Reginald W. (Los Angeles, CA): I saw your latest video about the Mayweather/Pacquiao controversies and must admit, it left a lot to consider. I’ve heard you play both sides, but I want you to just say it. What do you think is really going on?
Vivek W. (ESB): I make a very concerted effort to be neutral at all times, so the process of leaning to one particular side for me can only be supported by hardcore, non-circumstantial facts. At this point, my position is very clear. Look at the events of the last few weeks, follow that trail, and suddenly you read it like braille. Think about it…..It went from “any test, any where, anytime”, to “no test within 6 weeks of the fight”, to “no test at all during the fight camp”. From that sporadic point, it evolved to “USADA can’t be used for the testing because Pacquiao doesn’t trust them”, to now that we’ve agreed on NSAC, “let them decide if there should be blood testing involved”.. For Team Mayweather to concede the USADA option and actually allow Team Pacquiao to choose who administers the test, (as long as they’re random), and still not get the “green-light” can only lead most of us down one path. Arum has said that NSAC can decide on January 19th when they have their meeting if blood test are necessary. Well, considering that the fight is March 13th, and the fact that the fight camps would both have started approximately two weeks prior to January 19th, the logical conclusion is that the blood test request would be denied for the simple fact that it would then require the agreed upon 5 random test to take place within approximately 5 weeks, meaning the last one would have to happen the week of the fight, which Team Pacquiao has already said they won’t allow. So that proposition is even more questionable, despite the attempt to make it appear to be a genuine answer for the problem.
All roads at this point seem to paint the picture that something here isn’t clean. Either the man, or his alibi; but clearly, something isn’t clean. I’m beginning to believe another theory, personally. I haven’t heard this yet, so allow me to be the first to throw it out there. I don’t want to think that Pacquiao is juicing, so consider this. Many have spoken of Mayweather’s potential plot to “get out of the fight”, but no one seems to remember Freddie Roach saying after the Cotto fight that he would “need longer than a proposed March date to get Pacquiao ready for a style like Mayweather”. (I know because he said it to me and three other reporters in the media room directly). It’s clear that one of two senario’s are at play. Either (A), Pacquiao is in fact doping and afraid of what those randomized blood test can result in; or (B), it has been deemed by Team Pacquiao after further review that it’s probably too soon to put him in the ring with Mayweather after such a brutal fight with Cotto that left him with a ruptured ear drum. There’s no other excuse for the inconsistent answers we’ve seen lately. Bob Arum and Team Pacquiao went from suing a man who they feel made allegations, to setting up a fight with a man who made the allegation first (Malignaggi), all within a matter of hours. So, clearly, it can only be one of those two things when you consider the fact that no Team Mayweather concession has reached the ever-moving bar set by Team Pacquiao and Bob Arum. In either case, neither are good for the man or the sport, and now, both the man and the sport are left with major questions and major holes to fill.
Chris P. (London, UK): A fight of this magnitude (Mayweather/Pacquiao) requires a huge promotion and a March date simply doesn’t give us that type of time. Do you think the timeline has to do with these type of tactics we’ve seen lately – in the sense that it helps promote the fight?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think we’ve all considered that as a possibility, but the reality here is that Pacquiao’s name is attached to that “promotion” in more ways than one, and I really don’t think that anyone would stoop to that level where you have a mans accomplishments and complete legacy being questioned. I think it would make perfect sense, because without question, March is right around the corner. That being said, I just refuse to believe that things could ever be reduced to this heightened level of attacks, even if it is to promote the biggest fight in the history of the sport. I could be wrong, but I guess we’ll never know.
Alfred M. (Houston, TX): Timothy Bradley has come out and asked to face either Mayweather or Bradley. Do you think – providing he got that chance – that he has a shot to win either fight?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think Bradley is a great fighter, and one clearly on the rise, but that being said, I really don’t think he’s on that level just yet. Mayweather’s defense would befuddle him, and he even went on record about the issues he would have with such a style a while back. Pacquiao would be a closer fight because he stands in the pocket and fights, but the operative question there is “how long would Bradley be able to handle that type of power”? I’d rather see Pacquiao/Bradley if I had a choice between the two fights. At this point in his career, I just think that he would have no answer for the ring mastery of Floyd. I don’t think he beats either man, but Pacquiao would be a more entertaining fight, and one that he would actually have a chance in if he could avoid the KO.
Jason C. (Brooklyn, NYC): How do you think a fight with Malignaggi and Pacquiao would actually play out? Do you give Malignaggi a chance?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think Malignaggi definitely has a chance. A fight against Malignaggi plays into the theory in the first question that I answered in the mailbag today, for the fact that it would allow Pacquiao to get experience against a man who is slippery as well. That would be very valuable experience coming before stepping in with Mayweather and that’s what Roach has already said he felt his man needs. It won’t be a cakewalk though. I said before and I’ll repeat….If Malignaggi had an ounce of power he could rule the division without question. Maybe even the sport. He has a better than average chin, but he can’t inflict half the pain on his opponents that he can take. Against a man like Pacquiao, if you can’t hurt him, eventually, his pressure and power, mixed with speed could allow him to walk you down. So, I think it would be an entertaining fight. Who wins? I like Pacquiao if it gets stopped early, but if it goes to the cards, I actually think Malignaggi has a chance. Better than most may think.
Robert C. (Northridge, CA): I hear that Martinez/Pavlik has been discussed. How do you see that fight playing out?
Vivek (ESB): I would love to see that fight. To be honest, I think Pavlik would have his work cut out for him. Martinez is not only slippery, but he’s a southpaw, and he’s also very durable, with the power to rock an opponent, too. I think that would be a helluva fight, and although I’d much rather see Williams get that shot first, (because we’ve heard about it for so long), I wouldn’t be disappointed about this fight at all. How do I see it playing out? I don’t know. I like Pavlik’s experience, but he simply isn’t the same guy in my mind. I could be wrong, but I really see him a little differently. One thing that Hopkins taught us about Pavlik is that he isn’t the same guy when he can’t engage on his target. Well, a slippery southpaw? That would be the equivalence of walking up ice….you’re bound to slip if you can’t catch a grip! I really think Martinez ecks out a points win there, based on the fact that Pavlik won’t hurt him, and he has the workrate and conditioning to remain competitive over 12. It would be great to watch. Would be a good one!
(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexemail@yahoo.com, 954-292-7346, YouTube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), Facebook, and Myspace).