by Stephen S. Johnson
The proclamation of "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather, Jr. that he is now moving up to the lightweight division was music to the ears of one Paul "The Pittsburgh Kid" Spadafora as well as every other lightweight fighter in the world.
The handlers of Spadafora had correctly predicted that Mayweather would be moving up to the lightweight division and they would patiently await his arrival.
The Spadafora camp had been very meticulous in it's search for competitive opponents while never hiding their attempts to hold onto the lightweight title until they could secure the one "big payday" in the division before moving up in the heavier weight divisions.
Mayweather himself suggests that he will attempt to negotiate a fight against either Spadafora or Jose Luis Castillo and will then be gunning for the newly crowned 140 pound undisputed champion Kostya Tszyu.
The patience of the Spadafora camp will enter it's next test as the bargaining for the match involving Mayweather is a "three headed" foe. Mayweather mentioning Tszyu, Spadafora and Castillo will undoubtedly have all three scrambling to begin negotiations immediately.
Spadafora begins at a major disadvantage.
There will be no talk of a fight involving Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in Pittsburgh, New Jersey or Connecticut. This fight will be in Las Vegas, Nevada whomever Mayweather selects as his opponent.
That's correct. Whomever Mayweather selects! He is the draw. He is the one everyone wants to see. He is in the drivers seat when it comes to negotiating a match concerning him.
Paul Spadafora has patiently awaited this opportunity. But now that other names have been mentioned as viable competition will the Spadafora camp bow down to the terms and conditions specified by the Mayweather camp?
The "comfort zone" Spadafora has had in the past of fighting in Eastern United States cities will probably be his first indication of where he stands in the negotiating process. Mayweather will stand firm on a Vegas venue.
Should Spadafora hesitate on that demand, Mayweather will immediately move on to the next name he has indicated as an attractive opponent.
You see, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. also has an agenda. He has been patiently selecting opponents who would further his own boxing image and career. He now is "the man" in the 135 pound boxing world. Leaping over the likes of Stevie Johnston and Cesar Bazaan to challenge the current lightweight champions even though having never fought one lightweight bout.
Boxing fans care nothing about what goes on outside the ring. They want to see the two best fighters fight! Selecting whom that fighter is now rests in the hands of the negotiating teams of all in the lightweight division.
Paul Spadafora had more than ample opportunity to eliminate any name from the "Mayweather Sweepstakes" other than his own by taking on Stevie Johnston, Cesar Bazaan or Jose Luis Castillo. The options he chose to ignore while patiently awaiting the delight of a "big payday" may come back to haunt him in a big way!
The thoughts of "what could have been" will emerge when the realization of just who is in charge hits the Spadafora camp. It most definitely will not be them.
During the tense negotiations deciding whom Mayweather will give the "big payday" opportunity, a couple things will develop. Mayweather can entertain offers from any and all comers. He can decide to go after the WBA, WBC and IBF lightweight titles in any order he sees fit.
Mayweather could possibly select Spadafora as his lightweight target. The not so pleasant part will be when Mayweather informs them of the non-negotiable items of where the fight will take place and what his percentage of the take will be.
Sometime in the very near future there will be talk of "The Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Show". Either you will be an invited guest or a member of the audience.
Paul Spadafora as the invited guest or an audience member? It's all about patience, right?
His patience will soon be wearing thin.
11/10/01 Comment on this story