As Pacquiao digs up an old, but still dangerous Shane Mosley, while Floyd digs up attorneys, one can only wonder if the “delay of game” the promoters have cooked up to generate more interest has backfired. There is really no one left for Pacquiao to face, who makes any sense. Unless Timothy Bradley beats both Amir Khan and Juan Manuel Marquez (not a far-fetched proposition), Pacquiao will have no one his size to tangle with, that will generate public interest. Mayweather, however, should look in the other direction. The middleweight championship is now the one thing Manny has not, and will not, attempt to conquer. Floyd should give it a shot.
Yes, the covnentional wisdom is that Floyd is too small, not apt to take risks, and perhaps never going to fight again ever, much less against anyone other than Pacquiao. Martinez , in addition, is looking toward the super six at 168, not the mess at 154, after vanquishing its two best players (Williams and Dzinziruk). However, what both men are looking towards is legacy and money, especially since old age is knocking on the door for both of them.
Also, it is a winnable fight for both men. For Floyd, he would certainly have the speed advantage over a fighter who is used to having it. He would have to avoid Martinez ’ newfound power, but Mayweather has a good enough chin to avoid the one punch KO. Granted, we used to say that about Williams, too… but Williams is not a defensive wizard like Floyd. If Martinez can up his punch activity, and close the gap… using his foot speed and power to trap and batter Mayweather in the corners, he can render the smaller man’s hand speed and defense much less effective.
It is also a forgivable loss for either man. We would say Mayweather finally took on too big a fighter. We would also say that Martinez fell to one of the best of all time. What Mayweather would be attempting is every bit as dramatic as Manny Pacquiao’s recent ‘David vs, Goliath’ conquests. Pernell Whittaker’s winning of the 154lb title when he was naturally barely over the lightweight limit, is the closest comparison I can make.
Either way, let me remind the skeptics of this match of what our alternatives are looking like now. Floyd, inactive, starring in reality shows, and legal dramas. Also, Martinez vs. Peter Manfredo. With the mess of contenders at middleweight, is Manfredo really the best Martinez ’ people could come up with, or are they trying really hard to keep everything East Coast? This is the big fight both Floyd and Sergio are waiting for... and it can take place outside of the scope of Top Rank... reminding Bob Arum of the kind of dollars he is missing out on.
Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com
