Floyd Mayweather JR: Manny Pacquiao or Saul Alvarez on May 5th – BOXING NEWS

By Geno McGahee

The man that will go to jail for 3 months after a fight on May 5th, Floyd Mayweather, JR., 42-0, 26 KO’s, has called out Manny Pacquiao, 54-3-2, 38 KO’s, but the call was ignored. Bob Arum, promoter for Pacquiao has no interest in the fight and is playing defense, noting that Floyd needs a tune up. In other words, he doesn’t want PacMan to lose, which he would, most likely. So, what does that leave for Floyd? Two names are coming up.

One is Robert Guerrero, 29-1-1, 18 KO’s, a fighter that usually fights at 135 pounds, small by comparison to Floyd’s recent weights of 147. Despite the impressive record of Guerrero, he isn’t anywhere near the league of Mayweather. It would be an epic mismatch, and although it would be nice to see a “good guy” like Guerrero get a payday, it would be nothing more than the tune up that Arum suggested.

The exciting proposition is a bout with light middleweight champion, Saul Alvarez, 39-0-1, 29 KO’s. Alvarez is 21 years old, powerful and ambitious and would press Floyd in the ring. Sink or swim, he would try for the knockout and with his popularity and aggression, this fight would be fun and we may just see an upset if the less than active Floyd comes in rusty or unfocused.

Pacquiao is tied up, most likely being brought into a showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley, Lamont Peterson or Miguel Cotto (listed in order of likelihood). None of these bouts are interesting, unless you are a sadist and want to see an overmatched opponent beaten down or punished for 12 rounds. Arum knows that the PacMan is a hot ticket and will try to manipulate the masses into thinking that one of these guys has a shot to beat him. Marquez does and has beaten him (getting robbed on the cards), but the odds of him getting a decision are small and the odds of him scoring a knockout are abysmal. Manny NEEDS to fight Mayweather.

It is becoming more and more obvious that Bob Arum is stopping this fight. Floyd, ever the businessman, has found the time that most benefits him. Manny is nowhere near what he once was and if Marquez can control him, and he did, then Floyd will have a field day. Mayweather is now confident that he can easily win, which is why he wants the fight. You don’t see him kicking in the door to the Sergio Martinez training camp, do you? Pacquiao is more reward for less risk.

Mayweather will hopefully take on Alvarez over Guerrero. Even though he would be heavily favored to defeat Alvarez, at least he has a chance to stir things up and land a power punch to pull the upset win. Guerrero would know, and so would the audience, from the first round that it was hopeless. It’s a bigger mismatch than Pacquiao-Bradley.

With May 5th quickly headed our way, we should have some answers shortly. Floyd will choose soon.