BoxRec

With the recent ‘will it, won’t it’ debates happening in the Boxing World at the moment, could the Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao fight not happening actually be a positive thing?
To most Boxing fans, their calendars are filled up with dates at the moment, but for the casual sports fan, there is one Boxing date that is yet to be specified, Mayweather vs Pacquiao.

This is the fight that will draw heaps of attention from all around the world, and will be splashed all over our television screens and also be a regular feature of our national newspapers back pages. This in the Boxing World is generally considered a very positive sign. However, when looking back at the fights that have caught the casual sports fans and general public’s imagination- Lewis v Holyfield, Trinidad v De la Hoya, Lewis v Tyson, Mayweather v De la Hoya, Mayweather v Hatton- there is a recurring theme. That the fight never lived up to the hype that preceded it. Usually, the casual sports fan is left smarting that “boxing isn’t what it used to be”, “there’s not enough good boxers around today”, “there not taking any risks/chances” etc etc. Of course, us Boxing fans know better.

Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing, and you cannot always predict which fights are going to be worth investing some money and build-up into. But it doesn’t take Nostradamus to see the potential in Marco Antonio Barrera v Erik Morales, Arturo Gatti v Mickey Ward or Diego Corrales v Jose Luis Castillo. Imagine one of them fights with a 24/7 showbuilding it up. Just imagine the modern day fighters, fights and rivalries that could be built up by introducing more 24/7 episodes. Juan Manual Lopez v Yuri Gamboa, Paul Williams v Sergio Martinez II, David Haye v Wladimir or Vitali Klitschko, Timothy Bradley v Devon Alexander.

Likewise, forget throwing extra millions at Mayweather and Pacquiao, to agree to each others options. Why not invest all of that money in a Super Six at light welter or welterweight, with a 360 show building that up too. With a British super-star such as Amir Khan in there, that could be a HUGE success. Look at the matches, stories and controversies that the Super-middleweight version has thrown up. If this tournament was shown on a more popular channel and given regular updates in the news, it could actually hold peoples interest.

The fights and the fighters are out there, it’s just a case of getting them noticed. In my eyes, Mayweather v Pacquiao is never going to fulfil its impossible expectations that it has set for itself. It remains an intriguing contest at least, to see how it would unfold, but will probably never amount to the fireworks that some people suggest.

Should we invest more time building up fights that will attract more and more fans, rather than heaping all of the hype on the pound 4 pounders who can only satisfy the purists of our sport?

No.
The very notion of sport is that the best should face each other, what's the point otherwise? Both fighters' legacies will be seriously harmed if this fight doesn't happen.

Gutted it isn't happening and a little pissed off with Mayweather for selling us fans short. Pacman offered the fight he agreed to the test but for some reason Mayweather isn't willing to cut a deal with him. I just hope it isn't the fact he is worried his legacy would be ruined with a defeat.

No - its bad for the sport and bad for the fans.

It's terrible for boxing if this fight doesn't happen..

If it does happen the world will stand still and watch, Everyone will be talking about boxing and that's the most important thing for everyone involved, I personally think Mayweather is special and will stop Pac Man late but the fight is the most appealing on planet earth, Believe me if this fight is made expect every single record to be broken ie,PPV,Gate $$, purses everything!! It will also make the general joe take note too!!

Of course it needs to happen, with the reluctant heavyweights it's the only superfight we've got.
The good news is that Don King is now involved, and apparently has the ear of Mayweather, so it could well happen.

Don could pretty much talk anyone into anything, and as Floyd appears to have been suckered into King's web, I think he'll end up doing exactly as he's told.

What a stupid question!!!

MightyWarrior wrote:Of course it needs to happen, with the reluctant heavyweights it's the only superfight we've got.
The good news is that Don King is now involved, and apparently has the ear of Mayweather, so it could well happen.

Don could pretty much talk anyone into anything, and as Floyd appears to have been suckered into King's web, I think he'll end up doing exactly as he's told.

And to be fair mayweather isnt the sharpest tool in the box.

Slightly off the point but what if pacquaio loses to margarito, do you think the fight would still be made?

Bennyblanco wrote:Slightly off the point but what if pacquaio loses to margarito, do you think the fight would still be made?

Surely the fight would be unlikely in this scenario as everyone will just say that Pacman was overrated and only fought fighters coming off recent defeats (de la Hoya, Hatton, Cotto, Clottey).

That said I'd love the fight to happen and think Mayweather would dominate his way to a points win unless Pacman could take him out in the first two or three rounds. Pacman isn't as effective against counter-punchers and Mayweather is one of the best counter punchers of all time. Added to the fact that he wouldn't have a speed advantage and that Mayweather has never shown vulnerabilities in the chin department, I can't see how Pacman wins the fight.

yid14 wrote:What a stupid question!!!

I wouldn't say it was a stupid question! Just looking at it from another angle?

It is a stupid question!!!
Do you honestly not want Mayweather-Pacman to fight???
If you don't you shouldn't really be on a boxing forum! I don't know anybody who likes boxing not wanting this fight to happen!
It would certainly live up to the hype!

Does anybody know when Roger Mayweather is appearing in court? I think the outcome of his case could be a reason PBF is stalling.

And to answer the original question, no. If this fight doesn't happen then both fighters will have a question mark over their legacies.

yid14 wrote:It is a stupid question!!!
Do you honestly not want Mayweather-Pacman to fight???
If you don't you shouldn't really be on a boxing forum! I don't know anybody who likes boxing not wanting this fight to happen!
It would certainly live up to the hype!

I never said I didn't want the fight to happen. I asked whether it could actually be a good thing for boxing in general if it didn't?
I personally would love to see the fight. But I think it would be ANOTHER fight where all the hype amounts to a fight that wouldn't really interest casual fans.

Casual sports fans don't seem to appreciate the finer things about the sport that the rest of us do.

When Zab lost to Baldomir, Mayweather still pressed on and fought him.

So im sure if hands of bone beats Pacwoman, then it will still go ahead regardless.

G0mez wrote:When Zab lost to Baldomir, Mayweather still pressed on and fought him.

So im sure if hands of bone beats Pacwoman, then it will still go ahead regardless.

Mayweather was nowhere near the star he is now. I don't see him fighting Pacquaio if he loses. He needs money, but can get it for far less tough assignments. Even though I think Mayweather is going to beat Pacman, that doesn't mean it isn't a dangerous fight. Pacman has the speed and power to hurt Mayweather early, and is a fast starter. Mayweather will make the adjustments, but there's always the chance that Pacman doesn't let him.