The worst thing about waiting for Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao to finally get in the ring? Knowing there’s a chance that it’ll happen, but only when both of them are too far away from their peak, even barely relevant to the boxing world.
For now, both fighters are in a very different place and probably not thinking too much about the fight-that-might-never-happen. Mayweather is spending his final days on the right side of county jail, while Manny Pacquiao has a fight with Timothy Bradley to prepare for.
Instead of using the pre-fight month to talk about Mayweather, just like Mayweather does before his fights – speak about Pacquiao, Manny got himself into the whole gays and god issue. Getting closer to god and religion is good or bad, depending on who you ask. It might help him prepare better from fights, but according to some sources, he’s less and less focused about boxing greatness.
When there’s nothing to really challenge you and keep you going, the interest is naturally going to fade away. Money is always great motivation – Just look at Mayweather. But both fighters have won multiple world titles in multiple divisions. There’s always going to be an abundance of fighters hoping to make a name for themselves by upsetting a legendary fighter while making a great payday.
But if these two don’t get in the ring together in the next, shall we say, 18 months, they shouldn’t do it at all. They probably won’t either. Because worse than not seeing this fight materialize at all will be seeing both of them step into the ring when they’re too old and faded to give us an entertaining fight and to make people outside of the usual boxing circles care.
Mayweather vs Pacquiao isn’t the answer to boxing woes and problems, but it’s probably the only fight that can push it back into national prominence, even global prominence, even for a short while.