Tweet
OK, now would be the time to finally break my silence on what I really think about the making of this fight. Despite what some people say, neither fighter needs the other more. I'm convinced that they both need each other (but not the money) just the same, in order to finish their careers properly. Let me explain...
If Pacquiao retires without fighting Mayweather, the question will forever follow him - could he have beaten the undefeated former p4p #1 he displaced in the rankings by default? He's done a lot in his career and is a surefire HOF'er, but that question would never leave his side from real boxing fans. The only ones who claim it wouldn't matter are his stans or apologists (i.e. those who count the De La Hoya win as something meaningful).
Likewise if Mayweather retires without fighting Pacquiao, people will bring up the question to haunt his ass forever - could he have beaten the p4p #1 guy who displaced him whilst he was away? He, too, has achieved good things in his career and is also a shoo-in for HOF status, but no real boxing fan would ever let him forget that he never fought the crazy Pinoy southpaw who tore through all those divisions like a maniac.
So besides each other, the only legit opponents available to them are the following...
Berto - the last remaining true WW, and is undefeated. Both beat him easily.
Martinez - king of LMW and MW, and extremely dangerous because of his physical advantages over both fellas. IMO, the most risky fight there is. I'd love it!
Williams - a highly active punching machine without (overtly, anyway) much power to worry them. I'm still undecided as to whether he beats either of them.
Bradley - undefeated co-king of LWW, but without much power to worry them.
Alexander - undefeated co-king of LWW, with oodles of power and speed.
Granted, none of them are huge names - but nobody else is! The crux of the matter is that the only cash cows around are Mayweather and Pacquiao, and if neither are willing to face each other (for now), the above 5 guys are IMO credible and acceptable opponents for them to fight in the meantime, whether the weight is from 140 to 154. All good match-ups, but not good enough on which to end their careers. They'd still have to sign a deal eventually.
Others such as the winner of Cotto-Foreman, however, aren't acceptable in the slightest. Pacquiao already demolished Cotto, and would only be fighting the light-hitting Foreman for the purpose of getting a trinket (from his point of view) at an eighth weight class. Khan, too, wouldn't mean much because he's still way too green and was stopped by a considerably lesser fighter. Margarito is nothing and doesn't deserve the payday. I won't give them any credit for beating the aforementioned 'consolation prizes'.
All in all, I've gone from wanting this fight badly to not giving a damn - mainly due to the fact that it's been a loaded past 4 months, and the testing bull**** has put me off (with both being in the wrong IMO) - and back to giving a damn again. Right now I'm really pumped for it to be made, and who to start giving the edge in pre-fight analysis. I'll post a breakdown of the potential fight another time, but I'll end this mini-essay with the statement I made above - on the part of both there will too many lingering, unanswered questions if they retire without fighting each other. They'll be dogged for the rest of their lives.
It simply must happen.
If Pacquiao retires without fighting Mayweather, the question will forever follow him - could he have beaten the undefeated former p4p #1 he displaced in the rankings by default? He's done a lot in his career and is a surefire HOF'er, but that question would never leave his side from real boxing fans. The only ones who claim it wouldn't matter are his stans or apologists (i.e. those who count the De La Hoya win as something meaningful).
Likewise if Mayweather retires without fighting Pacquiao, people will bring up the question to haunt his ass forever - could he have beaten the p4p #1 guy who displaced him whilst he was away? He, too, has achieved good things in his career and is also a shoo-in for HOF status, but no real boxing fan would ever let him forget that he never fought the crazy Pinoy southpaw who tore through all those divisions like a maniac.
So besides each other, the only legit opponents available to them are the following...
Berto - the last remaining true WW, and is undefeated. Both beat him easily.
Martinez - king of LMW and MW, and extremely dangerous because of his physical advantages over both fellas. IMO, the most risky fight there is. I'd love it!
Williams - a highly active punching machine without (overtly, anyway) much power to worry them. I'm still undecided as to whether he beats either of them.
Bradley - undefeated co-king of LWW, but without much power to worry them.
Alexander - undefeated co-king of LWW, with oodles of power and speed.
Granted, none of them are huge names - but nobody else is! The crux of the matter is that the only cash cows around are Mayweather and Pacquiao, and if neither are willing to face each other (for now), the above 5 guys are IMO credible and acceptable opponents for them to fight in the meantime, whether the weight is from 140 to 154. All good match-ups, but not good enough on which to end their careers. They'd still have to sign a deal eventually.
Others such as the winner of Cotto-Foreman, however, aren't acceptable in the slightest. Pacquiao already demolished Cotto, and would only be fighting the light-hitting Foreman for the purpose of getting a trinket (from his point of view) at an eighth weight class. Khan, too, wouldn't mean much because he's still way too green and was stopped by a considerably lesser fighter. Margarito is nothing and doesn't deserve the payday. I won't give them any credit for beating the aforementioned 'consolation prizes'.
All in all, I've gone from wanting this fight badly to not giving a damn - mainly due to the fact that it's been a loaded past 4 months, and the testing bull**** has put me off (with both being in the wrong IMO) - and back to giving a damn again. Right now I'm really pumped for it to be made, and who to start giving the edge in pre-fight analysis. I'll post a breakdown of the potential fight another time, but I'll end this mini-essay with the statement I made above - on the part of both there will too many lingering, unanswered questions if they retire without fighting each other. They'll be dogged for the rest of their lives.
It simply must happen.
Comment