Floyd Mayweather Jr RETIRES: Manny Pacquiao Will Move On

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May 11th, 2011

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By Geno McGahee
On May 7th, Manny Pacquiao, 53-3-2, 38 KO’s, chalked up his fourteenth straight victory over ring veteran and former multiple time champion Sugar Shane Mosley. Pacquiao has eliminated all of the big names that once dominated the welterweight division and the surrounding weight classes. In his last fourteen wins, he has defeated Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. He fights on average, twice a year in recent times.

After every Pacquiao victory, the next opponent named is Floyd Mayweather, JR., 41-0, 25 KO’s, undefeated and virtually untouched in the ring. He sat atop the pound for pound rankings for years now, but the fans have grown frustrated, and Pacquiao has assumed that position through activity.

For various reasons, the fight has not come through. The Mayweathers have contended that Pacquiao is on steroids and refuse to face a dirty fighter. The increase in weight and strength as Manny has traveled from division to division has been turning heads and it almost seems inhuman to be able to do so, but it doesn’t mean that he’s on steroids. Thus far, outside of a refusal to do Olympic style testing, there hasn’t been much to support the contention. Some have linked Pacquiao to James Toney, another Freddie Roach fighter, who tested positive for steroids on multiple occasions, but it still doesn’t prove anything.

Mayweather, JR., may have shown his hand a little when he asked for 100 million dollars to face Pacquiao, an outrageous amount of money and one that couldn’t possibly be met, but that is the point. Much like Roy Jones, JR., when he was offered Mike Tyson and made a 100 million dollar demand, it becomes obvious that Floyd wants no part of Manny at this point.

RSR was contacted by a fighter on February 21st, that had a discussion with Floyd prior to his fight with Shane Mosley. The email read: “…and we spoke about Pacquiao and he (Floyd) said that he was not even thinking about him. Then he said that he would fight him on his own terms only and that he needed him to ‘calm down’ a little. He was worried about Manny’s speed.”

All of the evidence is circumstantial but collectively viewed, it paints a picture and it states that Floyd wants no part of Manny Pacquiao. In fact, Floyd Mayweather, JR., on the shelf for over a year, may not want to fight at all. The plan was for a July return against a mid level guy and rumors began to circulate that he was set to face off against Victor Ortiz in August, which was quickly dismissed. Floyd has no plans to return to the ring at this point, and now it appears that he will not return, unless Pacquiao is far gone from the sport that he contends he’s the absolute best at.

As time goes by, the chances of Floyd actually returning to the ring become slimmer, and as he remains inactive, the odds of him coming directly back into a fight with Pacquiao or Sergio Martinez are slim to none.

Time is not the side of Mayweather, JR., and his refusal to step into the ring with Manny will not waiver any time soon. If he returns, he will find another name opponent that sounds good on paper, but there will be an advantage built in that Floyd will make sure of. He looks at boxing as strictly business and wants the least risk for the most reward.