Manny Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather, JR: The UK Is Fed Up Along with the US about the Fight Not Being Made

By Ian Kerr

It’s on then it’s off… It’s on then it’s off again. How did potentially the biggest fight in boxing today begin to sound like a broken record?

Surely the two fighters themselves are enough to make the fight happen, I mean for example. “TBE” The self proclaimed best fighter to have ever stepped into a ring 37 year old Floyd “Money” Mayweather, JR. who sports a record of 47-0, 26 KO’s and a multiple weight world champion. On the other side of the ring apron, is Manny Pacquiao 36 years old, 57-5-2, 38 KO’s and a Octuple weight world champion.

Recently in the UK we had a fight the whole country could not stop talking about. Wembley Stadium was packed to the rafters for Carl Froch vs George Groves II. Our country has not seen anything bigger. However, if this super fight was to happen then I can guarantee the buzz would be back and tenfold that of the huge event recently staged at Wembley.

The truth however, we as boxing fans are starting to tire of it all. His fault, Arum’s fault, he won’t sign this, I want this much, he wants that much. Commercial break…….. Yawn!

Gentlemen, you are the best. Get the gloves on make it happen and prove it. I’m not going to sit behind a keyboard and point fingers.

For this article I took the time to speak to a few people to gain an opinion of both the fan and the professional.

I asked the following question:

What is your opinion on the Floyd Mayweather, JR. vs Manny Pacquiao fight not being made? Here’s what us Brits had to say.

Steve Lillis (Boxnation presenter and Journalist)

“There is still hope that it may be made, but with the time needed to sell pay-per-view May 2 looks increasingly unlikely. People say it is five years too late, but it still creating a huge buzz and puts boxing back in the mainstream.It seems fingers are being pointed at Floyd, but It must be fought between HBO and Showtime over a shared pay-per-view. When they did the joint Lewis -Tyson telecast it took months to nail things down. And who knows, HBO could be thinking ‘Let us wait until Floyd’s Showtime deal ends in two fights and go solo.

The people I feel sorry for are other welterweights whose careers are in limbo because of the fight not getting confirmed as on or off. Boxing can survive without the fight, but it is the sort of event that puts our sport back in the mainstream and kids knocking on gym doors to begin boxing.”

Bradley Pryce, 35-19, 19 KO’s( Former Commonwealth Super Welterweight Title & WBO Super Welterweight Intercontinental Title)

“I don’t follow what’s happening between them now as they keep messing with the boxing fans,so I have lost interest.”

Stuart Johnson (Boxing Fan UK)

“I have given up caring really cause I can’t see it ever happening. Only two fighters I go out of my way to watch now. Kell Brook and Anthony Joshua. He’s a great boxer(Mayweather), that’s not even in question, but until he fights Pacquiao he’ll never be looked upon as a boxing legend. He’ll always be the guy that dodged what will probably the biggest fight in 20 years. It’s the fight every fan wants to see.”

Andrew Patterson (Ex Pro Journeyman)

“I’ve lost interest in the fight to be honest. As an ex pro journey man I fought everybody put in front of me and ducked nobody for small amounts of money. It’s disgusting how boxing has gone from wanting to fight the best and prove that you are the best by fighting the best, to ducking threats to maintain an unblemished record. The fight should have happened years ago. I’d still watch the fight if it ever happened but its quickly losing its appeal.”

Miles Shinkwin (Pro boxer 9-0, 3 KO’s)

“I think the fight has been made and all they are doing now is drumming up publicity; I don’t think it needs it because it’s potentially the biggest fight in history.”

Nathan Holden (Boxing Fan UK)

“I think Floyd is a money grabbing **** who couldn’t care less about boxing fans around the world. I would be happy to see them go toe to toe but it does feel like they are both past their best.”

Mitchell Smith, 10-0, 4 KO’s (WBO European Super Featherweight Champion British Super Featherweight Champion)

“I think it’s bad for boxing as it doesn’t make it look a sport anymore it’s a money thing which is why you don’t get as many 50/50 fights. If it did happen I see PAC man pushing him and causing a lot of trouble with the speed of his feet and hands.”

Ben Conway (Boxing Fan UK)

“It’s becoming that much of a farce. I believe people like me will fast lose interest in it as it’s always talk talk talk.”

Stefy Bull (Promoter/Coach. Ex pro Boxer 29-7-1, WBF Intercontinental Light Welterweight Champion)

“Well… It’s a massive let down for the world of Boxing, for the fans and supporters. This fight should have happened years ago when both seemed to be in their prime years and beating very good fighters with ease. You can only feel that Manny wants the fight whilst Mayweather seems to just toy with it. 5 years ago if this fight was made, I’d have travelled the world to see it but how it’s become I feel bored with the hype it wouldn’t bother me if the fights was or wasn’t made. I’m more interested in either of them fighting Khan least it brings British interest.”

David Coldwell (Promoter/Coach Ex pro Boxer)

“Well I’m bored of it all to be honest. On off saga etc.
Don’t think I’ll actually believe or care whether it’s on until fight week comes around!
But like I said, right this minute they both sat face to face so it’s the closest it’s ever been to being made. Fingers crossed!”

Scotty Cardle, 16-0, 4 KO’s (English Lightweight Champion)

“I think the fight should’ve been made over 5 years ago, it’s not as big as it could’ve been when it was thought about originally.”

So there you have it RSR readers from across the pond………..