Excuse away the performance last Saturday if you must, but Floyd Mayweather, Jr. laid wood to Sugar Shane Mosley. After the disaster that was round 2, Mayweather stood in the pocket and threw down an impressive offensive onslaught. Interestingly, Naazim Richardson called it well in advance. He knew that Shane would get to him and then the "fire balls" would come out of "little Floyd Mayweather." They did and Mayweather won every round after the second.
Yes, the excuses are out there. Mosley was sick or the extended ring absence hurt his performance. Sugar Shane is Kelly Pavlik all of the sudden. The better excuse would be that he felt drained by giving blood so close to the fight. Doh! For a guy who voluntarily took a self-imposed time out from the sport in order to beg and chest thump his way in for a shot at Manny Pacquiao or Mayweather, there should be little sympathy. Whatever the excuse, the reality is that he grew old on May 1st and was lucky to have survived the entire fight.
There must be something in the water at Golden Boy Promotions that causes hall of fame fighters to grow old in the ring. Whatever it is, Bernard Hopkins is drinking something else. All we know is that Mosley was a born again fighter in January 2009 when he destroyed Antonio Margarito and became a guy who might get seriously injured if he keeps pressing on with this boxing thing.
With regard to Mayweather, credit must be given because it is due. He finally fought a legitimate welterweight, adapted, and prevailed. While this author predicted a different outcome, the reality is that no welterweight living outside of the Philippines would have defeated Money last Saturday. In fact, it is certainly no sure thing that those welterweights living around General Santos City would have either. What is certain is that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have to get this thing done.
Such a fight will be the richest in the history of the sport. The pay-per-view buys will be off the chart. HBO's 24/7 will be modified to actually provide uninterrupted coverage 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Oscar De La Hoya will come out of retirement to fight Shane Mosley on the undercard, and Larry Merchant will come up with a new rhyming metaphor that he somehow finds a way to botch during his on air delivery. In short, it is the only necessary gig left for either fighter and it is a big one.
Blood, money, tears, or all of the above--find a way to get it done. Not next year, not when Floyd reemerges from retirement again in 2016 to fight President Pacquiao. Do it this year. There are no other opponents demanding your attention. You've been a two-man wrecking crew of Golden Boy Promotions. Miguel Cotto and Mosley are no longer on the horizon. Andre Berto needs more experience, Paul Williams is campaigning in different weight divisions, and Luis Collazo is not a money draw. It is Mayweather-Pacquiao from here on out and it is time that they both accept such destiny.
Source: examiner.com
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