May 2015 looks to be a hot time in boxing as Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto are all eying that month for their respective next fights.
However, if Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao don’t fight each other, the prospect of three pay-per-views in May will have many boxing fans shaking their heads.
Mayweather is hellbent on Cinco de Mayo weekend while Bob Arum insists May 30 is Manny Pacquiao’s fall back ‘next fight’ date should Mayweather vs Pacquiao not materialize.
And while Canelo vs James Kirkland will be aired on free HBO, Miguel Cotto and Co. are undoubtedly seeking part of that good ol’ PPV greenery.
But many, if not most, U.S. fight fans will not pay upwards of $200 in a single month to watch fights they didn’t ask for. Fans asked for Mayweather vs Pacquiao and Canelo vs Cotto. Instead, we are faced with the prospect of Pacquiao vs Vargas, Cotto vs Bradley and Mayweather vs TBD.
If the above fights take place (regardless who Floyd faces), May’s most anticipated bout would, ironically, be the free fight on HBO – Canelo vs Kirkland.
Even more, there would certainly be some attrition among Mayweather, Pacquiao and Cotto as all three stars would be financially impacted in a hypothetical situation producing three PPVs in one month.
What does it all mean?
It certainly puts the weakest link, Miguel Cotto, in a precarious position. Even if Team Cotto decides to push their man’s next fight to the weekend of the NYC Puerto Rican Parade (early June), asking fans to support three PPVs in five weeks would still be ‘pushing the envelope’ – especially for boxing matches the public didn’t ask for.
So Cotto would simply fight Mayweather, right?
Maybe not…
This scenario also gives Floyd Mayweather even more leverage over Cotto should they continue negotiating for a May rematch.
Boxing’s shrewd top pound-for-pound fighter will undoubtedly remind Cotto there may be little left in the money pot after he and Manny confirm as headliners for separate PPV cards on May 2 and May 30, respectively.
As a result, Cotto may be forced to walk away from Floyd as well, as both sides may not be able to agree on a purse split.
Perhaps Miguel should follow Canelo’s lead and stage his next fight on HBO, and look to return to the PPV arena in the fall?
Cotto’s last fight on HBO quite literally resurrected his career.
