Jason E. (San Francisco, CA): What are your thoughts on Mayweather’s recent Twitter posting of Pacquiao’s losses and ring struggles? I found it to be very low of him to do this and I can’t wait to see them fight after Pacquiao destroys Mosley. What are your thoughts on Mayweather’s actions?
Vivek W. (ESB): To quote Long Beach based rapper Snoop Dogg, he’s “got his mind on the money and the money’s on [his] mind”! Sounds funny in theory, but to break it down gently, this is about building the fight, (money potential), and gettin’ in the mind of the man he’ll have to face when it ultimately happens. Few gave any true credibility to Pacquiao’s admission recently in a conversation with Amir Khan where he said in so many words that he’s not worried about the drug testing because he would never put anything illegal in his body, but when it comes to the “games” Mayweather likes to play he’s “not ready for that, yet”..
When you look at the list of opponents Pacquiao has faced in recent times, despite many being deemed bigger, (which is all physical), how many of them truly challenged him MENTALLY? Cotto, Clottey, Diaz, Hatton, Oscar, and so forth, all simply played their role. Not to be mistaken, they came to win, but how many of them can you truly say presented Pacquiao an element which he COULDN’T control? One can be taught to adjust to an opponents speed or size with good timing and footwork; but how many of those guys truly presented something that Pacquiao had yet to encounter, other than the physical aspect of sheer size?
In Mayweather, not only is an amazing amount of talent present, but to make up for a physical deficit, mentally, he makes it a ‘salt-water’ game, which doesn’t bode well for a ‘freshwater’ fish! He’s playin’ dirty and it’s all mental warfare. Coming into the first Morales showdown, Morales spoke of how he felt disrespected, and many view him to be the last fighter who entered the ring against Pacquiao with absolutely no fear. Look at the fight again…..Pacquiao wasn’t weak from a blood test…..he was simply defeated in a very close fight by a man who had no fear coming in, and in the face of adversity, that man walked through the fire and was determined to put it out! In the end, he did!
I know to some Pacquiao is this larger-than-life superman who has no known Kryptonite, but the truth is, we’re all human. Do really think he takes no offense with Mayweather constantly stealing his thunder? Every time Pacquiao has a fight to be promoted, the same man steals the spotlight and gets people to think “Mayweather”. Floyd’s reasoning is two-fold. 1.) We all know you don’t throw a piece of steak on the grill and look for the best results if you haven’t “tenderized” it first. For some, Mayweather can complete this process in one fight camp….but for someone of Pacquiao’s magnitude, it takes time, and when you’re out of the ring chillaxin’, that’s all you have.
2.) Mayweather knows this mess is gettin’ old with fight fans, but give him some credit…..he also knows if we truly love the sport, the day the fight is signed, every last one of us will be watchin’ if God spares us. Bottom line, while we’re gettin’ tired and gray, Floyd knows this fight is growin’…..and growin’……and growin’! The anticipation will reach epic proportions, so will the paychecks, attendance, and viewership. Many of you think Floyd is just an ignorant big mouth, but the day you learn how to literally talk your way into a $60M payday for 36min of action (or less), let me know, because right now he’s lookin’ smarter than all of us! I damn sure don’t make that much! Guess I’d better keep talkin’!
Andres N. (Houston, TX): What do you make of Erik Morales getting the nod to face Marcos Maidana?
Vivek W. (ESB): I think it’s interesting. Erik Morales is a fighter who I have immense respect for, but the questions for me start with whether or not he has enough left in the tank to face a guy with this youth and power at this stage of his career? In a video segment I produced on youtube a year ago, I touched on the topic of why some have questions about Pacquiao, and the point centered around the fact that when you look at fighters in the sport in recent years who have at or about 50+ fights by age 30, only one has failed to show major decline by age 32, 33.
Some have done enough to remain relevant, but as it relates to remaining steady, and doing it with increased weight, only one man has seen his ability increase with age, somehow overcoming the forces of nature. The wear and tear is simply too much to handle on the physical body. Morales, (like Barrera and others), has seen his better days, and up until March 26th of 2010, the ONLY weight divisions he knew were 130lbs and those located south of it. After an experiment with 147, he’s about to face a very dangerous jr. welterweight at 140, and one who has the power to hurt much bigger men.
Can Morales tap into that skillset we saw years ago to outbox Maidana? Possible, yet very improbable. Can he take the pounding necessary to slow down and withstand the raging bull from Argentina? I think the answer here is even less probability. I wish him well, but even at the ripe age of 34, he’s an old man in the sport. Alex Ariza is now apparently without one former pupil. Perhaps the two can connect and he can also teach Morales the ‘formula’ to overcoming youth and nature.
James H. (West Palm Beach, FL): Do you think Mosley can possibly benefit from being under the radar as Pacquiao and Arum look ahead to a November showdown with either Mayweather or Marquez? I feel they are totally looking ahead and that’s not a good thing?
Vivek W. (ESB): “NO”! I don’t think for a second that Pacquiao will train any less than he did against the last 50+ opponents that he faced. Mosley is a very dangerous opponent and you will see a Pacquiao on par with the best you have ever seen. There’s a lot riding on this victory and all it takes is to take your eyes off the intended target for one split second, and an opportunity in waiting becomes a lost opportunity! Team Pacquiao and Arum knows this quite well. Part of what has made Pacquiao remarkable is the fact that in recent years, he has simply never had a bad night.
It’s literally to the point now where you have to logically wonder if such a thing is even remotely possible. So, no matter how you look at it, I don’t see any possible scenario where we Pacquiao will allow himself to enter the ring anything less what what we’ve seen (in the past). Freddie Roach will make sure of this because he knows, you can prepare a fighter for speed, size, and a lot of other things, but you can’t prepare a fighter for a perfectly timed thunderous punch, hence “Iron” Mike Tyson’s famous “everyone’s got a plan until they get hit” line!
Mayweather lucked up because he got a shot at a Shane Mosley dealing with an out-of-control ex-wife, the mental anguish of a divorce, and a ton of other things. That ordeal isn’t over, but for the most part, Shane has stabilized himself enough to the point where he can focus on the here and now, redemption, and making all the past wrongs of his life right.
Having a chief strategist like Richardson in his corner will be key as well, because no matter how great a trainer is, he can’t be in the ring to think for a fighter, which was Mosley’s issue against Mayweather. As Mosley so aptly identified, Pacquiao “can be hit”! And coming up with a game plan for a man who can be “hit” is far easier than making up one for a man who can’t! Pacquiao will be ready….if Shane is too, we have a helluva fight on our hands, ladies and gents! Stay tuned!
Garvin H. (Long Island, NY): I respect your ability and what you bring to the sport as a writer/personality, but I’ve grown tired of the Pacquiao/Mayweather fiasco and would like to ask why is it that you give attention to it every single week in your mailbag?
Vivek W. (ESB): Like all other things, Garvin, it’s simply a matter of perspective. On my side of the computer, if you will, the sentiment is to address the most pressing topics around the sport. Some weeks it may be a pending fight, others it may be a mishap in the life of one particular fighter that caught headlines, but no matter what the deal is or what the day is, there’s simply never a time when new developments surrounding this topic doesn’t catch headlines within the course of a given week.
When I choose my questions, I take the top 3 to 5 questions, based on overall interest around the sport; or the ones that were asked multiple times, whether they be redundant or not. In this case, I don’t think it has anything to do with some fight fans becoming bored with the topic. I think it has everything to do with a certain contingent being upset at the fact that my position on the topic won’t change. That’s a totally different matter. There isn’t a boxing website on the net that doesn’t take a look at new developments surrounding this topic as they happen. And that’s on a daily basis.
So, finding issue with me addressing new developments on the topic once a week, rather than daily like other websites, tells me that it’s not the topic, it’s the message which many would like to see me change to accommodate their particular liking. At the end of the day, I will continue to address the topics fight fans want to hear about. Please don’t take this wrong, but the next time you (or anyone reading) ask yourself “why is Vivek addressing Mayweather/Pacquiao for the 100th time”, I would urge you to first ask yourself two things: 1.) Is there a new development to discuss? And 2.) Why did you read it the last 99 times and bring this to your attention only AFTER reading it for the 100th time?
If I may answer that question for you……you’re probably reading it because good, bad, or indifferent, there’s a combination between the new developments and my delivery that made you tune in again. As I always say…..life is simple logic! We are the ones who make it difficult. Rawk on, my man! Hope to see you back next week when we break our milestone and go for the 101st time!
(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexemail@yahoo.com, 954-292-7346, Youtube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEKWALLACE747), Skype (VITO-BOXING), and Facebook).