After a hero?s welcome upon his return to the Philippines following an arousing and triumphant return to form over Brandon Rios, perhaps Pacquiao went to the ATM to grab a little celebration cash.
Oops.
?Uh, I gotta call Bob honey,? Pacquiao may have said to wife Jinkee. ?It?s telling me I can?t get any money. How bout we eat in tonight??
Dramatic hyperbole aside, of more importance to Pacquiao besides a mutli-million dollar monetary issue which will be resolved, is the relative health of his nation in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.
Having done a great deal to provide a feeling of relief, joy and pride to his people in defeating Rios, the congressman and pied piper of the Asian peninsula is committed to fighting poverty.
But on this day, Thanksgiving here in America, to even have a chance at this, Pacquiao must defeat larger birds of prey. The biggest one of course being: Floyd Mayweather.
With chatter going on all around the world of the potential – yet again- of an epic face-off between the two, Showtime Executive Vice President Stephen Espinoza has decided to test the waters of where this match-up stands. According to Lance Pugmire of the LA Times, Espinoza revealed he has tried to contact Top Rank?s Bob Arum several times in regards to a potential mega-fight, which is a claim Arum has denied.
Arum, busy fixing Pacquiao’s tax issues that saw the fighter’s bank accounts in the Philippines frozen Tuesday, said “I know of no calls” Espinoza “has made to me or my secretary in two years,” and that the promoter doesn’t want to engage in discussion of Mayweather-Pacquiao in the newspapers.
Espinoza, Showtime?s head honcho of Boxing since November 2011, was clear that if the bout could be made it would be on Showtime pay-per-view, given Mayweather’s exclusive deal with Showtime and a unique loophole that exists in HBO?s partnership with Manny Pacquiao. He also didn?t deny Arum was telling the truth- sort of.
“But I haven’t tried in awhile,” Espinoza told The Times. “I will call Arum. This is an enticing enough opportunity to do it. HBO, for whatever reason, doesn’t have an exclusive deal with Manny Pacquiao, so there’s no reason it can’t be on Showtime.?
Nearly a week removed from Pacquiao?s return, however, has revealed another sense of reality concerning this bout. Mayweather had fought twice since Pacquiao?s dramatic defeat to Marquez while adding another title to his collection.
Since this is a ?what-have-you-done-for-me-lately?? kind of world that we live in, Pacquiao can do much to fully restore luster in a proposed April 12th return in Las Vegas. I can?t see anything other than a return bout with Timothy Bradley if this is the case.
Here?s why.
Forget about a bout with Ruslan Provodnikov. Besides the close friendship that exists between ?Provo? and Pacquiao, they?re both trained by Freddie Roach, and he?s already vetoed this match-up. Not only that, but Provodnikov just collected the WBO super lightweight title in a thriller over Mike Alvarado. Pacquiao is not going to go down to 140lbs. again, and there?s no point in not fighting for a title.
Having gone to war in sparring on many occasions, to do so in an [actual war] with 8 ounce gloves on would ruin them- but more so Pacquiao. Though I think he would win, he?d lose even more of the prime he?s already lost to a slight degree.
But Bradley is a different story.
Unless you?re good ole Tim?s grandmother or another close relative, you know full good and well that Bradley did not beat Manny Pacquiao in June 2012. Bradley has seen his stock rise after it fell in victory over Pacquiao, with an epic ?fight of the year? ish win over the aforementioned Provodnikov, and a clear points decision over Pacquiao?s arch nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez.
Not only could Pacquiao reclaim his WBO title (just forget about that ridiculous piece of non-sense he picked up in China) by besting Bradley, he could kill ?3? birds with one stone. It would fully renew his position in the sport, give him redemption with Bradley, and put him on a clear course to Mayweather.
Then, if Mayweather somehow still didn?t come to terms, he could most likely entice Marquez for a title shot in part [V.] around Mexican Independence Day, to close the chapter on their historic rivalry.
Happy Thanksgiving?s Day everyone!
