‘Why not ban Floyd Mayweather Jr.?’

Don’t you think he’s been swindling all of us here?

The sports year started at the Mandaluyong city wet market, an ever-busy area for gaming speculations, with that tiresome question on whether Floyd Mayweather Jr. would ever dare fight Manny Pacquiao.

If he had the decency, he would’ve agreed to that dream bout last year yet, or much, much earlier.

So what happens now? the dusky, youthful buyer in the veggie section of Munting Palengke pursued.

Nothing, replied this reporter, we were all suckers for having ever taken Mayweather seriously.

* * *

What do you mean?

Mayweather has been deathly bent about avoiding Pacquiao.

You mean he really never intended to fight Manny since Day One?

No question about that.

But why did the craving, the dreaming ever start?

Because that’s the natural path, that these two finest fighters of their time and division must collide, like with Louis-Schmeling, Ali-Frazier, Duran-Leonard, etc.

* * *

Stop the dreaming now?

The law of the jungle says a prizefighter, mainly a champion, has a distinct contract (with the fans) to give the fight they crave and deserve to see.

Why should that be?

Because the fans subsidize the boxing sport, not to mention the media networks whose lifeline is the profit derived from support of the paying audience.

* * *

That should’ve helped clarify the issue; although this reporter would next encounter a bike-riding Pacquiao devotee while walking home from the marketplace the other day.

“Bakit hindi na lang i-ban si Mayweather (Why don’t they just ban him altogether)?” said the exasperated guy.

You can’t do the banning just like that.

In utter desperation, this second fellow claimed the Mayweather reticence is nothing short of criminal, he has been holding the sport of boxing hostage with his hysterical whims.

But who should do the banning, there’s no agency with that supreme authority?

* * *

The major world boxing bodies could join hands, said the second fellow, to strip Mayweather of his title, while taking him out of the ratings, effectively sending him down and out in limbo.

But you think that would finally push him to agree to fight Pacquiao?

Well, if he refuses to budge, then the ban automatically stops him from equaling or surpassing Rocky Marciano’s unbeaten record.

You think that would help?

We’ve got to inquire with Uncle Bob Arum.