Floyd Mayweather Must Fight Manny Pacquiao to Solidify Legacy

Floyd Mayweather has done it all in the boxing ring. Undefeated record, multiple division world champion, eight world titles, Fighter of the Year award winner. The list goes on and on.

But there is one thing missing from his resume—a victory over Manny Pacquiao, the second-greatest fighter in Mayweather's generation. 

At age 35, with all those countless awards, one would think that his resume is complete. However, without that victory against Pacquiao, his legacy will still have one gaping hole. 

What other sport have we not seen the two best athletes go head-to-head? Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer went at it every year. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning still duel time and again. Tiger Woods goes head-to-head with Rory McIlroy in the same pairing. 

For these two megastars not to fight at one of boxing's lowest points is beyond infuriating. Fans of the sport, fans who want to see the best in the boxing ring are the ones getting cheated for these two not fighting. Fans are the real losers here. 

On ESPN's First Take, Pacquiao admitted that he would split the purse 45/55 in favor of Mayweather. He also admitted that he would get tested on the day of the fight.

Apparently, and I say that because we have heard a lot of hearsay, Mayweather is the one keeping this fight at verbal actions rather than physical actions. 

If that is the case, Mayweather's legacy deserves to take more of a hit if they never get in the ring. Dodging somebody else is the ultimate sign of a low confidence level. 

Why would his confidence level be low? I don't understand. Mayweather is the better fighter and I would have to lean his way if the two ever fought. I mean, Pacquiao lost to Timothy Bradley in his last fight for crying out loud.

Regardless of how the fight ended, it goes in the record book as a loss. That's the bottom line. Pacquiao didn't do enough to get the job done. Mayweather has yet to fall short of victory in every fight he has participated in. 

Mayweather's confidence level doesn't seem to be high, which is not what we expect from his camp.  He has made a living off his confidence and arrogance, but I don't sense that when he talks about Pacquiao.

Maybe there is a reason his confidence is low. Maybe he knows something we don't. Maybe he realizes Pacquiao can give him trouble.

But there is one thing he doesn't know: Not fighting Pacquiao will put a mark on his resume despite all of those accomplishments. 

Maybe he's fine with that. Whatever it takes to keep his slate clean.