By Dallan o’ Donnell: It saddens me to have such a pessimistic view on this super fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquaio, but it is now the right time to say this fight will never happen, simply because neither boxer want to taint their legendary status with a devastating loss at this late stage in their career. Although Manny has said he will fight for a further three years until the age of 35, who will we see Manny tear apart in those three years? Shane Mosley? A fighter, way past his prime, who should have called it a day after the Mayweather loss? A rematch with Miguel Cotto? A third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez? Perhaps Andre Berto and Timothy Bradley would be more intriguing battles for Manny but they are not seasoned enough to grace the ring with the Pac-Man.
The boxing world wants to see one fight and unfortunately we will not. In the time since Manny tore apart Antonio Margarito not a word has come from anyone in the Mayweather camp. Does this mean Top rank promoter Bob Arum has stuck by his word and made a Mayweather fight top priority? That they are so deep into negotiations they don’t want the press to get wind? I highly doubt it. I would go as far to say Arum hasn’t even spoken to Floyd. When asked about a fight with Mayweather Manny shrugged saying he wouldn’t be worried if the fight didn’t happen. That’s exactly the attitude i did not expect from Manny. He did say that it would be great for the people, the boxing fans, which admittedly gave me a glimmer of hope. But negotiations or lack of them have seen that glimmer disappear.
Floyd wants to keep that big fat zero on his record and won’t contemplate putting it at risk. He will more than likely fight again, against another washed up fighter and retire undefeated. Although we all want to see this fight happen how many of you would watch it in three years time? I certainly would not. Now is the perfect time whilst both men are in their prime. Who cares who wins and who loses? The legacy of this possible fight would live on for many years after the careers of both men.
There are so many arguments for why this fight should happen! But then we snap back to reality and realize that this fight will not happen. We realize that two legends of the ring will not square off against each other. So we can make our final pleas to Floyd and Manny saying: Do the sport justice, do the fans justice, but most of all do your selves justice. You have both achieved feats beyond belief in the sport that cannot be taken from you. So do not take this super fight from the fans.
Comments are closed.