Tags: Boxing, Sports News and Concerns
By Alexander Villafania
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – The buzz about a looming showdown between Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. is reaching fever pitch, following Mayweather’s recent victory over Shane Mosley.
Sports aficionados, boxing experts, and ordinary fans all over the world are divided over the possibility of a Pacquiao-Mayweather faceoff. Nevertheless, the fight is something that most people want to see happen.
Veteran sports commentator and analyst Sev Sarmenta, Jr. shares his thoughts on why this fight has to happen.
Will we see a Pacquiao-Mayweather face-off anytime soon?
Yes, because there’s so much money to be earned and there’s too much legacy at stake as well. Somehow, somewhere the impasse will break and the two will be in the ring.
Mayweather must fight Pacquiao to seal his legacy. Pacquiao must fight Mayweather because he is the last man standing among the greats of this era for this weight zone. Fans want to see this battle and will buy everything from tickets to souvenirs to be part of this fight.
Do you think Mayweather be looking at other fighters if Pacquiao choose not to fight? Who else can get in the ring with Floyd?
I looked at the list of potential candidates and there’s nobody quite as interesting as Pacquiao. Other analysts may give you possibilities but I sense they’ll just give you a vague reply.
How many more fights do you think Pacquiao will have before he retires?
Personally, I think all he needs is this fight with Mayweather. Then he can retire. Money should not be a problem. He has enough to live with comfortably. The money to be made from the Mayweather fight will help secure the Pacquiao family for generations. Manny has been a wise investor and provider.
Is it more than just pride that will force Pacquiao away from the negotiation table about a megafight with Mayweather?
Pacquiao has claimed he is a clean fighter and has never used performance enhancing drugs. He is mad that his reputation has been tainted by Mayweather’s allegations so that’s why he’s suing him and others involved. I think Pacquiao and Mayweather will agree on some form of testing that’s not 24 hours before the fight, which Manny dislikes.
I believe that both Golden Boy and Top Rank will find a win-win situation for the two. There will be too much money at stake to resist this fight.
If they do face each other in the ring, how should Pacquiao fight against an accurate, calculating fighter in Mayweather?
He must get inside that defense of Mayweather – his elusiveness anchored on a shoulder roll. Pacquiao may stay inside giving Mayweather so much more to think about that he will have no time to use his smarts and gulang (upper hand).
Trust me on this: opponents can prepare all they want to avoid getting hit by the Pacman but once the punches rain and land, they will not know what hit them.
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