Mayweather’s formula of success: Grace under pressure

“If I’m scared and I’m a coward, why do you guys want to see me fight?” Floyd Mayweather Jr.

By Alex P. Vidal

IT’S not a walk in the park for any prizefighter to accumulate an intimidating 47-0 ring ledger.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s record is two wins shy of equaling heavyweight phenom Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 world record, or three wins away from eclipsing it.

Never mind the “low” 55.32 KO percentage.

He is undefeated, period.

And Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. is the richest professional athlete in the world.

Mayweather, 38, goes to war, the most important and the biggest in his fistic career that began on October 11, 1996 with a two-round disposal over Roberto Apodaca, against the only man in the planet to win eight world crowns in eight divisions, Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs), on May 2 in the gambling capital of the world.

Known for his scientific stance and style, Mayweather is considered by ring experts as “unhittable” or difficult to hit.

Most of his KO victims capitulated in later rounds after wasting away so much energy and efforts trying to at least remove a speck of dust on his noggin.

HELL

Only Shane Mosley, Oscar De La Hoya, Saul Alvarez and Marcus Rene Maidana were able to give him hellish moments in the ring.

A bronze medalist in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Mayweather Jr. has destroyed all the marquee names in the sport on his way to be billed as the best boxer pound-for-pound.

Probably the best defensive fighter in the world today, Mayweather is also known as a “relaxed and calm” gladiator.

“Floyd Jr. doesn’t panic. I have trained him to focus on his every fight, to have grace under pressure and solve one problem after another in every round. I think that is his formula of success,” Floyd Sr. told this writer during a one-on-one conversation at the MGM Grand’s media center three years ago.

Floyd Sr., 63, himself a former world title contender, invented Mayweather’s much-vaunted shoulder rolling defense, which has become his performance trademark.

“I haven’t seen a fighter in this generation who can outwit Floyd Jr. My son fights clean and finishes off his opponents with clean shots. His timing is always perfect,” added Floyd Sr., who retired on November 3, 1990 after absorbing a 10-round decision loss to Robert Turner where he was deducted with two points for excessive holding a rabbit-punching.

FATHER

The father Mayweather had a 28-6-1 (17 KOs) record.

His greatness as a potential world champion was blasted into smithereens when he was TKO’d in the 10^th by Sugar Ray Leonard on September 9, 1978 in Rhode Island, USA.

He is the only Mayweather who hasn’t pocketed a world crown.

His younger brother, Roger, 53, once held the WBA super featherweight and WBC super lightweight titles and retired on May 8, 1999 by trouncing on points Javier Francisco Mendez.

Roger, who nearly risked his crown against Rolando “The Bad Boy from Dadiangas” Navarette in late 80’s (if Navarette did not lose by KO to Ramon Marchena in Mexico), had a record of 59-13 (35 KOs).

Team Mayweather doesn’t consider Pacquiao, 36, as a threat to Floyd Jr.’s unbeaten record.

Mocking the Filipino congressman’s “recklessness” as the reason for his KO loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012, Floyd Jr. foresees his “sure” victory in the colossal joint HBO and Showtime pay-per-view promotion that is expected to shatter all records in combat sports and earn a potential revenue of $400 million.

Retirement may be far from the radar of both titans. Mayweather, who will go home with $120 million, is gunning to equal if not eclipse Marciano’s record, while Pacquiao, who will get at least $80 million, has contractual obligations to Bob Arum’s Top Rank until 2016.   

Let’s not be fooled; no Mayweather vs Pacquiao duel on May 2

“Everything is negotiable. Whether or not the negotiation is easy is another thing.” Carrie Fisher

By Alex P. Vidal

UNCLE Bob Arum always has the final say.

Not Floyd Mayweather Jr. 

Not even Manny Pacquiao.

Let’s not be fooled to swallow hook, line and sinker that Mayweather will finally swap leathers versus Pacquiao on May 2, 2015.

The fight isn’t going to happen yet—not until Uncle Bob sings.

What Mayweather said was that he wanted the fight with the Filipino congressman to happen on May 2; he did not say that they have already inked the contract.

Announcement is different from contract signing.

The Mayweather vs Pacquiao duel will only materialize next year if Uncle Bob, the wily Harvard-educated promoter behind Paquiao’s astonishing stardom in boxing, is part of it.

Uncle Bob’s Top Rank holds the contract of Pacquiao’s professional career in prizefighting which is still binding until 2015.

Pacquiao has the imprimatur to fight anybody on this planet, including Incredible Hulk and Godzilla, at Top Rank’s behest.

Even Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotion could not unilaterally make the dream fight happen without Uncle Bob’s blessing.

If Uncle Bob says “no, don’t fight Mayweather”, the fight isn’t going to happen even if 20 angels will confirm and announce it.

And it appears Uncle Bob is not yet in the mood to agree to Mayweather (47-O, 26 KOs) that the Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) match will take place on May 2, at least not yet.

In the first place, some of Mayweather’s demands are incredible and impossible to be accepted by Uncle Bob lock, stock and barrel.

TELEVISE

Mayweather, 37, wanted the rich duel to be televised on a pay-per-view by Showtime, HBO’s rival network.

Just like saying that “Bob, you are not part of this deal.”

Uncle Bob and HBO are like Siamese twins and are inseparable.

It was Uncle Bob and HBO that made Pacquiao a multi-millionaire, not Showtime.

Mayweather can’t just ease out Uncle Bob from the deal.

You can’t discuss about Mickey Mouse and Snoopy without involving Walt Disney.

It has to be a joint HBO-Showtime project or none at all.

By hook or by crook, Uncle Bob should not only be a part of the transaction, he should be on top of the transaction; he should be the main negotiator, not a curtain raiser.

And Mayweather can never accept this.

Unknown to some sports fans, Mayweather and Uncle Bob are not on speaking terms.

There is no love lost between boxer and promoter.

It’s a common knowledge in Las Vegas that Uncle Bob has an ax to grind against the unbeaten welterweight champion.

The feeling is mutual.

MAYO

Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican week celebration could not be the main reason as invoked by Uncle Bob why he was against the May 2 fight.

The main reason was that Mayweather announced he wanted to fight Pacquiao on May 2 under Showtime and hinted of overstepping Uncle Bob’s authority over the future Philippine senator.

Over Uncle Bob’s body.

In world boxing, Uncle Bob is king.

No world boxing body, including the dominant World Boxing Council (WBC), can sway his decision.

When WBC refused to scale down its exorbitant sanction fees, Uncle Bob hied off to the WBO and WBC didn't raise a whimper. 

No boxing superstar can dictate the terms while Uncle Bob is at the helm.

Uncle Bob is like a demigod. What he wants he gets.

What Uncle Bob does not want to happen won’t happen at all.

That’s why I’m betting my media credentials in the future Las Vegas fisticuffs that the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight won’t happen yet on May 2.

Big injustice for boxing if Floyd vs Pacman is off

“Boxing is the ultimate challenge. There's nothing that can compare to testing yourself the way you do every time you step in the ring.” Sugar Ray Leonard

By Alex P. Vidal

THERE should be no more excuses.

Fight fans will never forgive those behind the careers of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. if the two won’t face each other next.

Or if the dream fight, postponed multiple times, will never happen, at all.

But, lo and behold, Uncle Bob Arum is now singing a different tune.

The 82-year-old Harvard lawyer has joined the chorus of those calling for the Pacquiao-Mayweather match to happen soon.

“Speaking for Manny and myself, we’re tired! Every place we go they ask us when is that fight gonna happen? When is it going to be made? You cannot believe the number of times I’m questioned about this by just people, waiters, anybody, who wants to know one question ‘when is the fight gonna happen?’ I say enough is enough! Let’s just make the fight happen. Let’s get it done,”

Arum declared hours after the Filipino lefty retained his WBO 147-lb crown with a commanding 119-103, 119-103, 120-102 unanimous decision against Chris Algieri in Macao on November 23.

“And let’s make it the next fight for each fighter sometime in the next six months of next year. That’s our position and we’re going to do what we can to make it happen.”

BLAME

We are tired of the now-you-hear-it-now-you-don’t tug of war; of the blaming game and finger-pointing on who’s to blame why until now the megabucks deal has not been inked.

The Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight should happen soon or next year.

No more 2016. No more 2017.

By that time, Pacquiao, 37 years old before the May 2016 elections in the Philippines, will be very busy campaigning for senator.

By that time, 39-year-old Mayweather (47-0, 26 KOs), the richest-ever prizefighter in history, may no longer want to allow somebody to inflict more damage on his face in preparation for a grand retirement.

By 2016, the commodities may no longer be ripe.

It’s enough that Mayweather has collected five straight decision victories against Miguel Angel Cotto (12 rounds), Robert Guerrero (12 rounds), Saul Alvarez (12 rounds) and Marcos Rene Maidana (12 rounds twice) while waiting for Pacquiao to get old.

It’s enough that Pacquiao amassed seven decision wins in his last nine bouts with defeats only to Timothy Bradley (first fight) and Juan Manuel Marquez (KO6, fourth fight) while waiting for Mayweather to say “yes, I’ll fight you, Manny.”

There are other upcoming ring superstars waiting for their date with fame and destiny who deserve to be given large paychecks and mammoth publicity like the one being enjoyed by Pacquiao and Mayweather.

They are only waiting for Mayweather’s and Pacquiao’s exit and they, too, must be itching to hit a paydirt in the main events.

CASH

Giving Pacquiao and Mayweather “honorable” or farewell cash prizes as a token of appreciation for their magnificent contribution in fight business won’t hurt the industry that benefited a lot from their talent.

Uncle Bob should expect Mayweather to continue demanding for a 60-40 purse. HBO, Top Rank and probably Showtime (a rival network) should be ready to fork out some $50 to $60 million for Mayweather’s pocket.    

After the Macao conquest of Aligieri, Pacquiao was again hounded by calls for a Mayweather duel, which is actually beyond his call.

Pacquiao (57-5, 38 KOs) is very much willing to retire immediately after facing Mayweather for an exclamation point of his fistic career that started on January 25, 1995 with a four-round unanimous decision against Edmund Enting Ignacio in Sablayan, Mindoro Oriental.

AGAIN

Fighting again after a Mayweather showdown would be a total folly unless he wants to retire with a brain injury, physical deformities and speech defects (he can’t afford to speak like “Barok” in the Philippine Senate).

He does not need more fame and money. Pacquiao has secured a place in history.

As an elected senator in 2016, he can forget boxing and focus as a lawmaker.

Retirement should be a non-negotiable option for Pacquiao win or lose against the charismatic black American.

Mayweather will never be happy for the rest of his life once he retires without swapping leathers with the only man in the planet to win eight world titles in eight different weight classes.

He will be booed and jeered at as “coward” everywhere he goes.

It’s a big injustice for boxing and a mockery of sports if the Pacquiao vs Mayweather duel will not materialize.

No match-up can be compared to the Pacquiao vs Mayweather rumble in terms of global excitement and promotional wizardry.

Fans can tolerate the delay, but not the postponement.

Fans can forgive and accept if Mayweather lost to Maidana and Pacquiao lost to Algieri, but not the cancellation of the

Pacquiao versus Mayweather fisticuffs, much ballyhooed as the ultimate showdown.

It’s better late than never.

Don't go back to Las Vegas, Manny!

Don't go back to Las Vegas, Manny!

"You have been trapped in the inescapable net of ruin by your own want of sense."
AESCHYLUS 

By Alex P. Vidal

If we truly love Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao and we want to preserve him as a national sports icon, we must start a nationwide campaign to convince him to retire now that he is still "ahead" by virtue of that face-saving 12-round unanimous decision win over Brandon Lee "Bam Bam" Rios in Macao last November 24.
Many of us are still probably overjoyed that Pacquiao "is back" after that lips-first flat fall disaster against Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8, 2012, but only few have realized that an "ambush" is waiting for him in his next fight if Top Rank's Bob Arum will bring him back to Las Vegas, the lion's den.
Aging Pacquiao will only be fed to the lions and he could suffer worse than the Marquez one-punch brutality that made many of his fanatics cry and run amuck in shame and disgust.

RICH

In Las Vegas, the rich will further enrich themselves, the tired and weary will further wear a crimson and exacerbate his physical deterioration. They will pit Pacquiao next against fighters who have studied and memorized Pacquiao's style; and, thus, they know how to avoid being drilled and bulldozed into submission like what Rios did. To survive the distance with Pacquiao was already a "victory" for an upstart like Rios and wily promoters love this scenario.
Pacquiao is still good; he has the speed of Don Quixote's windmills; the congressman tots a menacing stoppage ledger; he can still land a tornado blow and rearrange a camel's ribcage, there is no doubt about it. 
But he is on the way to the slammer and the tell tale signs are crystal clear: his knockout percentage has declined. The last time he scored a short cut win was four years ago or eight fights ago when he bludgeoned Miguel Angel Cotto in the 12th and final stanza for WBO welterweight jewels at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

MEETING

Except for the fourth meeting against Marquez, all of Pacquiao's seven previous fights (5 wins, 1 KO loss to Marquez, 1 draw to Marquez) after wrecking Cotto lasted the distance.
"Pacquiao has lost his sting," observed an American analyst who had predicted a 9th round knockout win for Pacquiao against Rios.
The Rios victory was good for the pride of the country reeling from the aftershocks of super typhoon Yolanda, but it confirmed--more than anything else--that our pambansang kamao (national fist) was seemingly "tired" and now deserves to be shielded--or to put it bluntly, protected from dialectical materialism creeping the industry.

PRIZEFIGHTER

As a prizefighter, we will never hear religious Pacquiao squirm in protest that he is tired of disfiguring handsome faces; we can never hear him grumble "I quit" even if his work rate has ebbed and his kinetic energy has subsided. As long as Uncle Bob and the behemoth Top Rank promotion call the shots, Pacquiao will continue to break bones and damage retinas in the square jungle. 
Still fresh in our memory was the shellacking he inflicted on unbeaten Timothy Bradley on June 9, 2012 in defense of Pacquiao's WBO belt in Las Vegas. 
If a pugilist couldn't nail a KO win, Pacquiao's performance that night was an excellent paragon of why boxing is touted as sweet science. And yet, they robbed him and committed the biggest injustice in history of Marquess of Queensberry by handing to Bradley the WBO bauble on a barbaric split decision.

BOOKIES

Las Vegas bookies "punished" Pacquiao for his failure to score knockouts in his last four assignments before facing Bradley thus Bradley became the beneficiary of that "mortal sin." 
The unanimous decision victory in Macao certainly failed to convince them once more as they were baying for a knockout so they could give Pacquiao a red carpet welcome in Las Vegas, the mecca of boxing and entertainment, when Arum, et al uncork the imprimatur for Pacquiao to duke it out against either Bradley or Mayweather next.
Now that Pacquiao failed to deliver in Macao, we fear another "punishment" reminiscent of the Bradley boondoggle. We must save our hero. He must retire now!