For years boxing fans have been begging to see a super fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Both guys will go down as two of the best fighters of their generation, but they have yet to ever fight each other.
Years ago, it was believed that Floyd Mayweather was running from Manny Pacquiao, but lately it seems as if maybe Pacquiao is hiding from Money May. Regardless, it is clear that fans do not want to see the fight as much as they once did. But that’s not to say that people don’t want to see it because it would still bring in more money for the sport of boxing than any other fight in recent memory.
Unfortunately, the fight will still be quite complicated to make. Ever since Pacquiao got knocked out cold in his fourth fight against Juan Manuel Marquez, he has lost a lot of bargaining power in negotiations for a fight against Money May. Mayweather is still undefeated and doesn’t believe he needs to fight Pacquiao to go down in history as one of the best to ever step in to the ring.
Mayweather believes Pacquiao needs him way more than he needs Pacquiao.
“I don’t need him, he needs me,” Mayweather said. “Now he’s begging – ‘Do it for the fans.’ I fight my fights for Floyd Mayweather. Manny Pacquiao had his chance. All I asked him is two things: Random blood tests and random urine tests. But I see what’s going on now when uncle Sam is on your back. He’s trying to do anything. We already seen that he can be out-boxed. We already seen that he can be knocked out. His pay-per-view numbers don’t do what my pay-per-view numbers do…He has to take orders; I give orders.”
Will a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight happen? Who knows. Maybe? But if it ever does, it is clear that we will not be seeing either fighter at his best because that ship sailed years ago. Although both Mayweather and Pacquiao are still two of the best fighters pound for pound in the sport today, neither of them are as good as they once were.
And since Mayweather had a ton of trouble with Marcos Maidana, he will likely take a rematch later this year. That means if a Pacquiao vs. Mayweather bout happens, it wouldn’t happen until 2015 at the earliest.
At this point in their careers, the best chance of them ever facing will be when they are both in their 40s and hurting for money and/or fame.
