Floyd Mayweather: ? Do I want the Pacquiao Fight? ABSOLUTELY! ABSOLUTELY!?
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 29 Jun 2011
New York, New York - Floyd Mayweather is back after 13 months of absence in the first of two press conferences scheduled as a promotion for his September 17, 2011 fight with Vic Ortiz. The press conference was held at the Hudson Theatre in Times Square, Tuesday noon with both parties in attendance for the fight which is to be held in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV and distributed in pay per view by cable giant HBO. The theatre was packed with the media and fans alike as it was open to the public. That may be to the disadvantage of the infamous Mayweather who has long been questioned about his refusal to fight his rival to the best pound for pound title in the sport in Manny Pacquiao.
Negotiations for the proposed mega bout has twice collapsed because of the differences on how to go about the Olympic style drug testing that Mayweather wants. A defamation lawsuit was also filed in a Las Vegas court by Pacquiao against Mayweather and his father stating that the two publicly claimed that Pacquiao had used performance enhancing drugs (P.E.D.?s). Mayweather failed to attend the deposition hearing scheduled last June 17.
Fans booed Mayweather for the majority of the press conference and chants of ?Manny, Manny, Manny? were heard from all over the theatre. The howl in the audience got louder when he took the microphone to speak where he thanked Victor Ortiz for ?stepping up to the plate and taking the test.? He addressed everybody that has been critical of him not taking the Pacquiao fight by saying ?I wanna let the fans know this and anybody who is watching live. Floyd Mayweather don?t duck or dodge anyone.? He addressed the fans, especially the Pacquiao fans with ?Do I want the Pacquiao fight? Absolutely, Absolutely!" This was greeted with applause and reactions from the crowd. ?If that?s what the fans want that?s I want to get the fans.? he added. He clarified though that he is not overlooking his opponent Ortiz. ?He?s tough and he?s earned the right. As of right now he is a world champion and the ultimate goal is for me to go out there and face the world champion and do what I do best.?
He touched on the steroid accusation issue on which he denied that he accused Pacquiao of cheating. ?I never once said Manny Pacquiao was cheating. Only thing that I said is this, me and any other opponent that I face must take the test. It's not just cheating in the sport of boxing but it's cheating just in sports period.? He also touched on HBO?s role for not making the fight happen. ?You could have all been made that fight happen. All you guys have to do is step up and say, you know what, Both of you guys take the test and let's make it happen. That?s all,? he said.
Floyd Mayweather emphasized his unbeaten record and his pride of it. ?If you beat me, I want you to earn it. I don?t want nothing to be tainted and say, Oh well, he won because of this, he won because of that. We don?t have to go through that. Just take the test.? He once again asserted that he never discredited Manny Pacquiao but questioned his being successful in the middle of his career. ?When I came in the sport in 96, They say that this kid (pertaining to himself) is going to be a superstar, he?s going to be a mega superstar. You never see a guy just in the middle of his career all of a sudden just become a star. I am not taking that away from him.?
Mayweather took the center stage today and address the subject that everyone wanted him to talk about from day one when the negotiations for the Pacquiao fight started. He reiterated his desire for Olympic style drug testing as the primary requirement for the fight to take place and blamed everyone else from HBO to Bob Arum for the breakdown of the talks. In a fight not involving Manny Pacquiao, it seemed that he is defending himself against Pacquiao. In a stage where he is asked to promote his forthcoming fight with Vic Ortiz the opponent he addressed most is Pacquiao. The heckling, howls, boos and chants will never stop after today. This press conference cannot stop that. Only one thing will and that is for the fight to take place. But before that, there is Victor Ortiz to contend with.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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