2 fights this year for Pacquiao

By Al S. Mendoza

 

MANNY Pacquiao has said he will fight twice this year.

And then it’s goodbye.

Can you believe that?

Just before the year ended, he expressed desire to have Floyd Mayweather Jr. as his first foe.

The reason is obvious:  Pacquiao wants revenge.

Did he not lose to Mayweather by unanimous decision in 2015?

That was “The Farce of The Year.”

Recall that the world then was gripped by thrill and excitement in the run-up to the bout dubbed “The Fight of The Century.”

That’s because even before the encounter could begin, record sales at the gates, plus purses for the fighters, were being smashed left and right.

After Mayweather’s victory, the protagonists earned a fortune each that was so massive it could give both at least five lifetimes apiece.

It will take ages before a new match-up could surpass, if not equal, the take home pay that both Mayweather (at least $200 million) and Pacquiao ($100M) had each stashed away.

But then, after the lackluster fight came the shocker:  Pacquiao fought with only one healthy arm.

Pacquiao admitted he injured his right shoulder during training.

He didn’t divulge it for fear the fight might be cancelled—and the cash windfall he was set to pocket might vanish into thin air.

Expectedly, many cried foul.

Millions around the world yelled at the top of their lungs:  We wuz robbed!

Many filed a class suit, claiming they were victims of highway robbery.

The courts are still hearing such cases.

In the meantime, Mayweather had fought again and won.

When he got to 49-0, he retired.

With Mayweather’s immaculate 49-0, he equaled Rocky Marciano’s 49-0.

Marciano thus was the first to retire unbeaten as a world champion—doing it as the only undefeated world heavyweight champion to hang up his gloves.

Thus, only Mayweather now is the only strongest candidate to break Marciano’s record.

By fighting Pacquiao this year, Mayweather may yet get a rare crack at the 50-0 mark.

If only for that alone, the Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch looks deliciously palatable.

It may yet be the sole selling point that should make the rematch a blockbuster.

You know how it is in boxing.

Just put in the right mix, the lucrative marketing strategy and, surely, the fans would come.

That is why Pacquiao is right when he kept pining for a return bout with Mayweather.

But, of course, other options, like a tune-up fight, could still be a potential bestseller.

Terrence Crawford is being bandied about as a suitable Pacquiao foe in either April or May.  Even in March.

Crawford isn’t bad.  He is not only a world champ (light welterweight).

Unbeaten at 30 fights, with 21 knockouts, Pacquiao has a dangerous foe in Crawford.

Will Pacquiao bite the bait?

With a purse of perhaps $20M, why not?

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