Now is the Time for Pacquiao to fight Mayweather
June 17th, 2009
By Giancarlo Malinconico: With the recent rib injury sustained by Mayweather, the door has opened for a Pacquiao/Mayweather fight in November. There are some hurdles before this fight can be signed, but I believe these obstacles can be overcome to make one of the biggest fights in boxing history. The first of which is the Bob Arum issue: Arum wants Manny to fight Cotto because it benefits him most. He wants to resign Cotto, and he can help his chances by getting him a big fight. Besides, he will be the sole promoter of the fight. No matter who is victorious, Arum wins; both fighters are under his banner.
There is also the Marquez/Mayweather agreement at issue. Marquez can be “compensated” for stepping aside monetarily and/or guaranteed first crack at the winner. Marquez has other options in the meantime: He can fight Mosley at a catch weight (who is also a Golden Boy fighter), or he can take another fight to get comfortable at 140 pounds while waiting for his shot at the winner of Pacman/Mayweather.
The purse split is biggest issue in making this fight in my opinion. I doubt Arum or the Pacman crew will take anything but something in Pacman’s favor. I suggest a 52/48 split in favor of Pacman. The poor ticket sales in the Mayweather/Marquez fight, and the fact Pacman is the Lb for Lb champ, will make it hard for Mayweather to command the bigger purse or even a 50/50 split. But if a 50/50 split or something close to it can be made, neither man would be losing much. Both will make at least 20 million in this fight.
Why does this fight need to happen now? Mayweather/Pacman is the biggest out there with the idea of the current Lb for Lb best fighter in the world fighting the former-Lb for Lb champion who retired without ever losing his title in the ring. It needs to happen now because anything can happen in boxing to diminish the value of an anticipated fight: Mayweather has a boring performance against Marquez, or Pacman falters in his next fight, etc. This fight has something to offer that no other fight can offer fans: it will unequivocally determine who the true Lb for Lb best fighter in boxing is.
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Mayweather, who’s Mayweather on the welterweights. Nobody, until he fights his way through. And Im not talking about Pac Man, he is not a welter.
To all the Mayweather fans who keep saying he beat the best and never lost, please give me the great names he has beaten at welter. He won the title but has never faced a top 5 147 as champ.
Now look at the wins he had at lower weights. Please, please, please giveme one name who was considered to be top 10 P4P or considered to have a chance to win. I can give you one that was not a foregone conclusion, Castillo. He never was a P4P contender but he was given a good shot to win and that was a very close fight.
Floyd claims to be an all-time great. Well there was a heavyweight who retired at 49-0 but apart from Italians, who ever says he was the greatest ever? He was a ferocious puncher with way more heart than Floyd.
Why do experts consider him to be very good but not great/ Cuz he got some gift decisions against ordinary fighters. he got schooled by older men but by sheer strength, determination and pressure (being younger), he was able to overcome them.
I love Marciano because he was a small heavy but he did not care. He retired early because he did not want to face the young lions and that is why he is not rated #1 as heavyweight. I personally feel that if he was a bit bigger, with his heart, ferocity and one shot punching power he could have been the greatest ever. But an old Joe Louis was giving him a boxing lesson until that one shot power of Rocky, k-oed the old champ.
Old fighters who un-retire must be punished so they stay retired. Holmes did in Ali; Norris & later Camacho did in Sugar Ray; Oscar did in J.C. Chavez; Manny did in Oscar and the list goes on. But when Floyd had Oscar what did he do? get my point? At least if you want to cement your legacy, destroy a legend! Fight in your class Even if you lose, we will respect you. We can see when you have a tough fight vs a never was or a has been. After their gruelling match Vasquez & Marquez, they could fight a softie and no one cares but at least they fought each other. That is how you measure greatness not shouting you are the greatest but then avoiding the best. Ali said it and did it. Other great fighters did not say it, BUT they did it in the ring. Again to PBF fans, get your noses out of his ass and ask him to challenge 147. If Calderon (108) was the P4P how would we react if Manny called him out?
A fighter cn call out another if their weights are very close, usially one division but not 2-3 weights apart. Even then, if a big man calls out a small man, what does that prove? A big man should beat a smaller man 99 of 100 times. That is why there are catchweights.
Of course Calderon and Floyd could never meet at a catchweight because no matter where they meet, no one would expect anything but an early KO for Floyd. Manny would be giving up size and power to Floyd BUT he has the heart to do it. Could you see Floyd going up to face Abrahim or Pavlik? He would say they are too big and I agree. He could fight at 154 though but he would probably chose Spinks who hits softer than my grandmother.
But regarding the split, come on, as I keep saying, no one wants to see Floyd against JMM. He is a decent fighter but they are both counter punchers and JMM does not really have a real shot at winning. Besides, the ticket sales are not there. PBF is not a draw. He needs Pacman and must eat crow and accept the lesser %. Say 45%!
For all yall Pacman should avoid getting into a supper fight with floyd mayweather jr because PBF will will not only beat him but do it in a embarasing way. And now that floyd is back pacman is no longer the P4P champ because pacman has lost a couple fights and floyd is 39-0. Another man pacman should avoid would be Sugar Shane. Sorry but even tho the man is getting old he is still quicker than manny. In this fight I would not be surprised if shane knocks him out before the 6th round.
I really hope the PBF-MP fight pushes through. It is not the day of the fight I am anxious about, but the day after. It is going to be a very quiet day. All the rabid Pacmaniacs would be so emasculated they are not even going turn their computers on, let alone come to forums. Or maybe they will, to voice their excuse.
Sa harap ni Floyd Jr, makita natin kung hanggang saan tatagal ‘yang idol n’yong duling. (In front of Floyd Jr., we will see how long your idol lasts.)
Should have done this before signing a deal with Marquez, otherwise we know he faked the injury and he will lose credibility. Manny is not going to let PBF earn more than the 50/50 split, but that’s even questionable since I did not hear Manny saying he would accept, and neither did PBF.Manny should be guaranteed 55/45 and perhaps after the Pacquiao/Cotto ia when they will negotiate, but its not happening now. The best fight this year will still be PACQUIAO VS. COTTO!!
Mayweather’s a sissy that has avoided the entire welterweight division. Plain and simple. Maybe he should go after Ivan Calderon.
mayweather is unbeaten because he avoided the best fighters out there. the only real fighter he fought was zab judah, and judah beat his a$$. if he fights mosley then he would get his much-avoided first loss. even margarito will beat the crap out of him.
Duran fan,
Mayweather doesn’t need to prove sh*t.} He is unbeaten in his professional career.
If there is to be a tune up fight, that would be on his terms he retired for best pound for pound in the world.
Mayweather has fought the best and beat the best easily.
Many people are going on about Mayweathers rib injury that he hasn’t fought in 2 years, but lets think back, Mayweather has fought with this injury before and a broken right hand. Mayweather is the best he is and maybe even the best there was.
PAC BEAT MOSELEY. THAT IS THE BIGGEST JOKE OF ALL. PACK BEAT MOSELEY, FIGHT FANS “U TRULY WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT”. COME ON MAN. FREDDIE ROACH WILL TELL YOU THAT. HE IS NO FOOL. PACQUIAO, THE BIGGEST NAME IN BOXING RIGHT NOW. JUST LIKE THE MAN “ONETIME” SAID. GOTTI WAS HUGE, NOT TO LOSE, BALDIMIR, NOT TO LOSE. HATTON, NOT TO LOSE. FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT LOST A FIGHT OR BEEN NOT DOWN CLEANLY – YOU GOT A LOT OF NERVE CALLING PAC OVER FLOYD, A MAN WITH NO LOSES. DOES ANY PAC FANS THINK THAT FLOYD CAN WIN THE FIGHT? IF NO, YOU NO COUNT NOT WATCHING BOXING ON A REGULAR BASIS SORRY MF’S.
pac beat who???? marquez at 130-135. pac beat cotto-moseley-mayweather?? just look at any of his fights prior to hatton-delahoya. his face tells all the story. beat shane-cotto-mayweather. to fast and hit to hard for that boy. hatton-delahoya? hatton never could fight, delahoya(sure wasnt the real oscar for sure). you are going by that. especially mayweather, all the good fighters you thought, gotti-baldimir-oscar. remember and please dont act like you dont, gotti was suppose to DESTROY mayweather-REMEMBER???? marguarito will DESTROY shane after what he did to cotto-REMEMBER. cotto when 11 hard rounds with plaster marguerito and still almost won-REMEMBER. pac who?? these boys have been in wars. pac lost both fights to marquez – his toughest opponent in 3 years- REMEMBER? dont put that boy on a pedistone if you truly know your boxing.
‘Best fight in boxing history… Fight of the decade…’ boy, that sounds desperate to get Pac into the fight. Sorry, Pac IS the history in-progress, the living-legend of Asian boxing in this era, the guy from the East who reign King of P4P, TODAY. Imagine if mayweather is snubbed by the Asian P4P king, he will not even mentioned in the significant history of boxing when Pacman storm invaded America and the World of Boxing. Hmmm…. imagine that! So, carry on cheerleaders, don’t miss the beat, since Pac still around
Yeah, right Matt, ‘everybody’ want to see this fight NOW, tell that to JMM and co. Marquez, the #2 P4P is more worthy opponent for Pacman. Not mayweather who, people like you think he is the same #1 P4P as if he vacated that status 2weeks ago! Yes he WAS talented, years ago. So talented that coming out of retirement only to fight a smaller guy. And all because for the P4P title. Incidentally the #1 and #2 P4P is not even in his class! Talk about talent, yeah his cheerleaders love to see that talent ducking fighters his own size, and chase smaller champions. He doesnt need to fight Pacman to prove who is P4P king, but the shortcut is too sweet to pass, eh? Grow up, get real. Earn your spot fight your own class, stop bully smaller guys and be the real champion, talented as he is!?!
I agree that this fight should happen. But Ward is correct, Marquez is not going to just step aside and let Pacquiao steal the big money fight he has been waiting for his whole career. We may have to wait until May next year.
i really do beleive the most dangerous fighter in the welter devision is mosley he would out style manny out muscle mayweather and just smash up cotto
ward all those fights u just listed would be awsome expecially mosley mayweather
M.Azlan you are pathetic. Everybody wants to see this fight. Mayweather and Pac will be a fight of the P4P King today and the P4P king of a year or so ago, Cotto is a good fighter but he is not in Mayweathers league. The only way for Manny to truly go down as the best fighter of this decade and an all time super great is to take on Mayweather. Im not saying he has to win, but he at least needs to take him on. Like him or not, Floyd is very talented and will give manny huge problems….i really have trouble seeing Cotto beating Pac. Arum is only making that fight to line his own pockets.
‘The poor ticket sales in the Mayweather/Marquez….’ WOW! You must have good insider to dare put this in writing, i bet! Hua! Hua! Hua! No wonder the sudden ‘injury’ of maywither and the urgency of the ‘Now is the good time…’ for whom? By the way, is maywither in the P4P list or any present belt holder by any chance? Oh, oh, i see, retired eh? Guess if he lost IF he ever fight Pacman, then he is also shot (but get away with millions$). Dunno this article is pathetic or what!
Ha!Ha!Ha!Ha! What a joke! Just because mayweather WAS the P4P king, means he IS still ‘the’ hottest item for team Pacman? His time IS over, prove himself with JMM, then, and ONLY then, make the offer to Pacman. Go ahead Arum, seal the deal with Cotto and later with Mosley. No1 P4P is in charge, you damn right! Not may-who? And certainly not you guys tom-dick&haries. That’s right Arum, it’s the American Dream, Pacman in his prime should harvest in his own good sweet time. For the rest of you, tow in line
I like your opinion, pursue pacman/mayweather fight and it will be the fight of the century. I guarantee you that.
mayweather deserves nothing!! lets have an exiting fight with the 3rd marquez vs pacman!!
Now is NOT the Time !!!! Mayweather ducks out of the fight w/ marquez and not fighting in two years deserves a chance at pacman? No!!!! Mayweather should prove his worth by fighting a live body first. Pacman should fight Mosley first not cotto who looked pretty shot out on sat.
The fight of our times. The battle for the fighter of this decade. Let’s get it on. Offense vs defense.
touche, a very impressive article. the best i’ve read here so far. Eerything written is correct. It could be argued floyd needs a tune up, but you’re right in saying time is of the essence! look forward to ypur next article.
this is a rough guide for any new readers.
Perez – loves anything mexican, hates cotto n pacquiao
Guilford – hates all british fighters
Lieberman – hates Calzaghe
Williams – hates Hatton and Haye
This cotto pac fight is just something arum wants causing hes a shday promoter. Real boxing fans wanna see mayweather vs pac NOW! I agree let marquez fight winner of that fight win win either way. And if manny would lose he can still fight less impressive cotto and beat him. But if manny wins than mayweather would be forced to fight cotto.
This would be a huge money fight for everyone involved. Mayweather is not as big of a draw as he made himself out to be, so hopefully that will help team Pac with the negotiations. GET IT DONE ARUM!!!
Marquez is not going to step aside, they will fight thats guranteed.
I want to see
Mosley – Mayweather
Cotto – Mosley
Mayweather – Manny
Mosley – Manny
Paul williams should be in the mix he is a great fighter and no one wants to fight him.
I hope Mayweather doesn’t get greedy and demand 60-40 in his favour. This is one fight that has been in the making for the past few years, it has to happen. I wish I was a multi-millionaire and I would pay both whatever they wanted myself!!
Yeh mayweather needs one fight before jumping in with pac because boxing fans deserve to see both fighters in there best possible condition.
Damn i’m going to spend ALL my money to travel to the US to watch this fight. Hope it wont be cancelled if it happens, like most fights has been this freaking year..
I think hatton was drunk during the fight with Pac man. Let’s have a rematch without the booze. Mayweather should fight pacman.
i think mayweather needs a tune-up fight first
Agreed…this is THE fight the fans want to see. This would easily bring the most money to the table for both fighters! If Mayweather was smart, he would jump at this fight now while he still has bargaining power. Imagine what he would bring to the table if 1)his fight with JMM flops, doing less than 350,000 PPV 2) He struggles with JMM, even if he wins 3) What if he loses!? 4) What if Pacquiao completely annihilates Cotto!
And for Pac) what if he struggles against Cotto 2) he loses against Cotto? I think that Pacquiao-Cotto would do great PPV numbers however, as people see this as a very competitive fight and will be a tough test for him.
There are too many things that could go wrong within the next 4-6 months that could prevent this fight from happening, why not get it set up NOW?
I Always Say Time Is Your Best Friend And Always Will Tell The Truth When Cotto,Mosley And Margarito Was There For Maywhether Jr He Never Wanted To Fight He When And Fought Ricky Hatton Then Retire Because He New That He Would Have To Face One Of The 3 Monster Or Settle WIth De La Hoya Wich He Was Not That Confidence Of Beating Again After A Closed Decision In The First Match Now He Got Jealous Of Paquio Because His The # I p4p Boxer He Try To Set Up Paquio Figthing Marquez So He Can Get A Future Multimillion Dollar Fight With Paquiao However Because God Dont Like Ugly He got Injure And His Plans Are 0 For The Moment Bob Arum Is A Wise Man And He Knows That Is A Big Posibility That Cotto Will Win Against Paquio Putting Floyd Jr In The Spot And He Will Have To Fight Miguel Or Sugar Shane Mosley And Even If The Pacman Win Bob Arum Still Have The Wining Cards On His Hands Preaty Boy Money Mayweather Jr It Looks Like Your Days Are In A Countdown You Can Run But You Cant Hide
hell yeah this fight should happen, lets see if mayweather is man enough and smart enough to take this fight.
Great article Giancarlo! Every fan wants to see Pacquaio vs Mayweather at this time. It is the biggest fight to look forward to in boxing right now. However, we have to remember that Mayweather is coming back out of a retirement. Even though it was a brief retirement, it was still a great deal of time to be absent from the ring. I don’t think that Pacquaio or any other fighter would come back from a 2 1/2 year lay off to instantly fight the pound for pound king in the first bout.