By Vitali Shaposhnikov: Some things just seem impossible. When hearing certain news that should be the opposite of what they appear to be, people raise eyebrows and question marks pop up in their minds. When hearing that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Don King spent some time together in St. Louis this past Saturday, I was a little bit taken back. How is this possible? Why were they mingling together? Is Floyd considering signing with Don King?
Speculations began making their way all over the net, and some made perfect sense. There is something secret going on between those two. It’s so private, that even HBO got denied an interview with Floyd. So what could this mean if it were true?
First of all, it’s imperative to remember that Floyd has always been cocky about the fact that he is his own promoter, and answers to no man. This was made clear over and over in almost all of his public interviews. So why is Don King a possibility now? The only thing that comes to mind is that Floyd wants more money, and is no longer able to market himself they way an experienced promoter could. Maybe his constant postponements with Manny Pacquiao lost him some public interest? That would make perfect sense, as the majority of publications seem to be shedding negative light on Mayweather Jr.
So what could Don King mean for us, and what could he potentially do for Floyd if they ever got together? First of all, all would benefit. Floyd would get a handful of fights to choose from, and his pay would definitely increase. Marketing would also benefit from King, as he is the ultimate master of promoting individuals. Unlike Mayweather who has trouble staying the hot topic of the public eye, King knows how to take fighters out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Floyd could once again become the main topic of most boxing related discussions, with a positive twist to his name.
For us boxing fans, having Don King promote Floyd would mean a lot. The very first thing that comes to mind is Pacquiao. Somehow, I am pretty sure that King would make this fight happen fast. He has the intricate skills and the right choice of words needed to convince Floyd into taking the Pacquiao fight. King also has the right tools to make this fight bigger than any other promoter could. Knowing Don King and his demeanor, this would be blown out of the water with exciting and intriguing statements, and awe inspiring promises.
Beside the proposed mega fight with Manny, I would imagine we would see Floyd more often. King is in the business of making boxing fights happen, and Floyd would be no exception. It seems to me, that Don King is the ‘old school’ promoter, ready to put his fighters inside the ring every few months. Imagine what it would be like, seeing fighters like Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao in the ring three or four times a year. If that were to happen, the sport of boxing would rebound to the way it was years ago, and the fan base would explode in numbers. Floyd seemed happy on the picture with Don King, so I assume their secretive discussion is to Floyd’s liking.