Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Best Bout Between Legends Already Lost Forever

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. may one day meet in the ring. The fact that they already haven't means everything. 

Both fighters are on the wrong side of 30 and seem content to drag their dream matchup along until we don't care or until they couldn't possibly live up to the hype. 

I contend it's now too late. 

There was an allure about seeing these two fight that I was enraptured with. Two fighters that had solid chins, amazing speed and stingy defense would give us a marathon bout that, no matter how it ended, would guarantee a part two and possibly a part three. 

It's not often that you get two fighters in their prime that are neck and neck in regards to talent and form. That is what we had, but that time has long since past. 

I am not about to sit here and state that Pacquiao and Mayweather are washed up, because they arene't. I will contend that we have seen the best that these fighters have to give, and that should sadden most boxing fans to no end. 

For now, Floyd Mayweather will fight Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao will take on Timothy Bradley. For a sport that has gone from main event among the pantheon of things we care about to niche athletics, you would think this would be at the top of the list. 

Boxing continues to have their issues with posturing, greed and complete lack of effort to grow the sport. 

One of my favorite things to watch growing up is dying while two epic fighters continue to ignore one another. 

This is not about who is ducking who. They have both shared in the guilt of such things. The point is that we just saw the untouchable Manny Pacquiao get touched quite regularly by Juan Manuel Marquez in their final bout.  

While the finish was controversial, there is no denying that the trilogy those two shared was engaging beyond measure. 

Now consider how the spot could have benefited from a three-parter featuring the best pound-for-pound boxers in the sport. 

Consider the rumor from Allen V. Estabillo of MindaNews.com:

"

Pacquiao disclosed over the weekend that he is seriously leaning on retiring from boxing after his scheduled June 9 World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title fight against American brawler Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"

Retirement would rip a truly special event from boxing fans. Pacquiao has made no secret that he wants to immerse himself in politics.

Even if we do get a Mayweather bout out of him, he is past his prime and the hopes of a trilogy spread out over a couple years would be nearly impossible.

Don't look for these fighters to save boxing. 

We had a perfect matchup of two legends, and it has been extinguished.  

Follow @gabezal