HOT POTATO OUT OF THE BACK BURNER via Hollywood, California – I still believe Pacquiao versus Mayweather, Jr. is much less probable than Mayweather, Jr. versus any of the Mexican fighters, or Pacquiao versus Marquez, on May 5, 2012.
HOT INSERT: Pacquiao like a deer caught in headlights
But, the ball right now should be on Pacquiao’s court. Mayweather, Jr.would rather press on a fight; he’s turning thirty-five on February 24. He wants to face off Pacquiao on May 5 and so does Pacquiao but only with hesitancy. Pacquiao, who turns 33 on December 17, should know he can’t beat Mayweather, Jr. And whether Pacquiao is truthfully bent on fighting Mayweather, Jr., no one knows. Too much drama and numerous pretentions surround the Pacquiao camp. Pacquiao himself has all the sensible excuses at this time: his prolonged incognito at the 15th Congress of the Philippines due to his training preparations for his last three fights after being elected to Congress in May 2010, his attempt to resolve family issues and his ongoing projects in Sarangani and more. Advertisement
Nonetheless, I still believe there’s no way Pacquiao could win over the Grandmaster from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Yes, the Pacquiao-Mayweather, Jr. fight is what we’ve been waiting for so long after all the frustrations during the more than thrice failed attempts to end both camps’ negotiations with a perfection of contract. Both camps would still fail. And I still believe a fight with Mayweather, Jr. is the riskiest venture for Pacquiao at this stage all because of his political ambition. He could still make big money by fighting less threatening opponent(s) and Top Rank’s marketing game and image would still remain enhanced. And a fourth encounter of Pacquiao against Marquez is surely less threatening than a Mayweather fight. I am sure Pacquiao should now be able to figure out the aging Marquez. Pacquiao should come to his own senses. He is still faster and powerful, only with less than surpassing technique and rhythm than Marquez. But, Marquez would be much slower six months from now.
Just like Mayweather, Jr., on the other hand, Top Rank Godfather Robert “Bob” Arum, promoter of Pacquiao, is a marketing genius. He knows that if a Pacquiao fight with Mayweather, Jr. happens this May, a rematch of Pacquiao against Juan Manuel Marquez would die down.
Both Pacquiao and Arum have said repeatedly to this writer the Mayweather fight is not within their radar’s reach. And now that Pacquiao’s pound-for-pound ranking continues to be shaky and has dropped in fact closely to No. 3 all because of Pacquiao’s less convincing win over Marquez, Pacquiao’s cohorts would be much more apprehensive, except those who care less of his likely fall. Marquez lost to Mayweather, Jr. via unanimous decision. It was a shut-out victory. And that was two years ago versus Pacquiao’s recent take on Marquez. Yes, “styles make fights”. But, Pacquiao’s style as exposed by Marquez is something Mayweather, Jr. can outdate convincingly, if not just by knockout. Yes…by knockout!
While the controversy of the supremacy of Pacquiao over Mayweather, Jr. and Marquez continues to hover around in the minds of the boxing public, Arum might as well take the hot iron strike on the brightest Cinco de Mayo, the biggest Mexican Holiday.
May 5 is either for Mayweather, Jr. versus Canelo Alvarez or Pacquiao versus Marquez IV.
Meet me via Facebook: Granville Tolo-Hayag Vergara-Ampong
