Floyd Criticizes Those Boxers Seeking Pacquiao Fight
After years of hostility and failed negotiations, Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao finally met in a rather anticlimactic showdown. Since that time, Mayweather has gone to retire, while Pac Man continued to soldier on as an active fighter.
When many questioned what Pacquiao could do with today’s prime welterweight bulls, he got in the ring with Keith “One Time” Thurman and showed the whole world he still had plenty in the gas tank. When recently asked about how he felt about Pacquiao still fighting, Mayweather gave a somewhat odd response.
“That’s his prerogative to do what he wants to do, I hope it helps him. But not me! I feel like I can go out there and perform and win, and win titles and still put on a good show. But it’s a time and a place for all these other fighters to come up and shine. I had my time to shine, I was in the sport. I’m still in the sport basically, so I been in what twenty-four years. I was basically champion for twenty years. So like I said, I had my time to shine.
I want to see all those guys go out there and shine, I want to see all those fighters do good. And a lot time when I’m on here and I say certain things, once again I don’t want no one to get offended, I just speak from the heart. And it’s sad that you hear guys, ‘oh I want to fight Manny Pacquiao, I want to fight Manny Pacquiao!’ But ain’t Manny Pacquiao like 41 now?
…don’t chase him! These young fighters chase each other, stop chasing this old man! If the opportunity presents itself, do what you got to do. But let Manny Pacquiao pick and choose who he wants to fight. They say the great ones fight the great ones.”
CURIOUS CONCLUSIONS
The response was odd for a couple reasons. To begin, Mayweather is openly criticizing the younger fighters for wanting a prizefight with the ‘old man’ Pacquiao. Yet at the same time, in the same quote, the 42 year old Money explains how he believes that he can still fight against the best and win. Pac Man has shown and proven that he can.
So why should younger boxers be villainized or chastised for seeking a bout with a certified legend who still has quality miles in him? To go a step further, Pacquiao is still Manny Pacquiao, a living legend and guaranteed major payday. What up and coming fighter would not want the opportunity to knock off a global superstar in a potential action packed pay-per-view event?
Of course, there is nothing wrong with Mayweather choosing to remain retired despite still being able to compete. He has made great paydays and can be a living example of how to try to end one’s career. Yet, simply because he chose to leave the trenches doesn’t mean that those who continued to wage war should be saddled with a dunce cap.
Also, if Money Mayweather did decide to go for one last bout against one of the young guns, would he feel they were foolish for wanting to fight him?
By: Bakari Simpson
