Floyd Mayweather Calls Out Manny Pacquiao On Twitter

by Gautham Nagesh

Pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather called out Manny Pacquiao on Twitter Tuesday afternoon, telling his two million followers that he’s ready to fight the Filipino on May 5th.

“Manny Pacquiao I’m calling you out let’s fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see,” tweeted Mayweather. “My Jail Sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up Punk.”

The undefeated Mayweather is widely considered the premier boxer in the world, but until recently public perception was Floyd had been ducking Pacquiao. That changed after Pacquiao’s third fight against Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez in November. Pacquiao eked out a split decision in a close fight that many believe Marquez won. Mayweather handled Marquez easily in their 2009 meeting at welterweight, shifting the odds back strongly in his favor should the two ever meet.

Anticipation for the superfight has been peaking for several years, with many experts believing the bout would smash all previous Pay Per View and revenue records. That the most anticipated fight since Tyson-Holyfield II would feature two welterweights, a defensive specialist and a Filipino Congressman, is a testament to the now-global nature of the sport and Floyd’s tremendous abilities as a showman.

This latest move is another masterstroke for Mayweather, who sadly cannot seem to control his personal life with the same deliberate approach he brings to his profession. By calling Pacquiao out publicly Mayweather has made headline news out of what many in boxing already knew: Pacquiao and his promoter Bob Arum want no part of Floyd at the moment.

Arum has no interests beyond lining his own pockets and fighting Floyd would entail massive financial risks before the eventual windfall. Much smarter to keep hand-selecting foes that pose no real threat to his cash cow, who must keep earning to fund both his political career and his considerable and free-spending entourage.

But Pacquiao is a man of considerable pride and the risk of being shamed in his role as the face of a nation could prompt him to demand Arum make the fight. It’s still unlikely that the two will meet on May 5th, but if they don’t the blame will now be placed squarely on Manny. Floyd will probably meet a lesser opponent, win easily, and head off to serve his sentence for domestic violence.

There is no telling how long Floyd will be behind bars, it could be as long as 90 days or perhaps much shorter. There’s also no guessing what impact incarceration will have on the volatile Mayweather. But rest assured the months following his release are the best opportunity for this fight to happen in 2012.

Arum is no fool and he would rather wait for Floyd to show some sign of weakness or take advantage of poor preparation than risk losing a fight on fair terms. As a businessman, you can’t really blame him. But as a fight fan and journalist it’s my job to point the finger squarely at Arum and Pacquiao for blocking the one fight that could put boxing back on the front page.