INSIDE BOXING "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!"
SPECIAL OPINION
BY STEPHEN S. JOHNSON

(IB-JANUARY 5, 2009) Later this morning the opposing sides of Top Rank and Golden Boy Productions, will sit down at the bargaining table. They will attempt to come to some sort of agreement, aided by mediation specialist The Honorable Daniel Weinstein, and allow the so-called "FIGHT OF THE DECADE" to move forward.

The terse relationship between Bob Arum (Top Rank) and Richard Schaefer (Golden Boy Productions) may be a major sticking point in the negotiations. There are many issues to be ironed out and the timing of the blood-draw is just one of many to be discussed.

I'm going to "move-on" and myself give you a sort of "pre-fight" analysis that may shed a bit of doubt on labeling this "The fight that everyone wants to see"...

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is probably one of the most gifted boxers of all time. He has shown that his hand and foot speed are virtually second to none in the ring. There have been some fighters that were bigger in size and length than Mayweather, Jr. but found his speed gave him such an advantage, they got KO'd.
Diego Corrales and Oscar de la hoya immediately come to mind as fighters who thought that taking Mayweather, Jr. in a match was relatively "easy pickings".

They both underestimated the overall talent of the future hall-of-famer.

Manny Pacquiao is the iconic fighter that personifies what boxing is all about. Coming from humble beginnings in the Philippines, Pacquiao has made his way into the record books by beating such champions as Erik Morales, Juan Marquez and Oscar de la hoya who themselves are future hall-of-famers.

There is only one parallel between Pacquiao and Mayweather, Jr. and that is both come from poor backgrounds. After that, there is nothing remotely close to tie these two together.

Pacquiao has always been humble, gracious and the perfect gentleman.

Mayweather, Jr. is loud, self-promoting and braggadocios.

These two hall-of-fame fighters have their own unique style and have perfected it to the point where they have put themselves at the top of any P4P (pound-for-pound) conversations.

Manny Pacquiao has established himself as a constantly aggressive, push ahead fighter.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is the classic "old-school boxer".  

Styles make fights and this may be where the problem lies you and I, as fight fans.

For both Pacquiao and Mayweather, Jr. the obvious couldn't become clearer.

Does anyone honestly believe that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is going to come in and actually FIGHT Manny Pacquiao?

There is a common factor in all of sports and that is that history often repeats itself.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has made a living of antagonizing his opponent in the pre-fight hoopla. Pushing, shoving, name calling have all been a part of the Mayweather, Jr. strategy. He will never change that approach and why? BECAUSE IT WORKS!

Manny Pacquiao is appreciated in the sport because he NEVER belittles his opponent in the pre-fight build-up. He feels that mutual respect allows both fighters to remain appreciated combatants. He will never change that approach and why? BECAUSE IT WORKS!

Having said this, lets diagnose PACQUIAO VS MAYWEATHER, JR. from a boxing perspective.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is a pure, classic BOXER. His objective is to score points by hitting more times than being hit. Mayweather, Jr. does not attempt to "impose his will" on his opponent, but rather he intends to so frustrate his foe that openings resulting in knockouts sometimes present themselves. Whether that opportunity presents itself or not, Mayweather, Jr. is content to walk away with a lopsided unanimous decision based on points.

Manny Pacquiao is a fighter/boxer. His objective is to make whatever adjustments deemed necessary to STOP his opponent. Combining speed and power, the usually smaller Pacquiao does attempt to "impose his will" by either out-boxing his opponent or going toe-to-toe. Whatever his opponents' preference, Manny Pacquiao prefers to do battle in the middle of the ring and goes for the knockout.

If what you're looking for in a Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. bout is an all-out WAR, then you will be very disappointed. That will NEVER HAPPEN.

Mayweather, Jr's style is the classic "stick and move".

Pacquiao will attempt to cut-off the ring and force Mayweather, Jr. to fight.

The probability of either being successful is remote, but if the bigger Mayweather, Jr. can trick Pacquiao into frustration where he forces Pacquiao to chase him and look like an amateur, he can win this fight the way he did versus Diego Corrales. 

Should Pacquiao's ability to out-work Mayweather, Jr. gain him an edge on the score cards and force Mayweather, Jr. to FIGHT Pacquiao, Mayweather, Jr. will leave with his first defeat being one where he is not only KO'd, but battered and bruised as was Oscar de la hoya. 

Manny Pacquiao is the fighter who really has to make the adjustments when fighting Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Pacquiao's straight ahead, macho style will have to be tempered and that will take a totally different strategy than used before.

In the Pacquiao corner is the crafty Freddie Roach, who knows the legendary Mayweather family's' boxing intelligence is virtually second to none. The time and preparation needed for a Mayweather, Jr. fight is just as much mental as physical and Roach knows this to be true.

The Mayweather, Jr. corner is guided by his uncle Roger Mayweather who, in his own rite, has established himself as a phenomenal trainer. He too understands this fight against Pacquiao will require a solid mental and physical preparation like none before.

The slick style, the gamesmanship, being the villain, and overall BIG FIGHT EXPERIENCE, goes to Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

The love of country, no-nonsense approach of working hard and being (what is needed now, more than ever) the fighter who represents the game to be a genuine NICE GUY who is respected by all, goes to Manny Pacquiao. 

With both of these scenarios being taken into consideration, this fight can AT BEST be a BORING and UNEVENTFUL... DRAW!

This decision will irritate a few and others (like myself) will remind you that it should have been fairly easy to see this coming.

Another $69.95 lesson from HBO PPV...who have ALWAYS been declared the WINNER!

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. never has nor will he ever, put himself in harms way. Manny Pacquiao will be prepared to do battle because he is under the impression that MAYBE the people will get what they paid for.

Should this fight ever happen, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will take is $30-$40 million dollars, negotiate with the IRS, pay whatever the costs associated with the defamation suit, settle with CHASE MANHATTAN, re-negotiate and purchase new jewelry from his as-of-yet unpaid Las Vegas jeweler and life will be good.

Should this fight ever happen, Manny Pacquiao will take his $30-$40 million dollars and work towards improving the political climate and addressing poverty in his native country of Philippines.

Top Rank, Golden Boy Productions, Bob Arum, Oscar de la hoya and all of their cronies will continue perpetrating their activities as being for the "good of the sport" while padding their own personal bank accounts.

If what you're expecting from a Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather, Jr. bout is a battle that will go down in the annals of boxing history, I've got some swampland down in Florida for sale.

The Mayweather clan has again tricked most of the boxing public to participate in a FIGHT when they damned well know that no such animal exists. But you cannot blame them. They just "do what they do".

If any of you think that for your hard-earned $69.95 you're going to get the fight of a lifetime, YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

Like my pal P.T. Barnum used to say, "There's one born every minute"...

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