Roach on ESPN, Psychology of Peak performance and the superstitions of athletes.

Just saw on ESPN freddie roach saying- that Pac didnt want to draw any blood within a couple weeks of the fight- as Pac felt drowsy for around 3 days after the taking of blood and wouldnt be at his best. And that it would be the biggest fight of his life- so he wanted to be at his best throughout.

Now alot of people deride this- but consider that the last week before the final week- is normally the most intense week (as the final week is tapering off and resting, media, etc)- where they do their final preperations- the final big sparring session- the fight simulations and so on- and therefore the most critical week. Is it that unreasonable that a superstitious guy like pac (and we all know boxers are all superstitious)- wants to be at his best - in his peak week- for the biggest - toughest fight of his life??? imagine youre in the final week of youre major training and someone says to you for 3 days you have one hour less sleep per night for that week. Im sure it would affect you. these guys are finely tuned athletes- machines- were every little thing can alter their physical and mental state. to enter into the ring for mortal combat- one needs to be at utmost psychological empowerment. is it silly to us?? maybe. is it real?? most definetely. we ve all seen fighters shaken and beaten at the weigh in, fighters crack at ring entrances. Everything needs to be perfect for these guys to feel ready to fight for their lives.

boxers need to follow superstitions. its a sport built on faith. try asking any athlete to shake their superstitions and it really does affect them . I used to carry a basketball card of my favourite player under my sole of my shoe- cos i wore it when i first made the team. when i had to take it out- i had the worst game of my high school career.

He s not ducking anybody- he just wants to have the advantages hes entitled to- that is to be at peak for his final week of training. sure floyd will do it too- but everybody is different. eveyrone has different superstitions. floyd trains at odd hours of the night cos it gives him a psychological edge. he likes to think he s training when others are sleeping. pac likes to have all his blood in his body. fair enough. if you told floyd he had to train during normal hours- because of one reason or another- im sure he would react similarly. Theres no logical reason to ask floyd to not train at midnite?? well thats how pac feels about giving blood. no good reason.

 

Alot of people will say stop being a ***** Pac- and just fight. Give youre blood and just fight. At the end of it though- these guys- these tough guys - tend to be the most sensitive and fragile people of all. This whole process shows how insecure both men are: that floyd is insecure that pacs ability cant be natural- for if it were- where would he be? and that pac needs to be feeling as though he hasnt a thing missing from him before he enters the ring to feel unbeatable.

The thing reminds me of the superstitions of having sex before a fight. now i guarantee more fighters than not- subscribe to the superstition of having sex near a fight weakens your legs- as much as scientific evidence does not back this up - in fact science contradicts this- says it heightens testosterone. NEVERTHELESS- BOXERS ALL ARE SUPERSTITIOUS THAT IT DOES- THEREFORE IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. If youre asking Pac to drop blood when he dosent want to- its no different to asking a guy to drop his load when He dosent want to before a fight. Because it will affect him psychologically. thats enough for me.

 

Pac should offer to drop a load on Ellerbe's face instead of a blood sample. Leonard would get Floyd to sign in before you can say- "Drop your boxers and cough"

 

Its prett disappointing to try and raise intelligent discussion and debate and be met with insults.

Im not a *******- I like both fighters equally. I ve written a thread stating that the only way the fight will get made is if Pac gives his blood- as only he is in a position to compromise.

However my point was to explain Pacs psychology. A guy that puts his life on the line every nite for so much risk- with relative small reward- isnt going to turn down this fight cos he s scared. Im sure Pac wants this fight- and it may not get made- just not for the reasons that you guys outline is all.

 

My point is that is ISNT two weeks of recovery though. The final week before a fight- we all know hardly any serious training is done. Its when figthers simply make weight- rest and recouperate. The 2nd last week- the week Floyd wants PAcs blood- is the week of most serious training. Boxers map out their workout regimes to the minute. The 2nd last week is the most important week of training- we all can agree on this - surely. Therefore you re asking Pac to give blood - which he thinks affects him- in the most important week of his training.

Hey i m not saying I would do it- but If i was fighting floyd mayweather- ?? a guy who is gonna be the toughest fight for pac?? who knows.

Pac isnt scared of floyd. floyd isnt scared of pac.
If you say Pac is scared of floyd- then why arent you accusing floyd of being scared of pac for asking for drug results?? has he proven guilty before?? no - its simply hes been THAT good. Floyd is that impressed- it shows.

All i think- is that both these guys respect one another deep down- a tremendous amount. more than some guys here respect each other. And this respect is why they both want to be 100 percent. not 99.99 percent.