Joel Diaz, one of the best trainers in boxing and a former fighter himself, said that if Floyd Mayweather ducks a fight with Manny Pacquiao then he stands a chance of losing credibility. He also suggested Mayweather is gaining a rep boxers don't want.
That reputation is of a fighter who picks his spots instead of fighting the best or most deserved opponent on the way up or best opponents ranked even with or above him.
There is of course, in the eyes of many, either no boxer above Floyd Mayweather, or just one: Manny Pacquiao.
The two have talked fight, they have done the hype thing, since 2009 in fact, but still haven't met in the ring. But it now looks, judging from the comments made by both Mayweather and Pacquiao, that a May 2 date in Las Vegas will finally see them get at it. If not though, Diaz says, the unbeaten record sported by Mayweather (47-0) won't mean as much.
"If Manny Pacquiao and Mayweather fight, just through my experience and my knowledge, I can tell you that right now Mayweather is between the sword and the wall, he's cornered," Diaz said told on the ropes boxing in a statement.
"He either has to step it up and fight Manny Pacquiao or he's gonna lose a lot of credibility because I can hear it and I can see it," he added. "Mayweather is already at the point where people are not believing in his ability anymore because he hand picks his opponents."
