THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO BUT "SUGAR" SHANE MOSLEY

BY STEPHEN S. JOHNSON

(IB-January 8, 2009) Floyd May weather, Jr. (40-0, 25 KO's) has left himself only one option now that the much anticipated bout between himself and Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO's) has ended.

As much as "Pretty Boy Floyd" or "Money Mayweather" (whatever your preference) loves to "dis" his opponents and use that as one of his many head-game tactics, he has no other option than to fight "Sugar" Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO's).

Mosley used a Mayweather, Jr. tactic following Mayweather, Jr.'s defeat of Juan Manuel Marquez in 2009 by coming to the center of the ring in a post-fight interview and challenging Mayweather, Jr. to fight. Mayweather, Jr. claims because of that sign of disrespect, he would never give Mosley the opportunity to "make more money than he's ever made in his life, off of me".

Disrespecting Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is a definite no-no and a deal breaker, while he himself is immune to such shenanigans.

Manny Pacquiao will not allow Mayweather, Jr. to disrespect either him or his native Philippines with unheard of blood-draws and frivolous doping accusations. Therefore, no fight.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will not allow Shane Mosley to disrespect him by merely challenging him (which is what boxing is about) to fight. Therefore, no fight.

What is this thing called DISRESPECT in boxing anyway?

Before any talk had begun of a Pacquiao vs Mayweather bout, Shane Mosley inserted himself in the mix by issuing the challenge following the Marquez fight. Mayweather, Jr. obviously feels that "what's good for the goose is good for the gander", as long as he is allowed to play both goose and gander.

The only fight out there of significance for Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is against "Sugar" Shane Mosley.

With Mosley being an intricate part of the Golden Boy Promotions team, and with that whole group of folks supposedly on the same page regarding random blood and urine testing for any type of banned substance, this fight could be the poster-child of performance enhancing drug testing in boxing.

Mosley should have no problem with his blood being randomly drawn, and his country (USA) will not be attacked with false accusations of being a major PED supplier.

Mayweather Jr. should have no problem having his blood randomly drawn, and thus, no new tactic Mosley hasn't seen in attempting to get under his skin. 

So where's the problem? 

If by now you haven't seen what the true plan of Golden Boy Productions is, you haven't been paying much attention...

Oscar de la hoya and his "band of brothers" (Golden Boy Productions' Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley) never wanted Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

They don't want a piece of the pie, they want the whole pie and not having Mosley fighting either Pacquiao or Mayweather, Jr. doesn't allow them to accomplish that.

Oddly enough, Golden Boy Productions targeted Floyd Mayweather, Jr., probably because of the still simmering feeling of disrespect the entire Mayweather family showed Oscar de la hoya when Mayweather, Jr. destroyed him, as the easiest of the two to go after.  Golden Boy Productions then proceeds to strangely become an ally of Mayweather, Jr.'s and begins negotiating a deal for a Mayweather, Jr. vs Pacquiao bout.

There seems to be no problem with the March 13, 2010 date as first thought (by some) to be too soon for Pacquiao after the tough battle he had versus Miguel Cotto and then..."PACQUIAO'S ON SOMETHING", rumors start from Camp Mayweather.

Were your last name Mayweather, could you think Golden Boy Productions would be looking out for your best interests? Could you really believe (if your name is Mayweather) that de la hoya, Mosley and Bernard Hopkins would all be in the ring applauding your efforts, win or lose, against Manny Pacquiao?

As transparent as this is to me, hopefully many of you can see this recent debacle as another in the long line of tactical ploys Oscar de la hoya has developed in the fight game.

Oscars' ability to make the Mayweather's' believe "let's let bygones be bygones" and go get the big money in a fight against "the little guy from the Philippines" was rather shrewd, even for de la hoya.

Anticipating the ire of Pacquiao (when put under suspicion regarding alleged drug use), Oscar de la hoya and Golden Boy Productions, let the Mayweather's' take it from there, and they would not let him down.

By alleging Manny Pacquiao as a user and the country of the Philippines as a major player in the distribution of performance enhancing drugs, the conversations went from the usual pre-fight build-up, to Manny Pacquiao being labeled a cheater. 

Major kudos to all in the Golden Boy Productions camp. They have succeeded in getting rid of Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in the round-robin tournament involving the three top fighters in the world...and the Mayweather's' themselves are to blame.

Now, there are really no options available to Mayweather, Jr. other than to apologize to Manny Pacquiao and the people of the Philippines and forget any type of blood-testing within 24 days of the fight.

That scenario being highly unlikely, prepare for Floyd "Money" Mayweather vs "Sugar" Shane Mosley sometime in mid 2010. Manny Pacquiao will then be ready to take on the winner of that bout carrying the title of "Congressman Pacquiao"...

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