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Pacquiao's presidential meeting a bitter pill to swallow for Floyd Mayweather
http://www.examiner.com/fight-sports...ential-meeting
Undoubtedly one of the biggest stories in boxing so far this year has been welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao's visit to the U.S Senate yesterday and his behind closed doors meeting with President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
Despite several promotional quotes doing the rounds however, Pacquiao isn't the first boxer to meet a U.S president. Muhammad Ali for example has met several over the years, Rocky Marciano met Dwight Eisenhower and more recently Sugar Ray Leonard met Ronald Reagan.
What makes Pacquiao's achievement notable though is the fact that he is a foreigner who met the president at a time when there was a similarly famous American fighter in Floyd Mayweather.
More than just Pacquiao himself though, the fact that a boxer of any kind is being hosted at the White House is a sure sign that boxing is gaining in popularity after having been very much a niche sport for the past couple of decades.
Of course the meeting had it's uses for the president as well. With Pacquiao on side he will likely be able to garner extra votes during the election in much the same way as Democrat senator Harry Reid was able to last year with Pacquiao's endorsement.
For Pacquiao and Top Rank, this was a chance to promote Pacquiao's upcoming fight against Shane Mosley in May, the lead up shows to whcih will be broadcast on Showtime and CBS, potentially increasing the final pay per view figures.
One person who certainly won't be celebrating the meeting is Floyd Mayweather.
As Pacquiao's chief rival and contender for the still hotly debated number one pound for pound ranking, Mayweather believes rightly or wrongly that he is the better fighter of the two and that many of the accolades being bestowed on Pacquiao should be his.
Mayweather at least in the United States, is probably still a more recognizable star than Pacquiao at the moment, if only by virtue of nationality. Outside boxing circles he has a big following within hip-hop culture, and can regularly be seen consorting with rappers and celebrities at all manner of events. He also has his own record label such as it is and has plans to release several films over the next few years through his new self titled production company.
Because of this, the fact that it is Pacquiao and not himself who was given a private audience with the president is sure to have grated on Mayweather's nerves. Doubly so because of the fact that Floyd publicly endorsed the president before he was elected and appeared at several events to support his campaign.
Despite this though, this time it isn't a case of Mayweather not being given recognition that he feels he deserves. As usual, it is Mayweather's own actions that have proven to be his downfall.
(Article: Mayweather hinting at possible Pacquiao fight or just looking for attention?)
His ever expanding rap sheet coupled with constant baseless accusations of steroid abuse from fellow fighters are sure to have closed doors to opportunities that Pacquiao can take full advantage of. As have his desperate attempts at gaining attention to the detriment of others.
Not even a single day after Pacquiao's meeting with President Obama, and Mayweather was looking to pull focus from the Filipino icon. Choosing today of all days to post pictures of himself at the Super Bowl with former president Bush and Jerry Jones. Which in itself is exactly the kind of behaviour keeping him from ever meeting the present one.
