Floyd Mayweather.

It's difficult to figure out just where Floyd Mayweather ranks on the list of all-time boxing greats. Several factors seem to be involved.

The numbers speak for themselves. Mayweather is undefeated in 43 professional fights, several of which were against world class competition, and has held championship belts in a few different weight classes. He's taken on all comers (except one, and I'll get back to that) and most times made it look easy.

If money matters, Floyd certainly made enough of it over the years. He just raked in over $30 million for his last fight alone. Yet Mayweather's one of those kind of guys that blows money in a big way. Floyd lives the high life in between fights, complete with an entourage reminiscent of Iron Mike Tyson. In other words, the more money he makes, the more parasites he attracts. Tyson made hundreds of millions of dollars and, in the end, it was all gone. How anyone can go through that much money is beyond my comprehension -- but it happens. It seems some of these guys never realize that the people they think are their best friends are actually ripping them off, until the well is dry, and they disappear to latch onto the next sucker. Mayweather's 35 years old, not exactly a spring chicken in the boxing world. How much longer he can keep fighting is unknown. Never known as a "heavy hitter", Floyd's always relied on speed, conditioning, and finesse -- and had great success doing so. Yet Father Time won't spare him either. If he slows down just a touch, there's always going to be "young guns" coming up that would like nothing better than to dethrone him.

Mayweather's upcoming little month or two stay in jail for a domestic crime is basically irrelevant. He's fresh off a fight, and world class guys usually have 6 months or so between bouts anyway. I suspect Floyd's legal team had something to do with the timing of his incarceration coming right after a huge purse for a fight -- but that just is what it is. If one has that much money, those sort of things have a way of going down like that.

Mayweather thinks he doesn't have anything more to prove, and considers himself in the "catbird seat" when it comes to fighting Manny Pacquiao, because his legacy is already great enough, with or without taking on the Filipino congressman. Many Americans want to believe that. Nevermind it would be the biggest money-making bout in the history of boxing -- and Floyd likes money -- Floyd continues to make excuses. First, he wanted Pacquiao to undergo olympic style drug testing. Pacquiao eventually agreed. Next, Floyd said he wasn't willing to split the purse 50-50. He wanted the lion's share. Now, it appears he's just writing the possible fight off completely.

But here's the kicker. While Mayweather may be hugely popular with many Americans, what he doesn't seem to understand is the majority of the rest of the world holds Pacquiao in much higher esteem, both as a boxer, and a man.

Consider: At 33 years old, Pacquiao is a congressman in the Phillipines, a national hero, and some predict he'll eventually become President of that country. If Mayweather keeps up his current ways, it might just be that about the time Manny is being inaugurated, Floyd will be in dire straits.

Pacquiao is not only fast, and superbly conditioned for his fights -- he hits hard -- and despite all the excuses, Mayweather appears to be afraid of getting in the ring with him.

But if Mayweather wants his resume and legacy to be complete -- and go out on top as the "greatest" -- not to mention likely pocketing $100 million dollars or so -- it's pretty obvious what he needs to do. If he doesn't, people will always wonder "what if"? It would forever be an asterisk in the minds of boxing fans the world over.

Contrary to what Floyd says, he needs this fight more than Manny. He just hasn't figured that out yet.

Or else he's just scared......