Floyd Mayweather: Twitter Pic Aimed at Manny Pacquiao Shows Mayweather's Guile

To say Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a multimedia machine is an understatement. If he exchanged blows with Manny Pacquiao via Twitter, Pacquiao would be knocked out after the first flurry.

We've seen Mayweather use the power of the media to build up his fights in the past. As ugly as it can get at times throughout promotion, there's no question he knows how to create drama.

On Wednesday, just a day after calling out Pacquiao on Twitter, Mayweather tweeted:

But what made Mayweather's post so intriguing was not simply his challenge. It was the picture he posted along with it.

You wonder if Mayweather consulted a professional photographer before the picture was taken. You wonder if he consulted a marketer who specialized in social media. But, the reality is, he may have thought up the photo all himself.

In the photo, Mayweather is seen from above texting as if he's trying to make something happen while his title belt lies by his side—waiting for someone to nab it.

Mayweather's pic was subtle, yet so influential. It's the kind of thing that parents complain about when their kids watch convincing TV ads or MTV. It's also the kind of thing that can turn public opinion in Mayweather's favor.

Blame has been shifted back and forth between Mayweather and Pacquiao's camps throughout the years while the entire boxing world waited for them to touch gloves. At this point, it's hard to tell who is doing what and who is ducking who.

But recent events certainly don't help Pacquiao's cause.

Mayweather's jail sentence for pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery of his ex-girlfriend was pushed back to June 1, meaning Mayweather still had May 5 booked at the MGM Grand for a potential superfight. Then Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, all of a sudden said Pacquiao wouldn't be ready until June after his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez in November.

Mayweather has seen his fair share of detractors throughout the years. But don't think he can't use the power of persuasion to capture public opinion and pressure Pacquiao into a fight.

Mayweather certainly knows what he's doing.