I find it rather amusing that Bob Arum and Freddie Roach are up to their “take it leave it” type of “negotiating” again. This time, it’s regarding a proposed third installment between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez, a fight which, in my opinion, makes the most sense. After all, it was Marquez who was the last fighter to take Pacquiao to the very edge, with their first fight ending in a draw despite Marquez hitting the canvas three times in the first round and their second encounter ending in a razor thin one point decision that most ringside observers feel Marquez deserved to win. Am I the only one who thinks it’s a bit odd that there’s always a catch when making a fight with Pacquiao?
Keep in mind, it was Pacquiao who would only fight Miguel Cotto if the bout was fought at a catch-weight. Cotto, the reigning WBO welterweight champion at the time, made the concession to put his title on the line three pounds south of the welterweight limit. Just a few weeks ago, again, it was Pacquiao fighting for yet another world title at an agreed on catch-weight of 150 pounds. While his opponent, Margarito, barely made it to that weight limit, Pacquiao came in looking fit and in shape as he tipped the scales at 144 pounds, which ironically is exactly the catch-weight that Marquez is proposing should the two agree to fight for a third time. But all of a sudden, for some reason, when it comes to fighting Marquez, the idea of a catch-weight is unacceptable to Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum and his trainer Freddie Roach.
Seems to me that Arum and Roach are doing everything in their power to prevent a third fight from happening. The problem is, Marquez will more than likely concede and agree to take the fight at 147 pounds despite the fact that the weight difference will work heavily in the favor of Pacquiao. I am starting to wonder how long Pacquiao’s demands to fight “his way or no way” will continue to go on. The more it happens, the less I blame Floyd Mayweather for taking a stance. In the very beginning, I felt that it was Mayweather who was the unreasonable one, but the more I hear coming out of the mouth of Arum and Roach, the more I believe we will only see Pacquiao fight fighters that are tailor made for a guaranteed win.
Thus far, Floyd Mayweather has only had one major fight (vs. Pacquiao) get bogged down due to disagreements at the negotiating table. Pacquiao, on the other hand, has at least five of late. As previously mentioned, two of his last three fights were held at an agreed upon catch-weight, but one of those fights (vs. Cotto) almost never happened due to disagreement in the weight limit. Plus, at least two other bouts (vs. Hatton and vs. De La Hoya) were on the verge of collapsing due to Pacquiao’s demands for a bigger share of the purse. Eventually, all three of those fights did take place, but only after each opponent conceded to his demands at the negotiating table. Then of course, there was Pacquiao’s on refusal to agree to Mayweather demands and now, for the only fight that makes the most sense, assuming a bout with Mayweather doesn’t happen, there’s already been a “take or leave it” stance taken by Team Pacquiao before negotiations have even begun.
I only hope that Richard Schaefer will do his part in protecting their fighter by not feeding Marquez into a 12-round beating in a fight that’s two weight classes north of where he last fought. Something tells me that won’t be the case, so instead of waiting for another 12-round beatdown of a lethargic 147-pound Marquez, my Christmas wish will remain the same as it was last year…wishing that something will materialize between the two best fighters in the world and we somehow get the fight that we all really want between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
