Image via Complex Original
Floyd Mayweather loves throwing shade in Manny Pacquiao's direction. He has proven it over and over and over again. Most recently, he did it during an interview on Showtime. He called Pacquiao out, challenged him to a fight on May 2, and hurled a slew of insults in Pacquiao's direction.
But Pacquiao more than holds his own when it comes to throwing shade back at Mayweather. Just check out his response to Mayweather's recent attack (and the tweet that he sent out two days later). He doesn't always make it quite as obvious as Mayweather does, but over the last three years or so, he's let the world know that he doesn't like Mayweather in a variety of ways.
So to celebrate Pacquiao's 36th birthday today, we put together A Brief History of Manny Pacquiao Throwing Shade at Floyd Mayweather. We hope Mayweather checks it out and gives Pacquiao the birthday gift he really wants (just fight him, Floyd!). Otherwise, we get the feeling that the shade is going to keep on coming out of Pacquiao's corner.
Adding Mayweather's Name to His "List"
Date: April 2011
What Pacquiao did: He took a photo of a list that he had hanging up at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles. It featured the names of his previous opponents crossed out as well as one name at the bottom that hadn't been touched yet. That name? "MAYWEATHER."
How mad it probably made Mayweather: Not too mad, since Mayweather wasn't fully engulfed in social media just yet.
Making lists like this is a great way to try and get under your opponents' skin. We remember when Chad Johnson did something similar with NFL cornerbacks. The only problem was that we don't know if this photo ever got back to Mayweather. It'd probably make a way bigger impact if Pacquiao posted it again today. But unfortunately, it'd look a little bit different, too, with a couple of losses added to the mix.
Teaming Up With Mayweather's Nemesis 50 Cent
Date: September 2012
What Pacquiao did: He agreed to start a new promotional company with 50 Cent, who had just started beefing publicly with his former friend at the time.
How mad it probably made Mayweather: Very, especially since Mayweather was originally supposed to be a part of the company.
At the time, Pacquiao's advisor Michael Koncz explained that the company was supposed to involve 50, Pacquiao, and Mayweather. "But right now," he said, "I don't think Floyd is going to be a part of it."
"It" turned out to be nothing anyway. 50 did launch his own promo company, but to the best of our knowledge, Pacquiao wasn't actively involved in it.
Referring to Mayweather as "Cocky" and "Boastful"
Date: July 2013
What Pacquiao did: Even though Pacquiao had gotten knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez by this point, he was still gunning for Mayweather and said, "If he wants to fight, let's fight."
How mad it probably made Mayweather: Zero-point-zero percent. That JMM knockout was still fresh on everyone's mind.
A lot of people thought Pacquiao would stop trying to challenge Mayweather after he got destroyed by Marquez. But he proved otherwise while speaking with Filipino TV station ABS-CBN.
"I can prove to him I can still win," he said. "I lost to Marquez, but it's just a lucky punch, just part of the game. I was not dominated."
His challenge fell mostly on deaf ears at the time but it showed that Pacquiao wasn't going to stop calling Mayweather out.
Questioning Mayweather's Past Opponents
Date: August 2013
What Pacquiao did: He responded to Mayweather calling him a "has-been" during an interview by talking about how he has taken part in "bigger" fights than Money.
How mad it probably made Mayweather: A little, considering some of Mayweather's past opponents.
Mayweather has been criticized by a lot of people in recent years for agreeing to fights that people haven't necessarily wanted to see. Pacquiao pointed that out and simultaneously called him out for, like, the 500th time during an interview with Boxing Scene that served as a nice rebuttal to some of the things that Mayweather was saying about Pacquiao at the time.
Calling Mayweather "Not Educated"
Date: September 2014
What Pacquiao did: When asked why he thought a Mayweather/Pacquiao fight hadn't happened yet, he switched things up and, rather than insinuating that Mayweather was scared, he questioned his intelligence.
How mad it probably made Mayweather: Extremely, even though he would probably never admit it.
Since Pacquiao has pretty much made a living off calling Mayweather out in recent years, he's had to find new ways to do it. And this particular way was actually pretty smart, especially in light of all the "Floyd can't read!" stories that were floating around at the time.
"[He isn't scared] of fighting," Pacquiao said, "but perhaps of what one night could do to his zero losses. I think I finally understand him…what he says…how he acts…and I don't like it. But what I learned and heard from him, well, I realize why he is like that. I understand sometimes when the people are not educated, they just talk to talk. He sets a very bad example."
Commenting on Mayweather's Personal Life
Date: September 2014
What Pacquiao did: He talked to TMZ Sports about a lawsuit that Mayweather's ex-girlfriend Shantel Jackson filed against him. He told them that he was going to "pray for" Mayweather.
How mad it probably made Mayweather: As mad as the lawsuit itself—and all of the allegations in it—made him.
Something tells us that Mayweather probably doesn't want any of Pacquiao's prayers, but Pacquiao offered them up anyway when he was asked about Jackson's lawsuit. He refused to comment any further, which was probably a good thing. But it's worth noting that these comments came on the heels of him calling Mayweather "not educated," so we doubt that Pacquiao's prayers got him back into Floyd's good graces.
Critiquing Mayweather's "Staged" Reality TV Show
Date: September 2014
What Pacquiao did: After Mayweather told the Nevada State Athletic Commission that certain parts of his All Access show on Showtime are "staged," Pacquiaosent out a tweet indicating that Mayweather's testimony told him "everything I need to know about his desire to fight me."
How mad it probably made Mayweather: Only a little bit, because this shot was definitely a stretch.
Pacquiao really ramped his efforts up in September when it came to throwing shots at Floyd. In reality, Mayweather's comments about his TV show and his desire to fight Pacquiao have absolutely no connection. But Pacquiao connected them anyway just to try and get to Mayweather. It didn't really work, but it did get everyone talking about Mayweather/Pacquaio again.
Using a Bible Verse to Question Mayweather's Character
Date: September 2014
What Pacquiao did: He pulled out a verse from the New Testament when asked to respond to a shot that Mayweatherhad taken at him on Instagram. "For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Pacquiao asked.
How mad it probably made Mayweather: Mad enough to make him stop counting his money…for a second or two.
This is another good example of Pacquiao flipping the script. Instead of trying to throw shots at Mayweather by calling him "scared" or something like that, he went for the jugular by basically questioning Mayweather's entire existence. Mayweather places so much stock into his money and earthly possessions that this one had to hurt when he first heard it. We bet that money and those earthly possessions made him feel better almost immediately, though.
Calling Mayweather Out Immediately After Beating Chris Algieri
Date: November 2014
What Pacquiao did: He beat Algieri—and then wasted absolutely no time in saying, "Hey, Floyd, are we going to fight now?"
How mad it probably made Mayweather: Not mad enough to actually accept Pacquio's challenge…yet.
The sweat hadn't even dried from Pacquiao's forehead after his fight with Algieri. And yet, he was already trying to get Mayweather to agree to a fight.
"The people deserve that fight, the fans deserve that fight," he said. "It's time to make that fight happen. It's been a long time. I want that fight. They're always denying the fight. I think the fight has to happen."
"Has to"? Eh, wishful thinking. But keep being persistent, Manny!
Starting a #FloydRhymesWithAvoid Hashtag on Twitter
Date: November 2014
What Pacquiao did: He responded to a shot that Mayweathertook at him on Instagram by taking to Twitter and firing some shots of his own. "Run Silent Run Deep seems to be @FloydMayweather's response to my challenge," he wrote. "#KhanJob #FloydRhymesWithAvoid #SixKnockdowns."
How mad it probably made Mayweather: Well, let's just say that Mayweather did notretweetPacquiao on that day.
Pacquiao is getting good at this. He's gone from "You're scared, Floyd!" to coming up with clever hashtags to try and get Mayweather to fight him. It's impressive. But is it ever going to actually work?