Pacquiao, Mayweather Likely to Retire Without Facing Each Other in the Ring

Eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao could end his boxing career without facing unbeaten WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao, who recently announced his retirement after two more fights following his scheduled showdown with unbeaten Palm Springs boxing star Timothy Bradley on June 9, will be deep in an election campaign trail in May next year as he aims to become the next Governor of Sarangani province in southern Philippines.

Pacquiao's election campaign schedule and his eventual assumption of his new executive post in government, effectively prevent him from fighting beyond the second half of 2013.

Bob Arum, Pacquiao's long-time promoter, told examiner.com the eight-division champion can't go into training camp with his hands tied in local governance.

The only possibility for a breakthrough in the long-awaited Pacquiao-Mayweather match is when Mayweather softens his outrageous demands for a much bigger share of the the fight purse.

If no serious negotiations take place after June 9 between Pacquiao and Mayweather, boxing fans will then be treated to another Pacquiao vs. Marquez rematch, which is likely to take place in November. 

Mayweather will have to show his fans he is not scared to face Pacquiao by taking his last chance to negotiate with the Filipino boxing star early in 2013 for the fight every boxing fan in the world wants to see.

Mayweather has earlier declared he wants to do five more fights before finally retiring from boxing or will remain active until he reaches the age of 37.

On the other hand, Pacquiao says he is set to do two more fights after Bradley, as he is set to continue a more challenging career in politics.

The more passionate boxing fans say Mayweather has no intention of facing Pacquiao in the ring as he is afraid to lose his unblemished career record and would rather fight less capable opponents to protect his "0" in the loss column.

Still, they say Mayweather has the skill and experience to defeat Pacquiao and prove to the world that indeed he is the much better fighter.

But the hope of facing Pacquiao, is slowly fading with just two more fights to go before his recently announced retirement schedule.

As both fighters bear their remaining active years in the sport, the prospects of getting them face each other in the ring to please their millions of fans around the world, are slowly fading as well.

Mayweather is facing Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., while Pacquiao is set to collide with unbeaten Timothy Bradley on June 9, also at the MGM Grand.