By: Martin Rand, III
Date: September 18, 2011
Floyd "Money" Mayweather defeated Victor Ortiz yesterday for the Welterweight Title Belt. He won by knockout in the fourth round. Mayweather, 34, remains undefeated and increased his career record to 42-0.
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| "Money" Mayweather (right) will only be one of the greatest when he fights "Pacman" Pacquiao. |
With a record like Mayweather's, it would be easy to call him one of the best fighters boxing has ever seen. However, he will never be considered one of the all-time greats until he fights Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao.
Pacquiao has won a record eight title belts in eight different weight classes. He is widely considered the best fighter in the world. So, of course, Mayweather would be eager to fight him right?
Wrong!
Mayweather could have fought him a year ago, but he backed out at the last minute because Paciquao wouldn't agree to random drug testing leading up to the fight. Pacquiao didn't want his blood to be drawn before the fight because he thought it may weaken him. Although, he did agree to a drug test as soon as the fight was over, which would still prove if Paciquao was taking performance enhancing drugs. Mayweather refused.
I've been watching sports all my life, and I have never seen a top athlete not want to oppose another top athlete in the sport. Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan vs. Dominique Wilkins, Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning and the New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox. All these athletes and teams knew they had to play each other, win or lose, to prove who was best.
In boxing it's probably more important to go up against the best. There are no teams. They're one-on-one match-ups to see who's the strongest, fastest and quickest. Imagine if Muhammad Ali never fought George Foreman or Mike Tyson never fought Evander Holyfield. Whoever backed out of the fight, would be looked at as a coward forever in history.
And this is what Mayweather is facing. Criticism that he was scared to fight Pacquiao, who is the other top athlete in boxing for his era. If he never fights Paciquao, history will say this about him, "Yeah he was good, but he never fought Paciquao. Paciquao would've beat him."
It would be wise if Mayweather silences the critics now before it's too late.
I understand that Mayweather's whole image is based off him being undefeated. The fact that no one has been able to beat him in his 16 year career makes him seem like an unstoppable force; but that's also the reason people want to see this fight.
Paciquao seems like the only boxer who could possible beat him. If Mayweather wins, then his record stays in tact and his legacy is solidified because he fought the best of the best during his era. If he loses, then he just lost to a better fighter but he won't have that coward label on him anymore.
According to Paciquao, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao will happen in 2012, but who really knows. Mayweather may just back out again.
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