The latest statements form Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach seem to suggest that the pair have left Floyd Mayweather behind them, and are looking forward rather than trying to force that particular fight to happen.
Seemingly Pacquiao understands now that Floyd simply doesn’t want the fight, and that all the other excuses and allegations are just a means of putting it off. To Mayweather’s credit he has now signed to fight Shane Mosley, but regardless of the outcome of that fight, a showdown with Pacquiao will probably never happen.
Floyd will insist on his extra drug testing, and no doubt the allegations will start to fly again. In the end entering into talks for Pacquiao will probably just result in his reputation taking another hit and the fight falling apart again.
In all honesty, though neither fighter really needs the fight to happen so long as they both stay active. There are plenty of other big names out there for either to face, and the welterweight division seems to be growing by the week with contenders dropping down and moving up. Everyone from Shane Mosley to Edwin Valero are looking for a Pacquiao fight, and by the looks of it, anyone with a big enough name who can come into the fight as a welterweight is being considered.
Has Mayweather gotten his wish? (AP Photo)
The news that Pacquiao and Mayweather are looking further apart than ever will come as a disappointment to some, but good news to others.
Dave Newton, Pittsburgh PA: “I’m glad the fight won’t happen, I’ve seen enough of Mayweather dancing around smaller opponents all night. It wouldn’t have been the exciting fight everyone thinks it would have”
Robert White, Philadelphia PA: “Mayweather wanted Pacquiao to give up on the fight since day one. Now he can say that Pacquiao is ducking him, rather than the other way around”
Sean Cullins, Scranton PA: “From the start I said this fight would never happen, and no one believed me. It will go down as another great fight that never happened, and by pulling out if it Floyd relegated himself to the number 2 spot of the modern era”
Some astute observations there, and it seems most people are siding with Manny on this one. Should Mayweather beat Mosley, which is a difficult fight, but one he should be the favorite for, then the fight could still go ahead regardless. It does look strongly like Golden Boy are lining up opponents for Mayweather, the same as Top Rank are doing with building up Margaritp quickly again for a Pacquiao fight, but you never know.
The most difficult thing for Mayweather if the fight doesn’t ever happen is accepting that to most people, he will never be number one so long as Manny Pacquiao keeps fighting and winning. While he might claim that he’s still the number one pound for pound fighter in the world, few people will listen so long as there is a more exciting and actiev fighter still notching up the top ten wins.
