Mayweather and Pacquiao watch
Are we drawing closer or further away from the super-fight? As ever there is no certain answer but the rumour mills are going into overdrive.
Some sources say the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao is imminent; others say both fighters are looking at other opponents. Pacquiao will fight on November the 13th that’s for sure; it’s just a question of who he fights?
Oscar De La Hoya has gone on record to say the fight is “very close” and negotiations are at an advanced stage. This is music to fight fans’ ears, the Golden Boy promotions mogul will be at the heart of negotiations and so he is as credible source as anyone, but he still falls short of saying that things are definitely going to happen.
Elsewhere talk has gone completely the other way and people are discussing possible other options for the two.
Pacquiao has been linked with a rematch with Miguel Cotto. The Puerto Rican was ripped apart by Pacquiao’s superior hand-speed in their previous match-up. Although he put in a decent innings against Yuri Foreman last week, it did nothing to suggest that the outcome against “Pacman” wouldn’t be the same again.
The Filipino has said he would be open to the prospect of a rematch and it’s certainly not one to rule out. Cotto would have to relinquish his light-middleweight title as there is no way Pacquiao could swell up to that size and that is something he would probably be willing to do, as he is not a natural in the 154lb class himself.
Elsewhere Mayweather has been linked with other opponents and even retirement. The latest proposition is WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan, which would be exciting but maybe a bit early for “King Khan”. The Englishman hasn’t fought anyone near the calibre of Mayweather yet, and although he is like a lightning-fisted, Freddie Roach-trained, Pacquiao-lite, he is not ready for “Money” quite yet. Give it two or three years.
Ricky Hatton has somewhat comically been linked with them both. Pacquiao mentioned the Manchester fighter in a press conference, which drew laughter from the press and the WBO champ himself. “The Hitman” hasn’t fought since his May defeat to Pacman last year and hasn’t shown any real will to get back in the ring. He did however announce that he would come out of retirement to fight Mayweather, although that would seem as likely as seeing Hatton sport a Manchester United shirt and seems to be based purely on the fact that Mayweather said he would like a fight in the UK one day.
The other rumour is that Mayweather is going to go back into retirement. This based on a YouTube video that shows Mayweather saying he will be taking another semi-retirement to concentrate on other projects. The multi-weight champ spouts all sort of craziness though and this, like most things he says, is to be taken with a pinch of salt.
So no real change, just more speculation. There is a definite sense that questions could be answered soon and someone might even have the good grace to actually inform the paying public what’s going on.
Well, we can dream anyway.
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