(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Many tear-jerking rock-and-roll-ballads came to mind as I read a Los Angeles Times article regarding one of boxing's major promotions, Golden Boy.
Golden Boy is desperately attempting to convince Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to sign Shane Mosley instead of Miguel Cotto as the next to fight Manny Pacquiao.
However, before I wipe the dust off my ol' Karaoke Machine and start belting out a rendition of Desperado that would bring Don Henley and Glen Frey to tears, I have to remember that this is boxing, and that Murphy's Law always applies.
Arum, however, says he is busy putting the final nails in Mosley's "super-fight" Coffin.
"I hope to put it together this week, to get an agreement on terms," Arum told The LA Times in a telephone interview from his Top Rank headquarters in Las Vegas.
Arum is a shrewd businessman to say the least, but in this "double derby" he shouldn't have any problems, as he owns both horses.
The Promoter, Arum, has identified the catch-weight and the purse-split as the two remaining areas of negotiation, and that they will undoubtedly be worked out this week.
Shane Mosley, for his part, made several less than desirable statements over his cell phone late last week regarding Arum, saying in essence that he is looking to stuff his own pockets.
Mosley spoke as if it was a life and death matter, should he and Golden Boy not get this deal to fight "cash cow" Pacquiao. Earlier this month, he announced he'd fight Pacman at a 145-pound catch weight and for a 60-40 split in the paycheck.
Arum made it clear that Cotto is the man who will win the next multi-million-dollar-Pacquiao-lottery, and that Golden Boy Promotions, more specifically Mosley, may have to go pound sand.
"Shane's a terrific fighter, but for now he's the second choice," Arum said.
"If we can't put together a Pacquiao-Cotto fight, we'll reach out to Shane." (cough, cough)
Mosley's promoter, Richard Schaefer, is also crying in his beer, stating that a Pacquiao-Cotto bout is "ridiculous" since Mosley knocked out Antonio Margarito in January, and Margarito knocked out Cotto last summer, but Cotto beat Mosley by decision in 2007.
Does that make any sense to you?
If not, no worries, you are not alone.
It reminds me of a quote that Floyd Mayweather Jr. gave to ESPN's Brian Kenny.
He said "those guys, the welterweights, are all beating each other up, yet nobody's beaten Floyd Mayweather."
I'm not sure how many other boxing fans feel this way, but—after reading the statements that were quoted in The Times—it occurred to me that it's become sort of a toss up between Mosley and Schaefer regarding who sounds more pathetic.
"Cotto has a deep cut; Shane's ready to go," Schaefer said.
"'Sugar' Shane Mosley is the best fighter in that division. He can punch more, he has more speed. Shane really wants this fight and is willing to make concessions. This is the fight people want."
Well, no, not exactly Mr. Shaefer, a more factual statement would be to say that the fight that you have on hold, Mayweather vs Marquez, is the fight that we the people want to see.
Some of us, including myself, would also like to see the great Mosley hang up his gloves for good, and finally call it a career.
It's interesting that LA Times reporter Lance Pugmire suggested that the timing of Mayweather's alleged injury was very curious, and brought up the question of whether it might be a way for Pretty Boy to back out of a fight that was struggling to reach sellout status.
Schaefer, who is also the promoter for Marquez, then became extremely defensive and replied that Mayweather is locked into a contract to fight Marquez and asserted that:
"It's absolutely not a ploy. It's a legitimate injury, he's in a tremendous amount of pain."
Well, OK, I have decided to reject my brain's offer to type here what my personal opinion of that statement is, because it might involve me singing a country hit by Travis Trot called "Help Me Hold On."
Schaefer said he'd like to reschedule the fight for this September, let's hope Mayweather's bruised ribs have healed by then, and the ticket sales have somewhat increased.
"A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it starts to rain."
—Mark Twain
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