By Leandro D. Quintana
Responding to a direct question raised by both Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless on ESPN’s highly popular sports debate program First Take, Manny Pacquiao, in a few words, said that Floyd Mayweather is afraid to face him in the ring hence the fight has not happened so far.
In a fifteen or so minute segment September 20th, which was set up as a promo appearance along with Juan Miguel Marquez to promote their fourth match December 8, Pacquiao could not duck questions about the controversy surrounding the failure to get him and Mayweather to finally exchange physical, not verbal, blows.
Mayweather has set a couple of roadblocks that previously snarled efforts to get him to fight Pacquiao. The American champion wanted a larger share of the financial pot, estimated to be the largest ever in boxing history, and the unusual demand for a blood test on the day of the fight.
Asked by Smith about Pacquiao’s stand on the two issues, the Philippine champion said he had spoken with Mayweather and has agreed to take a lower percentage, 55 to 45, of the prize money. Pacquiao also said he has agreed to the blood test, “…even on the night of the fight”.
This response seemed to floor Smith. In previous “debates” with Bayless, Smith had asserted that, in his opinion, Mayweather would beat Pacquiao. Bayless on the other hand is a Pacquiao supporter and has often said that Mayweather is afraid of the Filipino fighter and this is the main reason that the bout has not taken place.
In his usual spirited tone Smith said that now there was no longer any excuse Mayweather could offer. “ I’m going to call him out,” Smith said.
In a jest-like, somewhat mimical, exchange that involved Smith and Pacquiao taking off and putting back their dark glasses on, Bayless asked if in his opinion Mayweather was afraid of him, Pacquiao, laughing in Smith’s direction, said “…I think it’s kind of that…”.
The fourth man in the conversation, Juan Miguel Marquez, asked for his opinion by Smith, also said Mayweather would win. He explained that he thought the American was a skilled “defensive fighter” and was much taller.
Asked by Bayless as to who hit much harder, Marquez said Pacquiao did.
The following day, in a First Take segment where only Smith and Bayless ( along with the moderator) were conversing, Smith reiterated his assertion that he would confront Mayweather on Pacquiao’s statements and get a definitive answer as to a commitment to get the much awaited fight on.
Smith said that after Pacquiao’s appearance, Smith spent half a day with him and had him as a guest on Smith’s New York radio show.
He said he could not believe how much and how loudly Pacquiao laughed at Smith’s contention that he would lose to the American boxer. He was shocked at this reaction, he said. He also said that Mayweather had stated in his telephone conversation with Pacquiao that if the latter lost he still had a significant life as a congressman, but that if Mayweather lost he could no longer cling to the one distinction he is proud of, i.e. being undefeated.
Certainly, serious food for thought that had some validity to it. Smith did say that with the money and blood test issues out of the way, he expected Mayweather to agree to the fight or he, Smith, would lose respect for him.
Although a “co-guest” at the September 20 First Take program Juan Miguel Marquez own record fourth confrontation with Pacquiao became somewhat of a side issue due to the Mayweather conversation. In the few minutes devoted to the forthcoming December 8 fight between the two, Marquez asserted that he thought he won one of the three previous fights. While Pacquiao came head with 2 split decisions and a draw, many analysts and aficionados expressed dissatisfaction over the seemingly indecisive outcomes of the bouts, which is why there is lingering interest in a fourth encounter.
Smith had been saying in previous episodes of First Take that he was not ever again going to buy a pay-per-view fight unless it is between Pacquiao and Mayweather. He has specifically singled out the Pacquiao-Marquez fight as ones he would boycott. After having both fighters on the show and some hints from both that it will be a battle to finish, perhaps a knock out, Smith seems to have softened his boycott stance. It is definitely one that Pacquiao needs to win. Otherwise Mayweather could very well skirt away from Pacquiao once again, this time perhaps saying that the Filipino fighter-cum-congressman is “not worthy” to challenge his unbeaten record. This makes December 8 a “must win” fight for Manny Pacquiao. We shall see.
(ldq44@aol.com)
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