As the media push begins for the two biggest pay-per-view events of the year featuring boxing’s two biggest and best fighters, it’s time to get a couple of things straight: Neither Manny Pacquiao nor Floyd Mayweather are fighting the fights the fans want and both shows are mere time-fillers for the one logical bout that needs to be made.
By the time each respective pay-per-view turns down the home stretch and begins to get all their ducks in a row, the fans will be eager to buy and the shows will likely be financial successes. However, that only serves as a testament to the drawing power of both fighters and the desperate willingness from fight fans to give in to their honest desire to see the sport they love.
The fact of the matter is that Juan Manuel Marquez and Victor Ortiz are poor replacements for the opponents the fans really want to see. For Mayweather, the fans want Pacquiao; For Pacquiao, the fans want Mayweather. It’s just that easy. Moreover, it’s logical and downright necessary.
However, as most long-time fight fans can attest to, logic isn’t something that always goes hand in hand with matchmaking.
September 17’s Floyd Mayweather-Victor Ortiz event, named Star Power, is, predictably, struggling to get off the ground and tickle the fancy of most boxing fans. Golden Boy anticipated this from the beginning and loaded the undercard with legit Mexican draws, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Erik Morales in an effort to take full advantage of Mexican Independence Day weekend.
