Maidana was aggresisve against Mayweather and could have hurt him seriously if he had been as smart and ferocious as Pacquiao can be. Against Manny, Money might find that the ropes and corners aren’t good places of refuge. AGENCIES PHOTO
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have split an entire universe down the middle, but I have been so conflicted since the declaration that I am thankful I don’t have to put my money where my mouth is unlike, say, 50 Cent, P Diddy, Mark Wahlberg and three billion others from Hollywood to God-knows-wherewood, and everywhere in between.
Like those three billion or so fervent fans I have had to make the pre-fight call; mercifully it is on these lines and not at some bookmaker’s, and so after 12 rounds or less tomorrow morning all anyone can do is question my foresight and not affect my bank balance.
In finally deciding to call for Manny to triumph over Money, I have gone with my head rather than my heart.
You see, unlike multitudes of people outside of black America who can’t stand the sight of ‘brat the braggart’, oddly I have always liked the plainly vain fella who went from calling himself ‘Pretty Boy’ to ‘Money’.
While I would not be caught lying in bed with stacks upon stacks of dollar bills or taking selfies with a fleet of Bugatti Veyrons and private jet in the background (even if I had them), I have learnt not to begrudge one who chooses to if he is self made and has sweated for every penny of it.
Growing up in a world where athletes of his kind have neither the brains nor the time to take charge of their financial futures, Mayweather took a decision unprecedented a decade ago and broke ranks with Bob Arum and Top Rank, literally rebelling against the all-powerful mafia-like establishment that has a firm grip on boxing. The seemingly naïve boy who risked becoming an outcast soon forgotten now virtually owns the sport!
And despite the bravado that has had him compare himself with immortals like Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson, or the contrasting verdict from a great majority that he is just a softie who has made a career of ducking the big fights, running in the ring and concentrating on not getting hit rather than going out to out-hit, I have always had great respect; here is a man who has fought greats like Jesus Chavez, Angel Manfredy, Diego Corrales, Arturo Gatti, Sharmba Mitchell, Zab Judah, Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Sugar Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto and others, and not lost.
There are two major reasons though that I think the time has come for him finally go down, on the canvas or on the scorecards.
The first is to do with styles. Perhaps the best defence in boxing history is going up against one of the best offences ever seen, and if as expected Pacquiao is going to be smarter yet more relentless and ferocious than Marcos Maidana was in Mayweather’s last two fights, he is bound to reach and hurt a face up until now unscathed.
Boxed into a corner (excuse the pun), Mayweather will have to react by either retreating deeper into his defensive shell and continuing to attract a barrage from a fighter who will be more resolute and single-minded than anything he has ever had to contend with, or by opening up to fight back and thus exposing himself to even more unorthodox combinations. There will be nowhere to hide.
Breaking barriers
The second reason is to do with mindsets. While Pacquiao who has had five such setbacks and a couple more draws will have nothing to lose, Maywheather’s unblemished record will play on his mind, and for the first time ever negatively.
What will go through his mind in those moments when Pacquaio’s punches break through the barriers and the crowd explodes, when he guards too much without throwing or holds on too long and the booing starts, the perception being that he is ruining the spectacle or even chickening out? How will he react to gushing blood or a first ever knockdown, a realisation or even fear that he could lose, one never experienced before?
It is easy to picture Pacquiao dusting himself down from any of those situations and coming back even stronger and more determined, but can we say for sure how Mayweather will respond? He himself will not know until it happens.
Of course Mayweather can avoid all that by taking complete control like he has done so often before, and my summations above are dependent on Pacquaio having worked himself into top shape. But if I absolutely had to, my money would be on Manny.
MIND GAMES in PLAY
While Pacquiao, who has had five such setbacks and a couple more draws will have nothing to lose, Maywheather’s unblemished record will play on his mind, and for the first time ever negatively. What will go through his mind in those moments when Pacquaio’s punches break through the barriers and the crowd explodes, when he guards too much without throwing or holds on too long and the booing starts, the perception being that he is ruining the spectacle or even chickening out? How will he react to gushing blood or a first ever knockdown, a realisation or even fear that he could lose, one never experienced before?
mmssali@yahoo.com
@markssali
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