Don’t count on Pacquiao – Mayweather fight

By Boxing News - 08/15/2012 - Comments

Image: Don't count on Pacquiao - Mayweather fightBy John F. McKenna (McJack): There have been numerous articles circulating in the boxing world that the long anticipated match between the two superstars in boxing, former World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (53-4-2, 38 KO’s) and undefeated superstar WBA junior middleweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (43-0, 26 KO’s) is about to come to fruition.

There is nothing this boxing writer would like to see more than a match between the two icons. Last week, “Money May” seemed to offer a glimmer of hope by referring to Pacquiao as an unbelievable fighter. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, perhaps the slickest boxing promoter since the immortal Tex Rickard from the 1920’s, weighed in by saying that a Pacquiao – Mayweather fight in 2013 is quite possible and that he is encouraged by recent developments.

Mayweather’s ongoing friendship with 50 Cent has led to the rapper forming his own promotional team which goes by the name TMT Promotions. TMT of course stands for The Money Team. If all goes according to plan 50 Cent will be promoting Mayweather’s future fights. The move would leave Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and front man Oscar De La Hoya out in the cold.

Of course we have all been at the precipice before where it seemed that a Pacquiao – Mayweather fight was about to happen. Time after time however the hopes of boxing fans were dashed. Boxing fans have been the big losers all along, and after all they are the ones forking out the big bucks to either watch the fights on Pay Per View (PPV) or at a live venue. At this point it is unknown how boxing fans will react after the disgraceful decision which awarded the WBO welterweight championship to Timothy Bradley. Will boxing fans still fork out the PPV fees for fights that even trained judges can’t get right?

I’ve spoken to many boxing fans over the past few years who have become jaded at the inability of the powers that be to put together the one fight all boxing fans want to see. Many boxing fans have accused Mayweather of using Pacquiao’a name to stay relevant and to some extent that may be true. Did Floyd just figure out that Manny was an unbelievable fighter after trashing him for so long?

But Mayweather is not the only one to blame. Arum continues to hold out hope that the “big fight” is right around the corner. And Manny Pacquiao himself needs to step up and not be over ruled by his promoter. I hold out very little hope that a Pacquiao – Mayweather fight will ever happen.



Comments are closed.