By Geno McGahee

On May 5th, Miguel Cotto, 37-2, 30 KO’s, has a chance to make history and be the first to defeat Floyd Mayweather, JR., 42-0, 26 KO’s, in a high profile PPV showdown. On June 9th, Manny Pacquiao, 54-3-2, 38 KO’s, will take on the much less dangerous challenge of Timothy Bradley, 28-0, 12 KO’s.

The hope from most boxing fans is that should Mayweather, JR., and Pacquiao come out victorious that they face each other in their next fight. It’s not going to happen. If the past has taught us anything, it has proven that the two men have no interest in facing off, especially Pacquiao.

It’s no secret that Pacquiao would be a huge underdog to upset Mayweather, JR. Just the styles alone make him a long shot. When you factor in the size of Floyd, the skill superiority and the way Juan Manuel Marquez controlled Pacquiao, the end result seems obvious: UD for Mayweather.

Many will point to that big punch of Pacquiao’s. He has a big punch, but not against welterweights. He hasn’t shown that explosive power at the higher weights that he had when he was 130 pounds, and his love the game is ebbing. He has said recently that God spoke to him and told him to retire. He will say whatever he can to get out of the sport, even stating that an imaginary figure that lives in the clouds notes that it’s wrong for him to continue. Bob Arum knows that the bigger God for most is money and keeps waving it in Pacquiao’s face and that brings us to Bradley.

If Pacquiao cannot knock out a welterweight, give him somebody smaller. Timothy Bradley is aggressive and doesn’t have a punch at light welterweight. So, we have a guy running into Pacquiao without a knockout punch. This will give Manny the opportunity to unload at a guy right in front of him. This is a vacation with pay sort of fight. As talented as Bradley is and as good as he is at the lower weight, he is facing something he has never seen before and even an uninspired Pacquiao will have enough inspiration to throw a punch or two and catch the rushing Bradley.

Arum’s damage control will be complete with the KO of Bradley. After the dismal performance against Juan Manuel Marquez, where he could have easily lost had the judges not been so kind, Pacquiao has lost some of his luster. The phrase: “Imagine what Floyd would have done to him,” was noted time and time again. Arum imagined it and refused to make the fight happen.

The fight for the top spot for “best in the game” will be over one way or another soon. Should the two elect not to fight each other, they will retire or lose within a few years and a new crop will begin vying for those spots. As of now, Floyd has to be considered the best in the game. He’s undefeated and has never had a bad moment in the ring. Pacquiao has had a great run, but he could have easily had 3 losses to Marquez.

If the fight does get signed, bet the house on Floyd. I sincerely doubt that the fight would ever go through, unless it’s Pacquiao’s last fight. Bob Arum, if he cannot convince Manny to keep punching, would put him across the ring from Mayweather, JR., and then move onto his next superstar.

The fight to get excited about is on May 5th. Miguel Cotto seems to be more mentally there then he has been in a long time and may very well be the best Cotto we’ve seen in a long time. He is a legitimate power-puncher at welterweight and will be throwing at the elusive master in the ring. It should be interesting.