HAS MAYWEATHER TURNED THE TIDE IN THE PR BATTLE WITH PACQUIAO?

February 5th, 2010 | by Evan Korn

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have yet to step foot inside the same ring. The result of that tango remains inconclusive.

When Mayweather’s signature confirmed the May 1 mega-fight with Shane Mosley, something became abundantly clear: Mayweather had won the PR battle.

By signing to fight Mosley, Mayweather went after the prom queen of the Welterweight division. Pacquiao’s next opponent, Joshua Clottey, is a capable sort, but he won’t be wearing the crown anytime soon.

When Mosley readily agreed to the blood testing that Pacquiao refused, it added another layer to the never-ending saga. Why does one world class fighter accept terms that another refused?

Regardless, Team Pacquiao felt like Mayweather was singling out their guy as a steroid cheat. Team Mayweather went on record as saying that any future Mayweather opponent will be subjected to rigorous blood testing. Once Mosley agreed to the terms Pacquiao refused, the PR battle had been decided. Fair or not, Pacquiao is now linked to the PED mess (despite no concrete proof that he has cheated). Mayweather, who will take blood tests as part of the Mosley contract, fights the higher-profile bout without the heir of suspicion.

In a recent statement, Mayweather discussed his decision to fight Mosley.

“This one is definitely for the fans as I wasn’t going to waste anyone’s time with a meaningless tune-up bout and asked to fight Shane immediately,” Mayweather said. “I have said ever since I came back to the sport that I only wanted to fight the best. I think Shane is one of the best, but come May 1, he still won’t be great enough to beat me. This one is definitely for the fans as I wasn’t going to waste anyone’s time with a meaningless tune-up bout and asked to fight Shane immediately. I have said ever since I came back to the sport that I only wanted to fight the best. I think Shane is one of the best, but come May 1, he still won’t be great enough to beat me.”

Pacquiao fights March 13, the same date he was supposed to face Mayweather. Instead of fighting the man aptly nicknamed “Money”, he fights a world-class fighter with little fan support. While 30-40,000 patrons will fill Dallas Cowboys Stadium to see Pacquiao in action against the tough Ghanaian, Mayweather won’t be far from anybody’s mind. It is the fight the world wanted to see. A vile of blood prevented that dream from becoming a reality.

While Pacquiao’s presence will loom over the Mosley bout, at least Mayweather will share the ring with an elite name and talent. In that sense, Mayweather has won. And in the court of public opinion, Pacquiao’s blood test refusal makes him, to quote Chris Rock, “Born Suspect.”

Some Random Thoughts

The thought of a “Golden Girls” sex tape excites me more than a Jones-Hopkins rematch.

Glen Johnson just beat Yusaf Mack tonight on ESPN 2’s “Friday Night Fights.” Now there is an older fighter who just shuts up and fights. Hopkins and Jones should take notes.

Edwin Valero knocks out Antonio DeMarco. DeMarco is Showtime’s Andre Berto, a fighter who has risen up the ranks on premium cable with a diet of beatable opponents.

Did Jorge Arce drink from the fountain of youth last weekend?

Watch out for Heavyweight prospect Robert Helenius, who battered past-his-prime Lamon Brewster last Saturday.

Source: newyork.fighthype.com