By @BoxingMuse: Eight-division world titlist Manny Pacquiao is set to face Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios on November 23, 2013 in Macau, China. Although this is not your typical comeback fight; featuring a big name against an over-matched journeyman, fringe contender or faded ex-champion.
This bout is scheduled in order to re-announce the ‘Fighting Pride of the Philippines’ back near the top of the boxing world since a devastating KO loss against a formidable foe who is specifically selected to bring the best out of Pacquiao.
Let’s get this straight, this is not an easy fight and I hope ‘Pac-Man’ is not looking past Rios to bigger fights, but my job as a boxing writer means I am looking past this fight for a bigger potential fights for the Filipino icon.
One matchup which is particularly foreseeable is against Amir ‘King’ Khan. It is financially and stylistically realistic and feasible. There is a story behind this fight and there are various reasons why this matchup is very possible.
If the speculated fight between Khan and Alexander is made and Amir prevails or even in a situation where Khan loses to Devon as long as it is not obviously or by KO then a fight with Pacquiao is still much more attractive and viable than a Pacquiao v Alexander fight.
Firstly there is known history of various thrilling sparring sessions between the two of them when they were both training side by side out of the famed Wild Card Boxing Gym in Las Vegas under Freddie Roach. Evidence of this can be seen on YouTube.
Secondly, Amir and Manny formed a friendship which has since lost its significance when Khan parted ways with Freddie Roach following a surprise knockout loss to Danny Garcia. Former friends turned potential rivals is an exciting prospect and a great narrative.
During past training camps for both fighters, Pacquiao’s Filipino advisers even demanded no further sparring would occur between the two in case a potential fight was made.
Thirdly, there is also some bad feeling between former teacher and student. In an interview with maxboxing.com Roach talked about Khan possibly fighting his main man Pacquiao “well like I said I wish you the best Amir, but stay away from punchers and my guys are punchers”
Khan was heavily criticized for suggesting that Roach’s ability to train was being declining due to suffering from the illness of Parkinson’s disease. Amir took to twitter to defend his comments; “I blame myself for the losses in my career. Not blaming Freddie Roach or anyone. I just needed a change.”
According to Freddie Roach, Khan’s management team asked for Roach to leave Pacquiao and make Amir his main focus if he were to continue training Khan. Obviously this was not a possibility for Roach so the former two-time world champion left Roach in search of a new trainer.
The search brought him to #2 pound-for-pound Andre Ward’s trainer Virgil Hunter. The partnership of Khan and Hunter has seen gradual changes in Khan’s temperament over two fights; Molina and Diaz. There have been no drastic changes but Khan was dropped in his most recent fight with Julio Diaz and rose to his feet to make more sound technical decisions and intelligent choices rather than fighting back out of anxiety or hurt pride which caused his downfall against Garcia.
Another background story to a potential Pacquiao v Khan fight is the fact that the two trainers have made some comments about each other concerning Amir Khan.
Hunter accused Roach of making mistakes with various issues about Khan’s weight in the build-up to fights. Also stating Freddie did not give good instructions to Amir following the crisis of the first knock down in the Garcia fight. Roach has stated that Hunter can’t help Khan and hasn’t improved or changed him as a boxer. So there are minor underlining negative emotions from each coach to the other which adds fuel to the fire.
A bout between Pacquiao and Khan makes more business sense than a Mayweather V Khan fight although this fight has been more widely touted and discussed. If you consider that the Mayweather Jr. v Canelo ‘The One’ event co-features Garcia v Matthysse, this is clearly as semi-final as the winner will face Mayweather, providing the betting favourite Floyd overcomes the young Mexican Alvarez.
Professional boxing cards of this magnitude usually feature fighters who have the potential of meeting each other in the near future. If we take a look back at ‘Ring Kings’ which featured Mayweather Jr. V Cotto and Canelo v Mosley, would you believe it Floyd and Saul are soon to face. Leading us to the assumption that a victorious Mayweather, will face either Garcia or Matthysse.
Therefore leaving us with the possibility of Pacquiao versus Khan.
Although it is important to remember there is a Golden Boy & Top Rank cold war going on. Khan as a Golden Boy fighter and Pacquiao is promoted by Top Rank may cause some problems in making the fight. But as long as other elements that have caused major fights to not be made in the past are covered and sorted, then money talks and this fight would surely generate the interest and financial worth to make the two big promotional companies put their differences aside to make this big fight.
Finally and most vitally, their styles would gel beautifully. Both men are sublimely quick on their feet and have frightful hand speed. Both men have their vulnerabilities which would add to the excitement. Former friends turned fistic enemies; Khan has an advantage with youth while Pacquiao has the edge in power. The fight may depend on who wins the battle of game plans orchestrated by their respective coaches; Roach v Hunter.
Both have a point to prove in their proposed autumn fights but there is huge reasoning behind a potential Pacquiao v Khan fight.
Feel free to write your comments below and also if you want to ask me a question or comment on any of my articles (negative or positive) please tweet me @BoxingMuse or even if you just want a debate on any boxing matter!
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