Pacquiao-Mayweather: Mayweather to take 'year or two off' from boxing instead -- Examiner

By Charles Indriolo, Examiner.com

Floyd Mayweather Jr. stated in an interview Friday that he now plans to take a ‘year or two off’ from boxing before his next fight. This comes as shocking news for fans that’ve been waiting for a Pacquiao-Mayweather mega-fight announcement.

The interview took place during a “Make a Wish Foundation” charity appearance. Mayweather was in attendance to meet the wish of a young fan with Hodgkin’s disease named Armando. During the appearance, a reporter asked Armando who he’d like to see Mayweather fight next. Armando quickly stated Manny Pacquiao.

Then things got interesting. It was after that answer when Mayweather announced that he plans to take another leave from boxing. In 2007, Mayweather left the sport for almost two years, only to return in 2009 and crush top pound-for-pound fighters Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley. But if Mayweather does go ahead and take another leave from boxing, then he may never overcome the criticism that would come with it.

When Mayweather first ‘retired’ in 2007, after defeating Ricky Hatton, many fans questioned his motivation. Floyd was still in the prime of his career and the clear #1 fighter in boxing. However, he started to take criticism for ‘ducking’ fighters. In 2007, new welterweight star Miguel Cotto was trying to position himself for a bout with Mayweather. But Mayweather opted for retirement.

If Mayweather opts for a ‘retirement’ again, with a mega-fight versus Manny Pacquiao hanging in the balance, then he will be surely branded as a ‘ducker’. Team Pacquiao, and their legion of fans, already think Mayweather doesn’t want to fight Pacquiao. They feel his demand for strict blood-testing is simply a coward’s tactic, and that Mayweather has no intention of making the fight. If Mayweather leaves boxing again, they may all have been right.

It will be interesting to see what comes out of this though. Floyd’s comments could simply mean nothing. Sometimes Floyd just talks to talk. A gag order has supposedly been put in place for negotiations between Team Pacquiao and Team Mayweather, however Mayweather can obviously still say whatever he wants. Hopefully it’s just gamesmanship, and that the fight the world is waiting to see will eventually happen.

Source: examiner.com