Manny Pacquiao: Will Mayweather Still Come Calling If Pac-Man Loses to Marquez?

It seems to be a foregone conclusion that Manny Pacquiao will earn his second win in three tries against Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12, and a strong likelihood that Pac-Man's camp would renew its tense negotiations with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Golden Boy Promotions to get the long-awaited Welterweight Match of the Millennium up and running.

But what happens if Pacquiao (gasp!) doesn't win? What if it turns out that Dinamita was, in fact, "robbed," as he puts it, and proves as much in the ring at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas? Would such an outcome give Money May too good of an excuse to pass up in once again shuttling aside the fight that everyone and their mother has been waiting for?

In a phrase, probably not.

For one, it wouldn't be all that unbelievable if Marquez upends the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world today. Marquez has come agonizingly close before—twice, actually. The Mexican legend fought Pacquiao to a draw in 2004 and, statistically speaking, probably should have been on the winning side of their split decision in 2008.

True, Marquez is no longer the veteran in his prime to Pacquiao's young gun that he once was, not at the ripening age of 38. However, a win for Marquez, to even the score at one win and a draw apiece, isn't as far-fetched as it may seem.

In that event, it's entirely possible that Money May might just take the easy out and set aside any possibility of putting his unbeaten streak on the line against Pacquiao. Depending on whom you ask, Mayweather has never seemed all that interested in fighting Pacquiao, knowing full well he could suffer his first professional defeat as a result. If there's no title for Mayweather to gain from such a fight, why would he bother pursuing it?

Let's not forget there's a reason Mayweather is known as "Money May." Like so many rich athletes, Mayweather enjoys a big payday and, as such, would have a tough time turning down what could very well be the most lucrative purse in history.

Granted, a loss for Pacquiao before then would likely reduce the appeal, and the profitability, of such a fight to some extent, but certainly not enough for it to not be worth Mayweather's while.

Realistically, though, this whole discussion is likely to be rendered moot once Pacquiao's furious fists meet Marquez's face for the third time, though it can't hurt to consider "what if?"

After all, crazier things have happened in the world of boxing.