Welcome to ‘Doggy Bag’ where I discuss some of my ideas, thoughts and feelings on Boxing related issues. Plus some news worthy tid bits and more. Enjoy!
To start, I’d like to talk about the 3 MUST-FIGHTS in order of importance for Manny Pacquiao – These of course are hypothetical because before any of these match-ups can truly begin to be discussed, on November 23rd Pacquiao must first tackle the challenge of Brandon ‘Bam Bam’ Rios. I want to stress I am not overlooking Rios, especially after I recently enjoyed listening to him in an interview conducted by Jenna J. for On The Ropes Boxing Radio / DHB – (more on that below) in which he was brimming with confidence and finally had me sold that he will not be a pushover. So without further ado…
TOP 3 MUST-FIGHTS FOR MANNY PACQUIAO.
Number One: Obviously a no-brainer – Floyd Mayweather Jr.
It isn’t just the number one must-fight for Pacquiao – it is also most definitely the top fight for Mayweather. These two will always be linked in name. They have unfinished business. And if it’s all about making money – can someone tell me what fight in boxing could make more? Would it be a record breaker? I believe so on all fronts from the live gate to the PPV revenue.
Really the only question is ‘why hasn’t this fight happened already?’ – If there has been any inkling of the possibility that Team Mayweather maybe re-thinking the landscape and heading in the direction of a Pacquiao bout – it came in this recent exclusive interview conducted by Jenna J. with Floyd Mayweather Sr: Floyd Sr: “I think Pacquiao is the man to take a shot at Floyd, and if we check him from head to toe, we can go!”‘….
Number Two: Until Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, this spot was reserved for Juan Manuel Marquez (who Ko’ed Pacquiao in round 3 of their fight this past December) but now goes to Tim Bradley (who defeated JMM by way of a split decision). Last year in the month of June, Bradley won a shocking and highly controversial split decision to take the WBO welterweight title off Pacquiao.
For Pacquiao a rematch with Bradley is not about unfinished business as it would be the case with Mayweather, but rather righting a wrong. A chance for Pacquiao to correct all the misdoings of their first controversial encounter. – This is also the number one must-fight for Bradley – perhaps his only shot at redemption in the eyes of fans left hot and bothered over his victory on Pacman.
Number Three: You’ve probably guessed by now, thanks to the obvious clue in number two I am picking Marquez here. It was the punch felt around the world. I considered it a ‘Lucky Punch’ as I wrote in my column yesterday: Why Bradley’s win 100% certifies Marquez’s KO of Pacquiao as a ‘Lucky Punch’…. These two have deep seated history and the final chapter on this book is one fight away.
So there are the 3, but like I stated before I listed any names, the most important battle for Pacquiao right now is Rios.
