By Edward Chaykovsky

During a recent interview, former writer and HBO Sports commentator Larry Merchant discussed the lack of pay-per-view fights that either live up to the hype or exceed expectations.

Over the last few years, and then some, there have been very few pay-per-view events that left fans happy and eager watch more.

In the opinion of Merchant, Mayweather's very successful marketing style of picking an opponent who has little chance of victory - building him up - and then dominating him over twelve rounds in a lackluster fight - influenced a lot of other promoters, and fighters, to use the same pay-per-view tactics.

Because of that, very few promoters are looking to match their top names in dangerous matches. Some promoters are now trying to break that trend, but certain fighters are being long protected - on and off pay-per-view.

"Well, in one word - Mayweather [is a reason for the current state of pay-per-view fights].... a genius at tactical and defensive fighting. I don't think its necessarily true [that every recent pay-per-view fight was a dud]. Think about Pacquiao and Cotto, think about some others like Pacquiao-Morales and Barrera-Morales, and I'm sure there are others," Merchant told Steve Kim during a

"Maybe we are going through a phase where fighters and people around the fight game are going 'well look if Mayweather can pull off this con with his artistry, then why do we have to give the fans what they want?'"

"In my world view, boxing is part entertainment and the worst sin [in boxing] is to bore people. Its like going into a restaurant and saying 'well its a pretty good meal but why would I want to go back?' Why would I want to come back? You have to give them something to make them want to come back - more than a W. But, hey, Mayweather had the last laugh."