Floyd Mayweather: Damned If Do, Damned If He Don't

On March 13th, Floyd Mayweather will step into the ring against co-P4P king Manny Pacquiao in a fight the entire world anticipates. There has been an air of contention surrounding this mega-fight so thick you could choke on it. So thick, in fact, fans from both sides now question whether each other will give credit to the victorious fighter. 

People may have interpreted my supporting of Floyd as an opposition to Manny. Well that's just not true. I, unlike most, am a boxing fan. I don't let my feelings get in the way of my analysis of fighters, I "call 'em like I see 'em". 

I believe Floyd will win because he is the better boxer. Should Manny win this fight I will applaud him, what I will not do is write sour articles laced with excuses that take the victory away from him.

However, I do not believe that Pacquiao supporters (in general—IN GENERAL) are capable of thinking so objectively, and Floyd Mayweather may have found himself between a rock and a hard place.

Let's say, for instance Floyd loses this fight by either KO or decision (it doesn't matter which). The bashing of Floyd and his supporters will be like the persecution of the Christians in the Roman Empire, and despite all of his accomplishments of having a dominating career, his name will fade into the abyss, along with his validity as the greatest. 

Now, on the other end of that, let's pretend Floyd wins by decision. There will be a public outcry, fans will not be satisfied, and even the "punch numbers" (regardless of how lop-sided) won't convince them. People will grasp onto anything for an excuse, loaded gloves, steroids, paid-off judges, or Manny threw it. Whatever it may be, one thing is for certain and that is Floyd's validity as the greatest will still be disputed.

The other scenario, Floyd wins by KO or TKO. Fans will take an honest victory from his hands, blaming Manny's injuries from the Cotto fight (even though people will not stop ranting about how Cotto couldn't hurt him) and how he wasn't fully healed, and again, Floyd's validity as the greatest will be tainted. 

In summation, people won't give Floyd this victory simply because they don't like Floyd. So much so that they let their emotions blind them and refuse to accept him as the "virtuoso" his name has become synonymous with. 

It's a disappointing and bitter truth, but the fans won't let Floyd win this fight.