CALIFORNIA, United States—Even though it’s unclear if the dream fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will ever happen, Mayweather has already lost.
Pacquiao didn’t beat him. Fear did.
That much is evident in the infamous Web video of his racist rant against Pacquiao. Much of the focus has been on what he said which surely would send a chill down the spine of even the most die-hard boxing fans.
No need to repeat his words here. Instead, try this: Watch the clip again, but turn the sound off.
Watch Mayweather’s eyes, the way his face twitches and contorts, as he unleashes his hateful barrage, as he tries to put down this Filipino who, apparently to his surprise and extreme agitation, has mesmerized the world.
And you can see an undefeated boxer wrestling with perhaps the toughest opponent a fighter could face: His own fear.
I’m not talking about fear of physical pain. Certainly, there’s no doubt that Mayweather is a tough guy.
But it’s fear that this house of cards he built for himself, in which he probably sees himself as the greatest fighter of all time, can all come crashing down just like that because of a pesky Filipino who astounded the world.
So even though Pacquiao and Mayweather may never actually face each other in the ring, given the frustrating negotiations that most boxing observers say failed because Team Floyd was playing games, Mayweather has already lost big time.
On that video, Mayweather went down, hitting the ring floor hard, out for the count.
The Pacman’s response, through his spokesman, was perfect: “The video speaks for itself.”
That’s poise from a true champion. (Granted, he may have other, less poised words for Mayweather that he may have uttered in private, but at least he’s smart enough not share them publicly.)
The on-again, off-again Pacquiao-Mayweather encounter has even prompted former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield to weigh in.
Now, there’s a champion with a healthy, positive perspective on boxing—and on winning and losing.
I remember watching him on TV before one of his fights—Holyfield was in his locker room, singing Christian songs and dancing. That was his way of loosening up before a fight. (And the guy is so cool, he even later competed in Dancing With the Stars.)
In an interview with The Sun in England, he said Mayweather has more to lose in a showdown with Pacquiao because he has never lost, and appears to dread losing.
“If Pacquiao loses it doesn't hurt anything because he's a nice guy and people never expected him to be up there anyway,” Holyfield told The Sun. “Mayweather's got more to risk because Pacquiao's lost before and I think he proves why it's so important to be a good guy.”
Referring to a fellow heavyweight, he added: “Michael Moorer once said that people will always like me regardless of whether I win or lose—and that's because I don't brag about what I do…I know that each and every time I box I'm going to give my all—and Pacquiao is exactly the same.”
That’s not to say Mayweather will have an easy time against Pacquiao, he added. The fact that Pacquiao is such a strong, fast, smart fighter is probably what makes Mayweather worried.
“Mayweather is a spot fighter, whereas Pacquiao will throw more punches and fight all the time,” Holyfield continued. “If you ain't punching he's still punching, if you're punching he's still punching back.”
It is truly sad that Mayweather was led to believe that to be a winner, one has to keep winning. And he has latched on to that misguided belief so tightly that he ended up a loser.
He may still end his career as an undefeated fighter. Mayweather may even beat Pacquiao if they ever meet in the ring. But his legacy will forever also be defined by his arrogance, underscored by that video.
On the other hand, let’s imagine Pacquiao losing to Mayweather. He would probably say something like this: “It was a great fight. I tried my best. But Floyd was the better fighter today. I congratulate him.”
Then he’ll move on.
He’d focus back on his new love, politics. I’m not a big fan of the Pacman on the trapo trail, but his taking the lead in the fight to stop human trafficking is a good start.
And even if he loses to Mayweather, Pacquiao will join the ranks of the greatest boxers in history, those who were brilliant in the ring, but never lost their sense of decency and sportsmanship in a brutal sport where it is so easy to do so—as Mayweather has clearly demonstrated.
Pacquiao will join the likes of Muhammad Ali, who gave up his title to take a principled stand against war.
He’ll be up there with Sugar Ray Robinson, Flash Elorde, and Joe Louis. I’d even include Max Schmeling, the German champion Louis defeated, who was supposed to symbolize Adolf Hitler’s Germany, but who, it was later revealed, was a great human being: He helped some Jews escape from the Nazis, and even aided Louis when he needed help.
Fighters with class.
Of course, Pacquiao can also have some fun once as he enjoys his days as an ex-boxer. He may follow Holyfield’s lead and become a contestant on Dancing With the Stars.
Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net
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