Floyd Mayweather: "What if I Lose?"

You ever here a second hand comment about someone you know and based on what you know of them you suspend the "don't believe what people say" rule?. Manny Pacquiao isn't a dumb man, but he isn't a shrewd operator when speaking a language he isn't fluent in, he's certainly no match for Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith when they start pressing him. Pacquiao sheepishly suggested Floyd Mayweather may be afraid of him, something he really doesn't believe-he was just being the guy late night shows love in the US. But two things rang true, two things nobody who only have an ESPN level of exposure to this issue can vouch for-Floyd Mayweather wants to screw Manny Pacquiao (financially) and he does fear losing. Fearing a loss and hating to lose are different, Floyd Mayweathers whole narrative is about fear, because he was put in a situation very early on where he had to erect defense mechanisms to shield him from the possibility. He cant lose to Manny Pacquiao at this point, because he shrewdly waited until the volume punching had faded as it will with all pressure fighters- the place we are now is all about his pshycological make-up. Leonard Ellerbe just recently spoke with the confidence of someone employed by the NFL- the only true entity in sports that can dictate terms. In Boxing, Father Time dictates terms which is why Pacquiao should be applauded for telling anyone who will listen he'll take a lesser split. When Pacquiao reported that Mayweather asked "what if i lose?" i believed it in my core, that paranoia is a part of his genius and part of the reason we will never see this fight. When you feel like every ones out to get you, you cant afford to put yourself in situations where you may lose-which is why Floyd cant seem to accept he cant dictate terms to the past women in his life. For some reason Floyd believes his loses is more than a loss, that his blemishes are life ending-what will he do when he can no longer do what he does better than most who ever did it?. Pacquiao is coming off of his 6th loss, and he's stepping in with a man (Marquez) who many believe should be responsible for 3 losses. And yet, i cant imagine Joe Calzaghe being better than him, Rocky Marciano either, Boxing resumes are like life-did you risk yourself for love and eternity or did you put up barriers?. When you have a child with a woman and that child isn't growing up under the same roof with both of you that is a loss-trust me i know. But getting past that loss and coming to terms with yourself and your shortcomings is a Victory- not trying to dominate and dictate terms. Floyd Mayweather is in a Drivers Seat with a ticking clock underneath it, in Boxing and in life-he can either mature enough to redefine "loss" or live a future filled with excuse and disclaimers. My favorite Mayweather fight was vs. Miguel Cotto because he showed who he can be when all is not perfect, that a bloody nose isn't going to deter him from handling his business. Manny Pacquiao, Josie Harris, and Melissa Brims will never give Floyd a license to dominate them in a boardroom nor in life no matter how many other people allow him to do this. Everyone cant be a flunky. They hold the keys to his legacy, and cooperation is the only way to get to where Sugar Ray Leonard (who lost fights and had personal demons) is or (in fact) the millions of men who have raised emotionally healthy children despite separated parents. Loss is getting old and trying to explain to a 30 year old how you had to let Pacquiao know he isn't getting ANY PPV "upside" and seeing a blank WTF? expression. Loss is getting to the point where you get locked up again for a domestic altercation, this time for a real "bit", and coming out of jail in your  40's-having to endure your children's insistence on recalling the incidents of their childhood much like you do yours. It can happen, and if it were to open on the Vegas Sports book Floyd adores he would have a solid chance on losing more in life than in the ring.