There have been four major developments regarding Manny Pacquiao the past two weeks, the most important being his acquiescence to a 45/55 purse split should he and Floyd Mayweather finally battle. This is putting the pressure on Mayweather to sign on or be perceived as the one afraid to take the fight.
Pacquiao also has at last agreed to the sort of last-minute blood-testing procedures that had been cited as a key factor in stalled negotiations between Top Rank (Pacquiao) and Golden Boy Promotions and other front people for Mayweather.
The third development, announced Tuesday, was that Pacquiao has called off a defamation suit that stemmed from accusations Mayweather and his father made linking Pacquiao to steroids use.
And the fourth is that Pacquiao has signed for a fourth bout with Juan Manuel Marquez on Dec. 8.
Yes, it?s hard to work up sufficient enthusiasm for the actual bout on Pacquiao?s docket. At least they?re evenly matched: Manny has escaped with two wins and a draw thanks to a 4-0 edge in knockdowns, but Marquez, now 39, arguably has won more than half of the 36 rounds they?ve fought.
The whole thing is morphing into a senior circuit instead of a collision of the world?s top fighters pound-for-pound. Pacquiao turns 34 the week after Pacquiao-Marquez IV and has shown signs of losing his ferocity in recent fights .
Mayweather will turn 36 before he and Pacquiao meet. He cares, to a fault, about preserving his unbeaten status. He?s pretty sure but isn?t positive that Pacquiao has slowed down enough that Mayweather can tame him.
That?s a pretty intriguing story line, but it will lose its edge in coming months. It?s too bad this Marquez fight has to precede the one we?ve longed to see for four years now.
At least victories over Marquez and Mayweather might yank Pacquiao into a perfectly timed retirement, before he skids into real decline.
Those two bouts ought to provide Pacman the financial wherewithal to pack it in.
