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Floyd Mayweather: Is there a change on the horizon?

Everybody wants to be loved. Even the baddest of the bad and the meanest of the mean. Make no mistake about it. You may have built up your tough guy persona, but deep inside everyone longs for that pat on the back.

Is this the year that Floyd Mayweather turns the corner and actually tries to be embraced by boxing fans? He is very talented with lightning quick reflexes, but something is lacking. His style is not exactly fan friendly or given to result in fight of the year type bouts.

Team Mayweather have made subtle changes throughout the years It started when he appeared on Dancing With The Stars. It was a calculated risk to show Floyd's softer side. It may have worked on the casual fan, but the diehard still had their doubts.

He then proceeded to praise the just defeated Ricky Hatton. This may have been done in hopes of bringing some of Ricky's fans over to his side. But Hatton fans like brawling so it was doubtful that any of his fans would have been glued to the television for Mayweather's next fight.

Now Floyd can be seen on HBO's 24/7. Floyd did not diss Marquez in the first installment. This may also have been calculated. As was the shot of Floyd delivering meals to the homeless. This may be good for his image, but it will not win over boxing fans.

So what will win over some fans? The answer is threefold.

First, stop with all of the braggadocio. Boxers fight and are expected to say how they will beat their opponent. But nobody wants to hear someone constantly say how great they are. It is like a petulant child screaming out for attention. It may have been cute once, now it is old and irritating. Nobody cares how much money you throw around. Again that only shows a lack of maturity.

Secondly, if you are going to talk the talk, then walk the walk. In the De La Hoya-Mayweather 24/7, all anyone heard was how you were going to whip Oscar's butt. Only in more graphic and vulgar terms. But once you were in the ring you became the same old pitty pat, defensive minded Floyd. There is a reason no one wanted to see De La Hoya-Mayweather 2. It was because the first fight was such a snoozefest. If you fought every fight like you did against Gatti and Corrales then you would have a growing legion of fans. But that Floyd is never seen anymore.

Third, fight the best. Hatton made you work. Marquez will do the same. But you are a welterweight so fight a true welter. Names like Mosley, Cotto and even Margarito have been out there for years. Stop crying about the money and get these fights done. It would be a natural for you, if you beat Marquez, to fight the Pacquiao-Cotto winner. If it all falls into place and you say no because of money then you lose all credibility with the diehard boxing fan. Even a five year old can talk a good fight. Legends get it done.

It is not like the boxing world is asking a leopard to change it's spots. We are only asking for a little more action and a little less talk. There is a reason Pacquiao, Cotto and Hatton have such large followings. It is because they are like their fans. Just an average guy doing their job. They don't make their fans feel as if they are beneath them.

So, this might be the year Floyd joins the party. Or he could act like the spoiled kid and bring the party to a screeching halt.

Source: examiner.com

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