KNOW-NOTHING BOXING FANS “DEMONIZE” FLOYD MAYWEATHER
October 27th, 2011 By Rashad Bartholomew
Floyd Mayweather
Las Vegas, NV- Last month, Floyd “Money” Mayweather gave Victor Ortiz a two piece combo with a double dose of Nyquil. Even though that outcome was what Victor asked for due to the nature of the intentional foul and the overly apologetic behavior he exhibited afterward, “Money” left with the squared circle with his reputation falsely tainted. I realize that most of the people watching the fight are casual observers of boxing and enjoy buying into the hero/heel hype; however this is one case where the facts don’t fit the outcome. For the record:
1) On HBO’s 24/7 and before the fight Floyd was made out to be a cheater who uses his elbows to win fights.
2) There was only one fighter that broke the rules and that was Ortiz. His head butt was one of the more blatant fouls since Mike Tyson bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear.
3) Mayweather could have been permanently injured by the foul.
4) Ortiz apologized and Mayweather accepted.
5) Victor apologized after time was called back in and Mayweather didn’t hit him right away. He waited until Ortiz another left himself unprotected with a lame ass self-serving hug.
6) One has to question Ortiz’s heart when he did get cracked. Anyone who has watched Floyd and Ortiz fight over the years knows that Mayweather is not a cheap shot or one-two punch KO artist and that Ortiz’s resolve is like the Stock Market with its peaks and valleys. That being said, Ortiz took and got up from far worse shots like the ones from Andre Berto in round six of their fight and from Maidana throughout that match up.
I SAY, SO WHERE’S THE BEEF?
With these facts brought to the forefront, it makes me wonder, where is the empathy? Most of the fighters sided with “Money” while most casual observers called him a cheap shot artist. Funny, I don’t know anyone that would’ve shown the calm restraint Mayweather did in that situation where he got a blatant head butt to the mouth. Most people would’ve reacted with immediate violence with retaliation in mind. Instead, “Money” played by the rules and won the fight. At the end of the day, it reminds of these famous lines from the flick Scarface:
You all a bunch of ******’ assholes. You know why? You don’t have the guts to be what you wanna be? You need people like me. You need people like me so you can point your ******’ fingers and say, “That’s the bad guy.”
I agree that Mayweather showed immense restraint and won within the rules. The shot was there, he took it, and the defenceless Ortiz folded like a pack of cards. No foul!
Ortiz started the nonsense and Floyd finished it – but………how he won still left a sour taste in my mouth and the mouth of most. Some people paid big money to watch that garbage. I stayed up into the early hours of the morning in the UK to watch that garbage. Floyd is not entirely to blame.
I am aware that Mayweather has skills but he lacks ‘stones’. He may have fought and beaten Cotto, Margarito, Williams a prime Mosley, Hatton at 140, PacMan etc, but he chose to avoid those fighters at the peak of his powers and theirs – for that he loses my respect. He can talk about his “0” but it is artificial/manufactured because he walked through a minefield in armour plating but avoided the bombs rather than test the suit – some may say that’s a smart move, I say he’s chicken!
Castillo scared the “shizzle” out of him and he has not taken a real risk since. He is a phoney. Castillo – Mayweather I, see Hector Camacho – Edwin Rosario. Camacho and Mayweather take more punishment than expected and both doubt their own abilities afterwards.
The Mayweather we see today (mentally) would not have fought Diago Corralles. Mayweather had unshakeable self-belief back then. The 1st Castillo fight was a ‘mortality check’ when he came out thinking “Damn, maybe I am human and beatable after all. Can’t believe I got out of there with a win – suckers! From now on I am taking the money and running! If I keep telling them I am the best they will believe me in time. Worked for Ali and the trick works for Jedi’s”.
The empathy stops when the bill for $60 dollars arrives. The fact is boxing has been in decline for several years; the organizations have cheapened the sport with all of the title belts they have created and the networks have jacked up prices for a PPV product that, more often than not, has produced more crap than substance.
Not to mention fighters and promoters, these days, trying harder not to make the best matchups in fear of losing the title or damaging some imaginary legacy they think they have.
In my opinion people feel cheated after paying to see the fight but, it’s not Mayweather that is the real problem he is just the latest target to attack. The Mayweather fight is just another straw on the camels back; the real issue lies with how the boxing industry and the networks are gutting the sport. If boxing doesn’t get it together they will lose out to UFC.
Excellent post, Black Lightning.
lil floid has fooled many of the gullible gullibilites, but he never fooled the hardcores that have followed the sport long before lil floid was ever even a pro.
For the last 10 years since Castillo, lil floid’s made money with cherry-picked safe matches, and only God knows why people were willing to pay for those poor matchups when so many more competitive dangerous fighters were around for lil floid to fight with.
Ultimately lil floid is wasted potential is what he really is. He had all the ability in the world aa a very gifted athlete, but lacked the psychological belief in himself to cast the dice and take those risky fights with Cotto, Margarito, Pacquiao, Paul Williams, Tszyu, etc… No stones.
He thinks he’s smart by taking big money for low-risk, but money will not buy boxing immortality and glory which last forever…. unlike his money which will be gone in 15 years. Then he’ll have neither, no money nor legacy, just waste on both sides.
Tragic that he cheats himself and the public because the dude shines like gold when he gets in there with a REAL live opponent like the Ricky Hatton fight.
It’s really too bad that lil floid doesn’t have half the faith in his own abilities that his deluded fans do…
Great post BL!!!
Remember when he beat Hernandez, saying he wanted to beat everything and everyone up to 140?? Crushed Manfredy in 2, beat a few no-hopers, systematically beating Corrales, then he struggled with the likes of Hernandez and Chavez before ‘LOSING’ to Castillo. That was the end of his wanting to face real tough opponents. Apparently Castillo beat the fight out of him. Now the best Floyd can do is retire when the competition gets too tough….
And we need not sugarcoat the fact Floyd is a cheap shot artist. Ortiz had it coming, but look back at previous fights. Mayweather will hit you on breaks, when you shake hands, etc. Technically its legal, but most call it classless and cheap…..
I hate Mayweather, but I agree, he did absolutely nothing wrong.
On another note, wouldn’t it be know-nothing, not “no-nothing”?
The only thing Mayweather did wrong is not fight the guy everyone wants him to fight. Paquaio. In any other sport the two best would be forced face one another. In boxing what we get is a three year debate. And people wonder why it’s become a niche sport?
Sorry white-lightning but I’m not buying what ur selling. Ur saying that since the first Castillo fight Floyd didn’t want to be challenged when that’s the furthest from the truth. As a matter of fact what was floyds next fight after Castillo1. Wasn’t it a rematch with the aforementioned Castillo. And what was the end result PBF win!!! Yes there are fights he has missed but let’s be real those were arum boys. When cotto and pbf were both top rank Arum kept cotto miles from pbf. Margarito as most die hardders should know lost to Paul Williams. And Wilkins at that time had no mainstream appeal. Now if any of these guys wanted to fight they would make the fights!!!!!! I remember when Fernando Vargas called out Tito Trinidad. He only needed to ask once and the made a great fight. Those are fighters. Most these bums now are prize fighters$$$$$ but how many of us if in their shoes would do much different?? A pro athlete has a finite shelf life and they pay their dues early and pick and choose later. Which they’ve earned!!!!
Mayweather sells 1.25 million PPVs and boxing is dying. I just don’t see it. He also sells way more than PAC. Shame on PAC fans.
Actually it’s not hatred or jealousy of his talent, for alot its how he carrys himself. I say Floyd is a gifted exceptional athlete and talen but he’s a docuhe in real life. I may not know the real Floyd but someone can only fake so much, alot of what you see is real. I’ve never spent on dime on any Floyd PPV and never will.
For those that like the brash talking Floyd who exhibits thuggery that’s all fine, or for those that dont mind because they like to watch him fight, that’s fine as well. To each their own.
So you are now a certified Finger Lickin’ Chicken Maynever nuthugger eh? Good luck, what a downgrade eh? hahahaha
1.25 mill PPV sells for Mayweather isn’t a reflection on how the rest of the sport is going. Hopkins had, what, a little over 40,000 buys? What happens when Pacquiao and Mayweather retire and can’t carry the sport? It appears to be a problem for boxing.
Roberto Rios – Why refer to me as “White Lightning” when my label clearly says “Black”?
Yes Floyd has the right to pick and choose. My beef is he is choosing the “Path of least resistance” and has done since the Castillo fights! He says he is the best but is not willing to prove it against who the public “perceive” as being his biggest challenges.
Listen (white-lightbulb) how can u say the path of least resistance when. Affter the Castillo rematch that according to u after the first fight he should’ve been to scared to take. He baste Gatti rip. Waits for arum to serve cotto and doesn’t get the fight. Moves up to ww and wins IBF WBC and lineal titles. Beats the undefeated and lineal 140 pnd champ, goes to 154 against DLH and wins the WBC belt from him. 1 DLH wasn’t shot. He probably can still post some good wins if he wanted to today. And 2 that fight wasn’t close at all. When DLH got outlanded by over 100 punches. He takes almost 2 years off and beats the tar out of the number 2 pfp lightweight champ. And please don’t give me Marquez to small crap. Juan should’ve got at least 1′point. How many lightweight champs have moved to welter and won the belt?? Beat mosley coming off ko of cheato. Takes another year off and come back and beat the WBC ww champ?? Are u guys serious when u spit that garbage out??
Lol Roberto “The Keyboard Warrior” Rios – Your ignorance is already legendary on this site.
Mayweather convinced himself that bad hands were the reason for the closeness of the 1st Castillo fight. The 2nd fight convinced him he was not as good as he thought he was…….well, we all know the rest.
Keep making excuses for Mayweather, all the top boys call him out and have been for years – but he hides behind “He has a loss so obviously isn’t worthy” mantra.
We could go on for days like this but you would not change me view and I would change yours so have your say – I may come back to the story to read it.
Well said Mr.Rios!!