What makes our “Pambansang Kamao” Manny Pacquiao so generous in granting all the terms and conditions imposed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the deal for the much-awaited superfight, dubbed as the “Fight of the Century”? Was the tandem of promoter Bob Arum and Pacquiao duped by Mayweather into believing that he was a scared chicken running away from its pursuers, only to turn out later to be in fact a fox, so to speak, after bagging the bonanza? The salient features of the bonanza are:
- A $40-million additional for Mayweather in the split of the purse, making him feel like a big winner already;
- An Olympic drug-testing procedure which, reportedly, Mayweather has undergone in all his fights, but which Pacquiao repeatedly evaded in the past;
- The May 2 schedule that apparently caught the Pacquiao camp flat-footed, leaving them barely two months to train seriously and prepare;
- The fight site, MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where Mayweather is based, hence giving him a “home court” advantage;
- Weight at 147 lb (higher than Pacquiao’s natural body weight at 140 lb with which he is more comfortable); and
- The type of gloves the boxers will use (again, according to Mayweather’s preference).
As if to add insult to injury, the late lone demand of Pacquiao, to impose a $5-million penalty on either fighter who fails the drug test, was rejected by Mayweather.
Mayweather has spotted the weak side (Achilles’ heel) of Pacquiao, which we can expect him to exploit to his advantage, based on their agreement.
What would prevent Mayweather now to ridicule Pacquiao as someone pleading like a beggar asking for crumbs, the same derision he made of Juan Manuel Marquez, whom he said he beat like a slave?
Expect as well the taunting of the Mayweathers (father and son) about the vulnerability of Pacquiao to a counterpunch, which Marquez used in sending Pacquiao to a humiliating knockout; and which Floyd claims he can do far better to Pacquiao, say, in five rounds.
Freddie Roach is wary, even early on, of this kind of war for his ward: A psywar—perhaps one that Pacquiao is not used to.
Will there still be truism in the saying, “To forewarn is to forearm” at this point? Being a “kabayan,” we hope Pacquiao wins this fight… in spite of everything.
—ARMANDO LIBRANDO ALPAY,
c/o judithalpay@yahoo.com