Larry Merchant: Floyd Mayweather Should Thank HBO Boxing Analyst for Saving Show

Floyd Mayweather knocked out Victor Ortiz in a controversial, bizarre bout, but it was the post-fight exchange between Mayweather and HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant that stole the headlines.

And for that, Pretty Boy should thank the veteran analyst for saving an otherwise lackluster show.

After an Ortiz headbutt, the two fighters appeared to be on different pages about how to proceed. When Ortiz put his head down, Mayweather unloaded with a couple of clean shots to end the bout. With no standout matches on the undercard, the undefeated champion's camp would have received a lot of heat for an underwhelming pay-per-view.

Until Merchant saved the day.

The 80-year-old straight shooter was asking Money about some of his recent legal woes when Mayweather lost his cool. He claimed that Merchant never gave him a “fair shake” and should be fired.

After some further verbal jarring, Mayweather began to walk away and Merchant shouted, “I wish I was 50 years younger, then I'd kick your ass.”

Just like that, the PPV was saved and the social media world exploded with messages supporting both men. Everybody immediately forgot about the way the fight ended and focused on the war of words instead—saving Mayweather from a lot of criticism.

Merchant has a reputation for asking the tough questions after a fight, whether the questions be about boxing or the outside world. He has never backed down from an upset fighter and he wasn't going to start with Mayweather.

There is some speculation that Money lost his cool so he wouldn't have to directly answer the toughest question: Is he ducking Manny Pacquiao? By spouting off about Merchant, he was able to walk away before being put on the spot.

Of course, that's the match the entire boxing world wants to see. Both the Pac-Man camp and the Pretty Boy camp have spent the last couple of years pointing fingers at each other, with both sides saying they want the fight to happen.

By using Merchant as a pawn, Mayweather avoided trouble. What he didn't expect was Merchant going right back at him with such ferocity.

However, now that the situation is over, Mayweather should thank him for saving the day. Now he can take his $25 million guarantee, plus whatever his cut of the purse was, and put Pacquiao back in the spotlight.