Image via Complex Original
Here's a quick question. What were people more excited for: Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao finally happening or Barack Obama's first election? The day after the announcement of both had folks yelling, "It's a new day." It's because kind of (but not at all) like the idea of having a black president in this lifetime, Mayweather/Pacquiao seemed like just a dream. Mayweather was retiring in two fights and wouldn't want to risk that perfect record. Pacquiao lost two huge ones. They were getting old. And Bob Arum still existed between them.
But the fight is happening. Mayweather announced it and we have a few months until the showdown and the resulting festivities commence. There were at least 20 people who thought that day (May 2) would never come. They had more than a reason to, but still, it turned out they were wrong. Here are a few.
Erik Morales
Although infrequently quoted, Morales was one of the first doubters of the Super Bowl of Boxing ever happening. “Because it’s never gonna happen. It’s not gonna happen,” he said. "Mayweather is playing with all you guys.” Morales is one of the few people of the world who know how to beat Pacquiao; he won the first bout of their famous trilogy.
50 Cent
50 Cent revealed that he had more of a frenemy relationship with Mayweather in the wake of Earl Hayes' murder-suicide. The needle usually erred toward the enemy side, though, so of course he'd blame Mayweather for the fight not happening. “He's scared to death,” 50 Cent said, echoing what many people thought. Mind you, he said this just a few weeks ago.
Bob Arum
Arum is blamed as one of the reasons the megafight hasn't happened until now; he's known to have an antagonistic relationship with Mayweather — who called him out when he said he wanted the fight. It also doesn't help Arum's defense that he did say that fight was never happening. Then frustrated with failed negotiations, he said that if the fight didn't happen in November, “it's not ever going to happen.”
Freddie Roach
Roach, the famed trainer who had the misfortune of being in Pacquiao's corner during the fourth Marquez fight, also didn't think too highly of Mayweather's effort of getting the fight. Not only did he say Mayweather was ducking this one. Roach reasoned in a 2010 interview that the fight was already overdue: “I don't think it will ever happen. It will be one of those fights we're never going to see. It would've happened by now. All that money on the table … how can you turn it down? Boxing's a sport, but it's a business also.”
Teddy Atlas
Teddy Atlas, whose knowledge of the sport is unparalleled, was off on this prediction. Still, he was on to something when he pointed the blame on Arum: “When are you people going to learn? This fight isn't going to happen because Bob Arum wont allow it.'' Because Mayweather is such a villain, many forget that Arum has more to do with the delay than he's credited for.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather Jr. wasn't going to point the finger at himself like everyone else was. He's Floyd Mayweather! To him—and justifiably so—Bob Arum was the scapegoat for the negotiation issues. Mayweater toldThe Telegraph that, “We all know the Pacquiao fight, at this particular time, will never happen, and the reason why the fight won't happen is because I will never do business with Bob Arum again in life, and Pacquiao is Bob Arum's fighter.” Well, never say never, Floyd.
Travis Barker
Barker pretty much represented the thoughts of the average boxing fan in this tweet. It was like an OutKast album: You know it's wishful thinking, but deep down you know you're hopeful about it happening.
