Manny and me: Six degrees of separation

Jan. 29, 6:54 a.m.

All of the Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Manny “Pacman”  Pacquiao talk that floods the major media networks,  from ESPN to your local news affiliates, has me thinking about my own professional boxing career.

After epic talks failed to set up the megafight between the two kingpins, Pacman and his promoter, Bob Arum, settled for Joshua Clottey, a bout scheduled March 13 at none other than Cowboys Stadium in Dallas(home of my favorite NFL team of all time -- I bleed blue).

 This really got me to thinking. My friends all know I'm a boxer, but for some reason it just doesn’t ever click with them that I am a professional boxer -- the same as Mayweather, Pacman, even Tyson. My friends figure that since they always see those guys in the media, and all over TV, they must be something different than me. Well, besides the millions of dollars they all have, I am licensed and registered as a professional boxer just like they are. I am a professional athlete -- just not an elite one, lol.

So, I was looking over my boxing record, sigh, and I actually fought a guy who fought Josh Clottey. I fought Shamone Alvarez at the famed Madison Square Garden. He fought and lost a very close 12-round decision to Clottey. This may not be a big thing to anybody else, but it is the closest I can I came to sharing the ring with a great legend like Pacquiao. It may be farfetched and reaching, but, for me, it is fun to think about. How many can say they came that close?

Now, a message for Bob Arum: Make Pacquiao take that drug test and fight Mayweather. Please make this fight for the boxing world and the general public. Right now, as it stands, De la Hoya vs. Mayweather was the highest grossing fight to date. Pacquiao is a blockbuster Pay-Per-View attration and the recognized pound-for-pound king. Mayweather held that title before he retired and was only stripped because he retired -- not because another man beat him. So, in my opinion he is still “The Man” to beat. Settle all the bullcrap talk and put them together in that squared circle. Give boxing fans a reason to get amped.

Previous blogs by Travis Hartman

'Better to try and fail than never try at all'

'At fight time, you're on your own'

'Pull a Buster Douglas on them'

Training (but, regrettably, not partying) with Arturo