Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. already verbally agreed to fight each other this year in what boxing aficionados believe to be as the richest boxing bout in history.
But until the two fighters put pen on the paper to formalize the fight, everything is just hype at this time and no amount of verbal barbs from both boxers can make the bout, which Pacman referred to as “Fistory” in his recent tweet, happen.
Over the last five years or more however, it has been Pacquiao who has been daring Mayweather to fight him. It was only after the resounding victory of Pacman over Chris Algieri in November 2014 that Money spoke about taking on Pacquiao’s dare. Mayweather even went on to set the date of their fight on May 2, 2015.
If the fight happened five years ago, when the two boxers were at their prime, the world would have surely been given a boxing treat that would last through the ages.
Twilight years of their careers
But now that Pacquaio just turned 36 last December and Mayweather about to turn 38 in February, it would seem that the two most popular boxers in the entire planet are already in the twilight years of their boxing careers.
Still, there is no discounting that the two can and would still flash their brilliant forms in their possible fight this year should it finally materializes. After all, George Foreman once returned as the world’s boxing heavyweight champion at the age of 50.
In terms of ring smarts, Pacquiao and Mayweather should have lots of it alright given their massive experiences in the ring. But the physical agility and movements are the ones diminishing or slowly going away normally once age catches up on an athlete.
Whether the two boxers admit it or not, the fight is already losing steam as the months and years go by.
Richest boxing bout down the drain?
If the so-called richest fight in boxing history would not happen this year, it is likely that it would never happen anymore in the future. Although, boxing pundits the world over already knows that it is Mayweather who is avoiding to fight Pacquiao as he wants to keep his unbeaten professional ring record unblemished.
Latest report on the negotiations is that a Dubai-based investment group is bankrolling the fight and is offering Mayweather a cool $120 million payout just to fight Pacquiao.
There is no problem convincing Pacquiao to fight Mayweather. He obviously wants to fight Money under all kinds of terms and conditions.
The Dubai group seems to be putting a price to the first possible loss of Mayweather in the hands of Pacquiao. And one loss for a price of $120 million seems to be more than worth it.
Now, it is only Mayweather’s pride that seems to be getting in the way. His choice boils down to remain unbeaten but be dubbed eventually as coward, or fight and be richer some more. If he chooses to fight, he also has the chance to remain unbeaten as he is the pound-for-pound king and he certainly knows how to fight.
Bleacher Report thinks that Pacquiao should push Mayweather further into accepting his challenge. But then again, the decision rests solely on Mayweather.