By Vitali Shaposhnikov: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0-0) is known for a whole list of things and acts he has blessed the media with, but one thing that he does frustrates his fans and the entire boxing world together: his unstoppable craving for vacations.
Lately, after fighting a fight, Mayweather Jr. instantly announces that he needs a break and that he is going to be out for just a tad bit. What is a tad bit? To some it’s a few weeks, to others a few months. To Mayweather Jr. it has been much more than that.
With the amount of hype that Myaweather Jr. has generated due to the drama with his arch nemesis Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2) and vice versa, people are ecstatic to see Floyd back in the game. Since announcing his fight with Victor Ortiz (29-2-2), Floyd has mentioned Pacquiao numerous times, saying that after he takes care of Ortiz, Pacquiao is definitely next in line. Just the idea that this might be happening sooner rather then never, brings people’s blood to a boil with excitement, sending their adrenaline into frenzy.
Try your very best to imagine the following mock news report to be real, and tell us all what you are feeling as you are reading it:
“Since Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s impressive victory over Victor Ortiz on September 17 in Las Vegas, all eyes were on the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1) fight in hopes to see Pacquiao secure his possible bout against Mayweather Jr. As most expected, Pacquiao did just that by sending Marquez to the canvas for the 10-count in the 9 round. Now, after the boxing community has hoped and expected to hear some positive news on the long proposed Mayweatrher Jr. vs. Pacquiao mega-fight, Mayweather Jr. disappoints with yet another vacation statement: ‘Look, I fought and I won. Ortiz was a good fighter, but as always, I showed that there is no blueprint on beating Floyd Mayweather Jr. I am the best, just as I am supposed to be. I don’t need to jump at the opportunity to fight Pacquiao, this fight will always be there. First he needs to deal with agreeing to the blood testing, and then we can make it happen. While he is thinking and looking for someone else to fight to avoid the tests, I will rest and take it easy. I’m not going anywhere, and boxing is not going anywhere without me. If he really wants Floyd Mayweather Jr., he will sign the papers and do the test. That’s all I ask. I am not asking for anything crazy, just a fair fight without anyone at a disadvantage.’ So there you go, Mayweather Jr. is going to give boxing a little rest, and promises to come back whenever Pacquiao is ready to play fair.”
Where would something like that lead? Would Pacquiao agree to anything and everything publicly just to get Mayweather Jr. inside the ring? Would Pacquiao simply ignore the request and look for another fight, possibly Sergio Martinez (47-2-2)?
One thing for sure, it would send many people into an emotional frenzy. The Pacquiao fans would dominate any and all media outlets saying that Mayweather Jr. is obviously afraid (using other more offensive words to express their dislike of course), while the Mayweather Jr. fans will keep saying that all Pacquiao needs to do is agree to the more extensive drug testing.
Should anyone be surprised if this happens? No, I think this is something that most should expect from little Floyd. Would that mean that he no longer plans to face Pacquiao? The answer to this question is also a no. I think that Floyd has always intended in fighting Manny, but wants to wait something out, and fight him at a very particular, not obvious to me, time. Being the magnificent self promoter that Mayweather Jr. is, I almost think that he is planning correctly, and their fight, despite what many people say, is actually gaining momentum rather than losing it at this point in time.
With both men fighting intriguing fights, boxing just got that much more exciting, and their mutual victories should at least boost the hope and the possibility of their fight coming to fruition.