Arum insists Mayweather afraid to lose

MANILA, Philippines - Top Rank chairman Bob Arum minced no words in calling Floyd Mayweather a “psychological coward” and said, in a Manila interview a few days ago, the Pretty Boy appears headed for jail.

“It’s not about Mayweather being afraid to box, it’s about him being afraid to lose,” said Arum. “I don’t know what his game is.But I think it’s not right that he jerked a group from South Africa around for 10 days then came up with a ridiculous amount for the fight with Manny (Pacquiao).”

Arum said he was approached by a certain Michael Lodge, representing the Nelson Mandela family, about the possibility of promoting a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight in South Africa in November. A group of 10 South Africans, including bankers, lawyers and financiers, flew to Las Vegas to confer with Arum and Mayweather last month.

“I wouldn’t sign any document unless they get Mayweather to agree to fight,” said Arum. “That’s what I told them.”

Mandela’s youngest daughter Zindziswa or Zindzi attended the Los Angeles press conference presided by Arum to drum up Pacquiao’s May 7 fight against Sugar Shane Mosley last February. She expressed interest in staging a Pacquiao-Mayweather duel to honor her father who turns 93 on July 18. Zindzi was only 18 months old when Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment at Robben Island in 1961. She is known in media for reading her father’s speech refusing conditional pardon in 1985.

After the South Africans tried to pin down Mayweather for a fight, Arum said he received a text message from Lodge. Arum hasn’t deleted the message in his cell phone – it said Mayweather came back to the Mandelas with a price of $100 Million. Obviously, Mayweather has no intention to fight Pacquiao because the purse he’s asking for is unrealistic and unjustifiable.

Besides, Arum said Mayweather looks like he’s going to prison. “I think the police want to give Mayweather a lesson for his arrogance,” said Arum. “He might be serving time in prison. There’s film that’s being presented as evidence. I don’t think he’s getting off the hook with any kind of money settlement.”

Mayweather is accused of grand larceny, coercion and robbery by his former girlfriend Josie Harris and faces up to 34 years in prison if found guilty of felony charges. An evidence hearing is set April 28 in Las Vegas. Mayweather is also facing a misdemeanor battery charge and the trial for the case is on April 25. Then, there is Pacquiao’s suit seeking damages for defamatory remarks. Mayweather’s lawyers attempted to dismiss Pacquiao’s charges but a Las Vegas judge recently ruled that the case will move forward. No question, Mayweather is in a bind.

A showdown between Pacquiao and Mayweather could be the biggest pay-per-view grosser in boxing history. Both fighters could earn at least $40 Million. Mayweather, however, is resisting efforts to stage the bout despite widespread public clamor.

Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza once said Pacquiao would beat Mayweather more easily than he trounced Joshua Clottey. “Mayweather’s a pussy,” said Ariza. “If Manny banged him like he did Clottey, Mayweather wouldn’t last four or five rounds. He’d quit because he wouldn’t stand the beating. Against Mayweather, it’ll be speed, speed and more speed. Manny wouldn’t have to work on his power too much. Manny will use speed and the power will take care of itself.”

Mayweather, 34, has fought only twice in the last three years, outpointing Mosley and Pacquiao victim Juan Manuel Marquez. He’s obsessed with preserving his unbeaten record of 41-0, with 25 KOs.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said in Mayweather’s own little mind, his claim to ring immortality is nobody has beaten him in the pros. It’s his only argument in proclaiming himself as the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. Facing Pacquiao poses a clear and serious threat to destroying Mayweather’s argument.

Yahoo! Sports writer Kevin Iole once described Mayweather as “a man who has become out of touch with reality, who has lived a fairy tale to stroke his own ego ... desperate for friends because he knows all too well that most of the friends he has, he has purchased and that they won’t be there for him if he ever really needs them.”

In a video shown last year, Mayweather promised “to cook that little yellow chump ... we ain’t worried about that, so they ain’t got to worry about me fighting the midget, once I kick the midget’s (expletive), I don’t want you all to jump on my (expletive), you better get on the bandwagon now.” The reference was to Pacquiao and Mayweather has been widely criticized for the hateful and racist remarks.