By Michael Mason: For now, the saliva inducing showdown between Floyd and Manny has been packed back into its box, and placed back on boxing’s dusty shelf of fights that should have been…

But when one door closes, another opens. Instead of having the Mayweather vs Pacquiao bout, boxing fans may have been thrown another, yet slightly smaller bone. Golden Boy Promotions stating that now Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Shane could be in the mix for the near future now that the Berto bout has collapsed.

“Mayweather is interested and so, of course, is Shane. Now it’s a matter of

negotiating the right deal structure that makes everyone happy.”

Said Richard Schaeffer the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, clearly the fight would not be of the same magnitude as a meet with Pacquiao and that’s because Mayweather acts as an anchor, like a balloon tied to a rock, its much more exciting if you untie it and watch it fly… he will be like that no matter who he fights. Saying that, have you seen a boxer with a defence to match his? Marquez missing over 500 punches in his fight with Mayweather. Pristine counter punching and

an enigmatic style nobody has yet managed solve.

Unfortunately that’s not what captivates an audience, people find attack is the best form of defence (completely wrong in boxing) and that’s what gets viewers hearts racing.

Mayweather is an oxymoron, his own worst enemy… his superlative style against people in the ring, that at one point made him the best boxer on the planet; also takes on the role as an incredible anti-climactic style for the spectators.

What could be worse than having Manny and Floyd’s fight dubbed one of the biggest events in boxing history, only to find it was a relatively plain fight, one boxer chasing and the other running. An exciting boxer + a relatively dull boxer = an average fight.

However if Mayweather decides to take on Mosley, and Mosley conquers, well we have quite a different story altogether..

The only welterweight fighters I can see really in with a shout against Mayweather are now Manny and Shane (I hate to say it but I think cotto’s had too many wars) and if Shane can beat Floyd we have a much larger mouth watering prospect knocking on our doors. A super fight that could actually live up to its own hype, two hungry boxers creating a bout that could imprinted into our memories for years… for all the right reasons. Both fought Cotto, and both fights were heads and shoulders above many of Mayweather’s.

Who remembers Oscar v Floyd? Well, it speaks for itself. The fight that would save boxing, was a complete bore from start to finish… and that sometimes more than anything can be damaging to the sport, the best of the best in the ring.. and they end up having a similar effect on the fans as nitrous oxide would… inducing calm to the point you’re drowsy.

On the other hand, if Shane loses we are no worse off than before, Mayweather will be set to collide with Pacquiao later in the year, and atleast then Mosley would have had his well earned shot he’s been waiting for.

Just for now though we have to hope Pacquiao can beat Clottey (another very good fight) and for Mayweather and Mosley to agree on terms… because lets face it, at this time most boxers want their fights to be “Sugar-free”.