ARE WELTERWEIGHTS AT CUSP OF LINEAR CHAMP?
New York, NY– The stage is already being set for what could be the biggest grossing fight in boxing history. Everyone has their hopes set on a Floyd Mayweather (40-0 25 KOs) vs. Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2 38 KOs) welterweight (147 lb) showdown. Not only could this bout give a definitive answer to who is the best ‘pound for pound’ athlete in the sport, it can also be a step in unifying titles for a lineal champion in the welterweight division. By defeating Miguel Cotto on Saturday night, Pac now holds the WBO version of the welterweight belt, while Shane Mosley will face Andre Berto for their respective WBA and WBC versions on January 30th. Indeed, the winner of Berto vs. Mosley is the next logical choice for either Pac or Floyd after they face each other.
FLOYD JAWIN’ ON PAC’S PERFORMANCE
Many of Mayweather’s critics want him to up the ante on his opponents and right now Pac is perceived as a huge threat being that he is the consensus ‘pound for pound’ champ. But even in the wake of the firebombing assault on Miguel Cotto, Mayweather feels confident that he will beat the Pacman. In a recent report Mayweather stated, “The thing is with Pacquiao I don’t see any versatility as a fighter; he’s a good puncher but just one-dimensional.”
MANNY NOT SO INTERESTED IN FLOYD…NOT!
Although Manny has been quoted as saying that Mayweather doesn’t want to fight him, Mayweather has now been on record stating, “If he (Pacquiao) wants to fight Floyd Mayweather all he has to do is step up to the plate.” But it appears that Pacquiao is still relatively coy about officially calling Mayweather out himself. In interviews Pac appears to have some sort of gag order regarding speaking on the potential of a match up with Floyd. He diverts all questions to Bob Arum, his promoter and says only that he is willing to fight anybody. Arum, who believes Pac is the best fighter he has ever seen doesn’t seem to have a problem with Pac facing Mayweather. Neither does Pac’s trainer, Freddie “Master” Roach. So what’s wrong with Manny speaking his mind?
MONEY TO MAKE (NOT BREAK) PAC-FLOYD
The truth is that this fight will come down to money. Mayweather previously has asked for a 65/35 purse split in his favor, something that Roach won’t accept at this point in Manny’s career. A realistic number would be 50/50 or possibly a similar scenario that Bernard Hopkins agreed to with Roy Jones, where the winner gets 60 percent and the loser 40. It’s likely that Arum doesn’t want it to appear that Manny is chasing Mayweather, because it will only compromise his ability to negotiate a heavier purse for his fighter. Coincidentlly, this seems to be the tactic on Floyd’s side as well. Neither fighter wants to be the first to ‘ask’ for the bout.
MANNY NOW A BIGGER DRAW THAN FLOYD?
It is likely Manny has peaked in popularity and the PPV numbers will surely solidify his star status. With Richard Schafer reportedly scheduled to meet with Bob Arum as early as next week to discuss a Mayweather bout, let’s hope ‘the split’ doesn’t get in the way of making the biggest fight available in the sport happen next year. The Dallas Cowboy’s NFL stadium has already been discussed as a location. And with a seat capacity of 100,000 there is little reason for either fighter to pass up on the opportunity to make the most money in their respective careers, if not in a prize fight ever.
Jarrad Woods