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Manny Pacquiao Vs Floyd Mayweather JR: THE SALE OF A SUPER FIGHT – Boxing News

By Geno McGahee

On November 24th, Manny Pacquiao, 55-5-2, 38 KO’s, scored his first win in two years. Riding back to back losses, the Filipino superstar headed into the ring to take on the clumsy brawler, Brandon Rios, in what was a rebuilding fight. At this point in the career of Manny, the opponents must be carefully selected and nobody fit the bill quite like Rios. He was slow, plodding, and aggressive. He was made to order.

Now, the story is that Manny was unfocused in his last two fights and now he’s back and he will once again be the force that ruled boxing, but it’s all nonsense. What we saw in China was Pacquiao taking a safe fight and cruising to a decision win. The HBO commentators took out their pom-poms and cheered up a storm, rejoicing that the hero had returned, but it still cannot be taken seriously.

The facts paint the picture. Pacquiao’s last knockout win came in 2009 against Miguel Cotto. Since then, he’s 5-2 without a knockout, but when you factor in that Marquez got robbed in their third fight, the record is more accurately, 4-3, and now they are once again beating the drum for a PPV showdown between Floyd Mayweather, JR., 45-0, 26 KO’s, and Pacquiao, and the people are biting.

The Rios fight was an example of what an old Pacquiao can do with a mediocre opponent, and the fight being a 60 dollar pay per screw event was a joke and a testament to the greed of Top Rank Boxing. Bob Arum wants to milk Manny for all he’s worth and is going to place him in there soft until he can land that big fight with Floyd, which will be an incredible mismatch and that’s not because Manny is shot. It was a mismatch if they were in their primes. If Juan Manuel Marquez can box the ears off of Pacquiao, the bigger, stronger Floyd will have a field day.

At the moment, Mayweather JR is looking for an opponent, but he’s basically conquered every world. He beat Canelo Alvarez in his last fight and there really isn’t another big name or threat out there. Timothy Bradley is a good match for him, but as usual in the career of Bradley, he is the red-headed stepchild of his promotional company. He can’t get a break.

The Mayweather – Pacquiao should have taken place in 2009, but out of the ring politics and potential PED abuse made sure that it didn’t take place. Now, Floyd is holding all of the cards. He’s the one with the undefeated record and sits atop the pound for pound list. Pacquiao’s “big puncher” persona no longer exists as he’s moved up in weight and his recent track record is less than impressive. I have no doubt that this fight will happen now, but it’s too little too late and the fight will not be competitive.

There are some super fights in boxing to be made, but the Mayweather JR – Pacquiao fight would not be one. It would potentially capture the imagination of the public and I’m not doubting the it would sell, but it’s a good fight on name value only. Pacquiao is a name and will bring his legion of fans, but he would be beaten quite easily. Hopefully Floyd will be arranging the under card and not Arum if this fight should take place. The only thing that was more disgraceful then charging for the Pacquiao-Rios fight was stacking the under card with showcase fights for the Top Rank fighters.

Floyd Mayweather JR – Manny Pacquiao was the superfight that never happened and now it seems to be coming together, but it’s too little, too late. This will just be a cash grab, but if you paid for Pacquia-Rios, at least you will be prepared for wasting money on this one.

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