By Robert Elmore: Everyone is still shocked about Manny Pacquiao getting knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez. Shortly after, as I thought would happen, people have come forth saying Floyd Mayweather should have done this and that to make the fight happen.
Let’s get one thing straight. It’s not Mayweather’s fault that Pacquiao took the bout against Marquez. That fight was simply about money (although his fans say he doesn’t fight for money). All Pacquiao had to do was keep winning and his stock would have risen even more. Pacquiao seemed to be content with “leaving it up to his promoter” who has matched up him with Top Rank fighters in his last seven fights. This time he ran into a very determined Marquez in their 4th bout which sent Pacquiao down the pound for pound list and his demand for a 55/45 split straight down the tubes.
I will say this. Mayweather needed Pacquiao to make his career best as far as money is concerned and pay per views. Just like in 2005, Oscar needed Floyd to make the most money he ever made and to do massive pay per view buys. Oscar cracked the 1 million plus mark only twice before meeting Mayweather (1.4 million buys vs. Trinidad; Bernard Hopkins 1 million buys). De La Hoya pocketed 52 million for the Mayweather fight that brought in 2.4 million buys. However, despite Pacquiao losing Mayweather still is able to rake in a great amount of cash without fighting Pacquiao. He maximizes his earnings by being his own promoter while he gets a piece of the ticket sales, closed circuit, money from the gate, and the pay per view sales.
Mayweather’s base pay has been much larger than Pacquiao’s in every fight he has fought in since beating Oscar. Even in common opponents such Shane Mosley and Miguel Cotto, Floyd has done better in pay per view and cash.
Against lesser known opponents such Victor Ortiz, Floyd’s base pay was 25 million while Pacquiao’s base pay against Timothy Bradley was 6 million. Against Cotto, Mayweather’s base pay was a record setting 32 million. Mayweather is set to return in 2013 with two big fights and I don’t believe they will disappoint at the box office, pay per view sales, and his take home cash. Mayweather is clearly in the driver’s seat in negotiations now. But more than likely Pacquiao will finish up his career against Top Rank fighters.
People trying to downgrade Floyd to uplift Pacquiao?
Has it really come to this? Is this really happening? People are trying desperately to hate Floyd at all cost. Fans where hating before, but now it has really turned up. But the heat turned up after Pacquiao was knocked out by Marquez on December 8th. And to be honest, people want to see that happen to Floyd. What some fail to realize is that Pacquiao’s recklessness is nothing new. That’s why people like him. That’s why they call his fights exciting.
Mayweather is a technician. He carefully places his punches and is never out of position to where he doesn’t see a punch coming. Mayweather fought most of career under the Top Rank banner and he beat all those who Bob Arum put in front of him. People his chances of losing are slim because he only fights once or twice a year. Floyd has put in work and has earned the right to fight as many times as he likes. Pacquiao could have done the same, but choose to re-up his contract with Top Rank through 2013. Floyd’s legacy is secure and he’s a first round ballot hall of famer. So while the hating continues, so does the undefeated record.
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