?Pacquiao?s a has-been; his career is over. [Juan] Manuel Marquez is a legend. I commend him.??Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The chances may be slim to none for a Pac-Mayweather fight, but given a certain, albeit remote, scenario, it could happen and if it did, it could reap more money than there is money?and MONEY is what Mayweather is all about.
September 14
First, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez square off on September 14 in Ls Vegas in a mega fight that Floyd says is all about ?the best fighting the best.? Compared to an almost certain Pacquiao-Rios all-action brawl, this one looks to be more of a chess match with the distinct possibility of the hype?now on overload?overshadowing the fight itself.
However, let?s assume that we see the ?best? Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas?a hungry and determined one who gives Floyd all he can handle (using the Cotto blueprint) though in a losing effort, one in which he easily can come back from to engage in other monster paydays. And let?s assume further that Floyd?s aura of invincibility suffers a major blow as his precision-like execution and ability to adapt, though providing enough to ruin Canelo?s undefeated record, fall short of expectations.
November 23
?Right now we don?t know where Pacquiao is and where he?s at physically and mentally after the spectacular loss he took.??Naazim Richardson
?This is hardly an easy tune-up for Pacquiao after a brutal knockout loss. Rios is a vicious, relentless thug in the ring and actually enjoys the brutality of the sport.??Paul Magno (Yahoo Sports)
As for Pacquiao-Rios, Timothy Bradley had this to say: ?If you?re standing right in front of Pacquiao, man, honestly bro, I don?t feel you have a chance?we already know Brandon Rios? style?the thing that?s special about Pacquiao is that when he puts his punches in combinations, every shot is a death blow.?
Conversely, Naazim Richardson said this about ?Bam Bam? Rios: ?He?s gonna be rough, he?s not gonna take a back step, he?s not gonna back down.?
In this collision-waiting-to-happen, let?s assume that Pac-Man handles the Mexican-American brawler in this much-anticipated November 23 clash in Macau, China. The risk here is that for the loser, it might spell the end. Says Freddie Roach, ?if he loses I will tell him to retire. If you lose three in a row it?s your time. He?s up there in age; I?ve got to keep a close eye on him??
However, if Pacquiao should somehow win in spectacular fashion?perhaps by stopping Rios early?he jumps right back onto center stage, though for his own good that stage should not include Juan Manuel Marquez.
The Future
Given the above scenario, the ?calling out? leverage shifts to Pacquiao forcing Mayweather?s hand and maybe even forcing ?Money? to once again adapt to changing circumstances.
It could happen.
