Instead of hating Mayweather for winning, fans should be blaming Pacquiao for losing.

Instead of hating Mayweather for winning, fans should be blaming Pacquiao for losing.

As the dust settled in Las Vegas on what was the richest fight in boxing history. Floyd Mayweather extended his record to 48-0 with a unanimous and dominant points victory over Manny Pacquiao. Unfortunately it left a foul taste in many fans mouths as no doubt the majority were hoping for a Pacquiao win.

I will agree that the fight was a disappointment and did not live up to the mega build up, which had the whole boxing world gripped. But for me, what is even more disappointing is the scores of Pacquiao fans who have pathetically descended into a tirade of non stop, bitter insults on social media, trying to down play Floyd’s victory.

At the end of the day, the name of the game is to win. Floyd did that. We all, and I’m sure Pacquiao and Freddie Roach knew what Floyd would bring to the table. Out of the two boxers it was Pacquiao that didn’t live up to the hype.

It is sad that the Pacquiao camp have not been magnanimous is defeat, with this shoulder injury scandal. Quite frankly, I’m embarrassed for them as I remember seeing Pacquiao whaling away on Floyd with both hands of equal ferocity, trying to make a dent in him.

I guarantee you if the fight went exactly the same way but Pacquiao picked up the victory, nobody would have complained how bad the fight was. And the tirade towards Floyd on social media would be even worse.

I understand how Floyd rubs people up the wrong way and everyone is desperate to see him lose but the hypocrisy is out of control.

Double Standards

If Floyd had lost and then claimed some sort of injury he would have been crucified by the fans. When David Haye lost to Klitschko and he came out with the infamous toe injury, which does affect your balance, movement and explosiveness, he was crucified. But not Pacman.

When Joe Calzaghe beat Bernard Hopkins in a similar fight, everyone called it a boxing masterclass, and an inspiring victory. He did it with 33% punches landed. 19% Jabs landed and 39% power punches landed.

In comparison to Floyd against Pacquiao with 34% punches landed. 25% Jabs landed and 48% power punches landed. So how is Calzaghe’s performance considered a masterclass and Floyd’s a cheap victory?

I understand how Floyd is a dislikeable character and does do, or say things that turn a lot of people off. But that’s besides the point. Inside the ring he’s a purist.

The idea of boxing is to hit and not be hit. Floyd’s been doing that better than any boxer around. You have to respect his skills. Especially at 38 and the way he has evolved in the ring from a quick, stinging puncher to a slick, defensive master with brittle hands.

Under prepared or Under performed?

Most will complain that he ran or he held the whole fight, but what did you expect him to do, stand there and let Pacquiao get free shots to his face? Get real.

Blame Pacquiao, Mr 19% punches landed and Roach Mr 7 time coach of the year, for having no plan B or the ability to cut the ring off. As I stated, Mayweather did nothing different to what he usually does.

I seem to remember Cotto cutting off the ring and forcing Mayweather to fight for 12 rounds. That fight was probably the only time I thought an opponent could beat Mayweather on points, until Floyd took over in the later rounds to close the fight out in impressive fashion.

Shane Mosley had probably the best round ever against Floyd, in the second round of their fight. He rocked Floyd, twice. Though he didn’t do much else for the rest of the fight, nobody else can say that.

In Maidana’s first fight with Floyd, he managed to cut off the ring and force Floyd into a brawl. Although his tactics was at times a bit underhanded, you couldn’t fault him for doing what was necessary to really take Floyd out of his comfort zone and for a time, had Floyd flustered.

Why couldn’t Pacquiao do any of this? I think Pacquiao’s been fooling the fans. His last three fights lured them into a false sense of security.

Brandon Rios is a tough brawler with very little lateral movement. Tailor made for Manny. Tim Bradley, another tough brawler but not that great movement or power and was lucky to beat Manny in their first fight.

Chris Algieri who tried to move, box on the counter, keep it at range and spoil up close. A bit like Floyd, but he’s no Floyd and was tailor-made for Manny, getting floored six times.

Lets be honest

I really want to know why is it the so-called challenger to Floyd for the pound for pound title, and the boxer along with Floyd named as the two best of their generation, looked so ordinary in a fight where there was random drug testing?

More importantly, why, conveniently nobody has mentioned this?

We all know, even if the most staunch Pacman fans try to deny it. The first negotiations 5/6 years ago broke down because Pacquiao refused random drug testing. Is this why they really wanted to take the so-called “anti inflammatory” jab to the shoulder just hours before the Mayweather fight? Especially when they didn’t even declare to the commission he had a shoulder injury?…..Just saying.

Again, yes Mayweather is so easy to dislike but I personally think he was very smart to capitalise on the world’s negativity and hate to make himself a rich man. This is why he makes no apologies.

He knows everyone is paying to hopefully witness him lose. This is a guy who at 19 got robbed of a chance of a gold medal in his own country. Do you think that would have happened to a Filipino in the Philippines?

Then when he signed for one of the biggest promotions in the country, Top Rank. He had to play second fiddle for years to Oscar de la Hoya.

So he created this bad boy, dislikeable persona, as he went out on his own to generate some attention for himself.

It all fell into place beautifully as lets be honest, just look around, the world is very comfortable with disliking a black man. Let alone one that is so cocky and arrogant.

Questions 

Say what you want about Mayweather, and I am sure you will. In years to come he will be classed as one of the best ever boxers. He will never be a fans favourite or have classic fights but he will always have classic performances.

The hate he generates will always be there as nobody wants to see a disrespectful, cocky, arrogant black man making money, talking trash and punching up their hero’s. But in life you can’t always get what you want, no matter how long you’ve been waiting for it.

If you’re going to question something. Question why Pacman was so poor on the night. Question why he failed to cut off the ring, knowing Floyd will stick and move.

Question why he come out with this so-called injury after the defeat and not before, even behind the scenes.

Question why, if he did have this injury, why go ahead with the fight knowing he had to be 100% to even have a chance of winning.

Question why he has looked so good for so long in his career and why he looked so ordinary in his first random drug testing bout.

Question why so many fans was so confident that the “people’s champion” Manny, would slay the so-called evil Mayweather, but failed so miserably. Question why Floyd is so hated and so not respected by so many, but is still undefeated…..48-0!