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As a huge Boxing fan myself, this interview with R.A. The Rugged Man and ensuing call in from Floyd Mayweather was a real treat to hear...Seldom do any of us Hip-Hop heads/Boxing aficionados ever get the opportunity to vent how we really feel on our favorite prize fighters in the fashion that R.A. did here...
The swashbuckling Suffolk County MC who just released a new compilation album and whom I've criticized in the past for supporting John McCain and Sarah Palin was doing a radio interview on Shade 45's All Out show recently, spewing some of his views concerning the former WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his propensity for "ducking" opponents.
Then Mr. Money Mayweather himself called in...
The argument that commenced certainly illuminated Floyd's somewhat flawed thinking process and that R.A. just ain't some flunkie armchair quarterback...the man does know his boxing history, just maybe ain't to up to speed on how today's Boxing world is run.
The Rugged one threw the hard truth at Mayweather like a brick. Letting Pretty Boy Floyd know about many of his key shortcomings during his career and moreover just the fact that a lot of people are starting to pick up on the sneaking trend of him refusing to lay it all on the line and fight the best contenders *cough* Paul Williams and Shane Mosley *cough* available.
Indeed, many of the pugilist's decisions certainly find him opting for the fights that will generate the most money instead of the most glory or credibility, but to be fair, Mayweather did try to explain to R.A. that many of the "best" fighters run with the longtime and highly controversial promoter Bob Arum and that "business" between the two isn't easily hashed out these days. Interestingly enough, amid the heated discussion R.A. acknowledged a few times that Mayweather is extremely gifted and for the early part of his career was in his eyes legitimately a great fighter.
Although the conversation unraveled at points with Mayweather straying into his usual "I'm the greatest ever" spiel and his ubiquitous, over the top, machismo ("If I feel your a bitch I'mma talk to you like a bitch") nonsense, there was a really good bit of solid Boxing commentary going back and forth between the two. Still, it's undeniable that both clearly see the world of Boxing from two vastly different perspectives and that's why they both thought the other was talkin' out his ass....
Mayweather is no fool. He's knows and has seen first hand the irreversible damage that a fighter can do to himself chasing a "legacy" and is making it a point perhaps to not risk his health for a sport that is largely run by crooked managers, untrustworthy trainers and vile promoters just to end up broke and punch drunk. He's playing the game, it ain't playing him and I've always applauded him for that and I always will.
R.A. on the other hand is a passionate and long time fan who's witnessed the sheer beauty and courage displayed by some of the sport's all-time great's during their career's. By watching men like Ali, Frazier, Hearns, Robinson, Duran, Leonard and a very select few others you come to learn what a true champion is and isn't. It's the fact that the sport is being tarnished more and more everyday by it's faulty politics and that the memories of the great men I just mentioned are being disrespected that I think is the reason R.A. decided to try and pull Mayweather's card here, trying to do his lil' part for the sport by delivering some straight talk.
Do I think that goading a pro Boxer on the radio is gonna be the way to get him to participate in better fights? Nah, probably not...but Mayweather heard Rugged Man, I guarantee that.
Shit, I say clean his ass up and give R.A. a position next to Farhood or Lampley calling fights on HBO or Showtime. He's clearly capable of the same type of insight, if not better and he definitely isn't gonna get pushed around in an interview with the fighter, lol. This was good stuff.
-BIG D O
http://www.zshare.net/audio/676796581a1c2a9e/
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