As it becomes more and more imminent with each passing day, it seems to be that Floyd Mayweather will fight on May 5, and Manny Pacquiao will fight 35 days later on June 9.
No mega match.
That?s the sad truth that us boxing-heads have to just sit back and chug down like a ragged pill or four horseman type shot that hopefully has a chaser to follow. (At least we are used to this by now, this being a two-plus year long drama). The No. 1 and No. 2 consensus fighters in boxing will be fighting in the same city (Las Vegas) and probably the same venue (MGM Grand Garden Arena) and definitely on the same premium cable network (HBO PPV).
So what?!!! Tell us something new!
Well, as I had predicted, and is thus far true, we will hear who Pacquiao is facing next, prior to hearing whom Mayweather has selected for his May 5 assignment. Mayweather masterfully threw a wrench in Top Rank?s attempt to take four names not named ?Mayweather? to the Philippines and have the Pac Man circle with a Congressional pen, forcing them to negotiate, or at least discuss, the probability of a Mayweather showdown, thus forcing Money?s name as a fifth addition to the list.
Probably one of the smartest boxing business moves in recent memory, if you look at it objectively.
So where are we now?
Well, after the constant tweets, excuses/reasons not to stage the fight, and an actual confirmed phone call between the two boxing stars, it seems the deal breaker was Mayweather not agreeing to a 50/50 split.
What Top Rank can do now is brake out that four name list they had and have the Pac Man and now have him use that Congressional pen and move forward to June 9.
And just who?s name should Pacquiao circle?
Well, Timothy Bradley of course.
Now some may scoff at the notion that Bradley is not as known as the other two on the list, (Miguel Cotto/Juan Manuel Marquez) but those would both be a rematch, and a fourth bout, respectively. Been there, done that. The last name on the list recently scored a big win over Amir Khan yet is even more of a lesser known than Bradley, if you can imagine that (Lamont Peterson).
So why not choose the 28 year old undefeated WBO junior-welterweight fromPalm Springs,California?
Bradley is 28-0, is a multiple title winning champion already and is in his absolute prime.
In Bradley, Pacquiao would have a legitimate and young, talented and fresh faced opponent, just like Mayweather had when he took on a young Mexican named Victor Ortiz in September of last year.
Bradley made his Top Rank and pay pre view debut that November on the Pac/Marquez III under card in a blowout win over veteran Joel Casamayor. He has also been featured numerous times on both Showtime and HBO, yet still doesn?t have a solid following.
But just because Bradley isn?t known to the masses, he shouldn?t be able to face the top fighters of his day?
Hogwash.
The only thing that fighting Bradley would affect would be the PPV buys and possibly the gate. (Since Pacquiao has ?guarantee?s? from promoter Arum for his fights, his purse shouldn?t be affected.) Since when so we fight followers care so much about the money end of things?
Pacquiao vs. Bradley would be a scintillating physical match, and even at that. Bradley stands 5?6? (Pac 5?6 ?), and carried a 69? reach (Pac 67?). You can bet that Bradley will bend and move up to 147, and he has at least one fight, a successful one at that, at that weight in a 147 fight in July 2010 over LuisCarlosAbregu.
The Pac Man vs. Desert Storm June 9 at the MGM inLas Vegas.
