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Floyd Mayweather ready for Maidana but still wants Manny Pacquiao Floyd Mayweather ready for Maidana but still wants Manny Pacquiao
(about 2 hours later)
Freddie Roach says he is sure of two things about Floyd Mayweather: the 37-year-old champion’s legs are “shot” and Amir Khan would have a great chance of beating him if ever given the chance – which is still possible.Freddie Roach says he is sure of two things about Floyd Mayweather: the 37-year-old champion’s legs are “shot” and Amir Khan would have a great chance of beating him if ever given the chance – which is still possible.
Both of those opinions might appear counterintuitive, given Roach split acrimoniously with Khan in 2012 and it is in the trainer’s interest for Mayweather to keep winning and looking good. The reason is it is his own fighter, Manny Pacquaio, who people most want to see in a ring with Mayweather – even though that putative mega-bout has already been seriously diminished because of continued wrangling for several years. Both of those opinions might appear counterintuitive, given Roach split acrimoniously with Khan in 2012 and it is in the trainer’s interest for Mayweather to keep winning and looking good. The reason is it is his own fighter, Manny Pacquiao, who people most want to see in a ring with Mayweather – even though that putative mega-bout has already been seriously diminished because of continued wrangling for several years.
As Mayweather and Pacquiao edge towards retirement – the American next September, the Filipino in 2016, when he plans to run for his country’s senate – every nuance takes on significance. And, as much as Mayweather has been trying to sell his rematch with Marcos Maidana here on Saturday night as the only fight that matters to him, he has not lost sight of the endgame; he still wants Pacquiao, but on his terms.As Mayweather and Pacquiao edge towards retirement – the American next September, the Filipino in 2016, when he plans to run for his country’s senate – every nuance takes on significance. And, as much as Mayweather has been trying to sell his rematch with Marcos Maidana here on Saturday night as the only fight that matters to him, he has not lost sight of the endgame; he still wants Pacquiao, but on his terms.
He was adamant Bob Arum’s claims (along with those of Pacquiao) that negotiations are more promising than ever are “flat out not true”. Perhaps, but the talks definitely are not dead.He was adamant Bob Arum’s claims (along with those of Pacquiao) that negotiations are more promising than ever are “flat out not true”. Perhaps, but the talks definitely are not dead.
Roach’s observations are searingly relevant to Mayweather’s immediate task, a fight the world welterweight champion might have imagined would be a soft option to Khan after outpointing him here last May.Roach’s observations are searingly relevant to Mayweather’s immediate task, a fight the world welterweight champion might have imagined would be a soft option to Khan after outpointing him here last May.
“I’m convinced his legs are shot,” Roach told the Guardian. “Look at the first four rounds of the first [Maidana] fight. Great fighters in later years often go to the ropes as they slow down, but he got into trouble there. He was under a lot of pressure. Mayweather at his best would never fight like that.”“I’m convinced his legs are shot,” Roach told the Guardian. “Look at the first four rounds of the first [Maidana] fight. Great fighters in later years often go to the ropes as they slow down, but he got into trouble there. He was under a lot of pressure. Mayweather at his best would never fight like that.”
Especially against an opponent who admits he is no Sugar Ray Leonard, and who begged Mayweather this week: “Don’t run like a bitch, stand and fight.”Especially against an opponent who admits he is no Sugar Ray Leonard, and who begged Mayweather this week: “Don’t run like a bitch, stand and fight.”
As for Khan, who survived a Maidana late onslaught to outpoint the Argentinian four years ago, Roach says: “It is his speed that would be the difference. He’s just too fast for Mayweather.”As for Khan, who survived a Maidana late onslaught to outpoint the Argentinian four years ago, Roach says: “It is his speed that would be the difference. He’s just too fast for Mayweather.”
Khan claimed on Thursday night, incidentally, that the prime minister was helping him get a visa to make a last-minute trip to Vegas after the fighter had his original successful application reversed. It may not be at the top of David Cameron’s priorities, mind, given he is busy trying to save the union and monitoring the biggest terrorist threat the UK has seen in years.Khan claimed on Thursday night, incidentally, that the prime minister was helping him get a visa to make a last-minute trip to Vegas after the fighter had his original successful application reversed. It may not be at the top of David Cameron’s priorities, mind, given he is busy trying to save the union and monitoring the biggest terrorist threat the UK has seen in years.
Mayweather undoubtedly has trained with his usual dedication but he looks out of sorts, distracted and tetchy. And, if ever he needed a clear mind, it is at the end of a fortnight in which his partner of eight years, Shantel Jackson, has entered the headlines with details of her civil suit against him for alleged domestic abuse. Mayweather compounded that problem by seeming to defend Ray Rice, the Baltimore Ravens running back suspended for knocking out his then fiancée, who is now his wife.Mayweather undoubtedly has trained with his usual dedication but he looks out of sorts, distracted and tetchy. And, if ever he needed a clear mind, it is at the end of a fortnight in which his partner of eight years, Shantel Jackson, has entered the headlines with details of her civil suit against him for alleged domestic abuse. Mayweather compounded that problem by seeming to defend Ray Rice, the Baltimore Ravens running back suspended for knocking out his then fiancée, who is now his wife.
It has been obvious for some time, and was confirmed in bursts of indiscretion this week, that Mayweather’s intelligence resides almost exclusively in his fists and feet. While his boxing brain should be enough to secure his unbeaten record, his walking-around, people brain is malfunctioning.It has been obvious for some time, and was confirmed in bursts of indiscretion this week, that Mayweather’s intelligence resides almost exclusively in his fists and feet. While his boxing brain should be enough to secure his unbeaten record, his walking-around, people brain is malfunctioning.
At their final press conference, Leonard Ellerbe, the chief executive of Mayweather Promotions, called out “the haters” and made a bizarre plea for the media to stop writing about Mayweather and Rice. “He’s become the face of boxing and often he is the guy who wears the target on his back,” he said.At their final press conference, Leonard Ellerbe, the chief executive of Mayweather Promotions, called out “the haters” and made a bizarre plea for the media to stop writing about Mayweather and Rice. “He’s become the face of boxing and often he is the guy who wears the target on his back,” he said.
“No matter what he says, what he does, people gonna have an opinion. But the hating has got to stop. What other athlete in sports can you say has dominated everyone in front of him for so many years? We must find a way to acknowledge greatness when we see it. There will never be another fighter like him.”“No matter what he says, what he does, people gonna have an opinion. But the hating has got to stop. What other athlete in sports can you say has dominated everyone in front of him for so many years? We must find a way to acknowledge greatness when we see it. There will never be another fighter like him.”
At that very moment, a Mayweather tweet appeared on smart phones around the room: “Acknowledge greatness when you see it.” The fighter and his chief executive, at least, are talking the same language.At that very moment, a Mayweather tweet appeared on smart phones around the room: “Acknowledge greatness when you see it.” The fighter and his chief executive, at least, are talking the same language.
When Mayweather spoke it was softly, as he has done since serving 90 days for domestic abuse of another former partner, Josie Harris, in 2012.When Mayweather spoke it was softly, as he has done since serving 90 days for domestic abuse of another former partner, Josie Harris, in 2012.
As for his earlier comments on Rice, he said” “I don’t condone what happened. If I offended anyone, I apologise. I have this tough, rugged fighter in front of me and that’s what I have to focus on. I’m not perfect, I make mistakes and I don’t condone that at all.” As for his earlier comments on Rice, he said: “I don’t condone what happened. If I offended anyone, I apologise. I have this tough, rugged fighter in front of me and that’s what I have to focus on. I’m not perfect, I make mistakes and I don’t condone that at all.”
He does have one tough customer in front of him, although it is difficult to accept Mayweather’s contention that, “he absolutely deserves this rematch”. He does have one tough customer in front of him, although it is difficult to accept Mayweather’s contention that “he absolutely deserves this rematch”.
Mayweather is closer to the truth when he says: “I need a knockout and I’m going for it. I need it to make a statement. First for myself, I want to do it for me.”Mayweather is closer to the truth when he says: “I need a knockout and I’m going for it. I need it to make a statement. First for myself, I want to do it for me.”