He seems to be too cool in all his maneuvers. He has an alofness that makes it nearly impossible for his opponents to rattle him (in the ring or out of it). Can Pacquiao possibly get the higher payday if he fights Money May? I highly doubt it. Money is already downplaying a fight with Pacquiao. This, my dear reader, is a brilliant power play. He knows that The Pacman could never make the kind of money he wants unless The Pretty Boy is in the picture. If he fights Mayweather, Pacquiao will probably make over 10 million. Money Mayweather will probably earn around 12 million (this is my guess so please don’t quote me on that). This genius is a great asset to have. It is one that Ray Robinson and Ray Leonard possessed. Money Mayweather is his own man and doesn’t let others dictate the terns of the engagement.

Are we to let such a phenomonan pass us by? Shouldn’t we embrace Floyd while he is here? Shouldn’t we wax eloquent with verbal praise and affirmation of his greatness? Soon he will be gone. I say we should appreciate him while he is here. I want to encourage my readers to take a look at his fights and see the beauty in his defense. See how incredibly adept he is at avoiding punches. Also, learn to appreciate his verbal ramblings. Instead of becoming irate, learn to appreciate what it does for the sport of boxing. Finally, try to appreciate his aloofness in negotiations. Instead of assuming he is afraid of a certain fighter, learn to appreciate the fact that he is most likely letting things slowly build up. If Mayweather defeats Pacquiao I doubt he will retire. Who else could he fight? What about Mosley? He is not ducking Mosley he is letting the idea simmer in our minds until the fight is so in demand that people would reach deep in their pockets to see such a terrific showdown. If he did it now he would probably make only half as much. Imagine