Floydcott in full effect if Mayweather vs Pacquiao fails in 2015 Written by Lee Cleveland In 2001, shortly after then-undisputed light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jr announced his pay-per-view (PPV) tilt against unheralded contender Julio Gonzalez, a group of knowledgeable boxing fans banded together to stage a movement called a Roycott. The movements name was obviously conceived by the mixing of two words, Boycott and Roy. Why? Fans under the Roycott umbrella insisted theyd grown weary of high-profile showcases and, even worse, having to pay for them. They asserted such bouts, if they absolutely had to be made, should be broadcast on cable or free TV. Although Gonzalez boasted an impressive 27-0 record with 17 knockouts, few were familiar with him. He seemed to have come from nowhere and fans were displeased a fighter with such limited credentials (in a PPV sense) was fighting in the main event of a PPV card. Fight fans want to see someone who takes on a challenge, said one of the HBO Web sites regular visitors back in 2001. We were displeased with Roys selection of another fighter ... who appears to have no hope against him. Seem familiar, today? In 2010 or 2011, people started clamoring for Floydcott - A movement consisting of fight fans who are protesting pound-for-pound star Floyd Mayweather for his presumed avoidance of Manny Pacquiao, his perceived, universally-recognized peer in the sport. Those who affiliate themselves with Floydcott refuse order Floyds bouts or do anything that directly or indirectly supports Mayweathers endeavors in the ring. Remarkably, it will be 2015 in a few days and Floyd and Manny still have yet to fight. After enthusiasm for this bout dipped a bit in 2013, the public demand for Mayweather vs Pacquiao is reaching unprecedented levels. Hall of fame promoter Don Chargin, a six decade veteran of the sport, told Joseph Herron on FightSaga Radio earlier this month, “The Mayweather vs Pacquiao match-up has reached the height of its popularity. “You can’t keep doing this to the paying customers and expect them to be okay with it. Everyone involved needs to realize that the fight fans have been emotionally invested in this rivalry for the past several years, so they expect and deserve to witness the historic conclusion.” If this fight fails to come to fruition someone, and perhaps both fighters, will suffer the consequences. Lower PPV numbers and eventually a marred legacy will serve as proverbial bookends to the publics newfound lack of general interest, which will fall somewhere in between on the timeline. So who is to blame? Who knows? Perhaps both camps have been at fault at different times. Even Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach recently accepted criticism for Team Pacquiao not being more amenable several years ago. But over the last 12-18 months, Team Pacquiao seems to have crossed its ts and dotted its is. Manny will seemingly adhere to Olympic style drug testing and allow Mayweather a greater purse and, perhaps, some semblance of A-side status. As a result, even some of Mayweathers most ardent proponents, such as ESPNs Stephen A. Smith, are insisting this fight MUST happen and that there should be no excuses on either side. If Mayweather vs Pacquiao doesnt happen this year, Floyd will receive the brunt of the criticism from fans worldwide and Floydcott will be in full effect for the remaining two or three fights in his career, whether warranted or not. The masses believe the ball is in Mayweathers court. As a result, they will see Floyd, not Manny, as the ultimate obstacle to making this fight happen. Mayweather vs Maidana 2: A product of Floydcott? Did Mayweather and Showtime get a taste of Floycott in September? In their first bout four months prior, a red hot Marcos Maidana gave the great Mayweather all he could handle in what became an entertaining brawl. Floyd fought flat-footed and often traded with Maidana with his back against the ropes. It was a bruising, fan-friendly fight that some insist could have easily been ruled a draw. The stage was set for the big rematch and, given all of the theatrics of their first bout, the second meeting should have been a box office smash. Instead, it allegedly generated PPV numbers comparable to their first meeting; Maybe a tad more. Were PPV sales for Mayweather vs Maidana 2 mitigated by Floydcott? Some argue it generated 750,000 buys while others say 925,000. However, given Maidanas stock and the nature of their first fight, the rematch should have easily reached, if not surpassed, 1.3 million buys. 2015: Now or never If Mayweather vs Pacquiao doesnt happen or finally materializes in a year other than 2015, not only will Floyds numbers dwindle, his stock will plummet, inside and outside the ring. Both fighters may suffer but there will definitely be attrition on Mayweathers end. By not fighting Manny Pacquiao and without any legitimate excuse to step away from such a fight, Floyd Mayweather runs the risk of tarnishing what has been brilliant career and leaving a blight on the sport that may take years to wash away. Will Floydcott be in full effect in 2015? - See more at: fightsaga/news/item/5085-Floydcott-Mayweather-vs-Pacquiao-2015#sthash.dTwNIbNh.dpuf fightsaga/news/item/5085-Floydcott-Mayweather-vs-Pacquiao-2015
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 13:01:59 +0000
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