Arum Feels Fans Will Move Past Mayweather, Pacquiao By 2017

By Edward Chaykovsky

Boxing is still searching for the next crossover superstar. In the last twelve months, the two biggest names in the sport announced their retirements.

Last September, former five division world champion Floyd Mayweather Je. retired after winning a twelve round decision over Andre Berto. This past April at the same Las Vegas venue, eight division champion Manny Pacquiao announced his retirement after winning his trilogy bout with Timothy Bradley.

Both fighters had little left to accomplish after fighting each other last May in the most financially successful fight in the history of the sport.

The biggest difference in their departures - when compared to many of the greats who walked away - is that neither fighter 'passed the torch' to someone younger coming up in the ranks. Mayweather had the chance, as fighters like Keith Thurman and Amir Khan were in the running to face him in September - but the retired pound-for-pound king settled on Berto, who was tabbed as a high as a 80-1 underdog by some oddsmakers.  Pacquiao was in the same boat. He could have faced Khan or Terence Crawford, but settled on a fighter who many felt he had already beaten twice with few issues.

Because neither of them passed the torch, a lot of fans continue to discuss comebacks for the two and continue to align their names with the top fighters from 140 to 154.

There are ongoing rumors that both fighters are looking to return in the fall or early next year.

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who at one time promoted Mayweather and continues to promote Pacquiao - believes the comeback hype surrounding both fighters will likely continue until the end of the year and die down by 2017.

"[The hype for both fighters to return] it’s never dying down, but the past sell date for both of them is gradually approaching. Another year, no one will give a damn. It’s the passage of time," Arum told the Las Vegas Sun.