Pacquiao vs. Mayweather: Examining Chances Dream Fight Will Happen in 2015
Call me crazy, but I'm convinced that if Manny Pacquiao defeats Chris Algieri on Nov. 22, he will finally fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. Ring Magazine's Lem Satterfield reports that Mayweather wants the fight and that high-level negotiations have already begun.
The two men are mentioning each other as much as they have since 2009 when it seemed like a bout was a foregone conclusion.
Pacquiao has told ESPN.com's Dan Rafael: "I want that fight."
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He's even cut a commercial with Foot Locker referring to Mayweather—without saying his name—but mocking his pursuit of the pound-for-pound king.
Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, has said that he believes the bout will happen in May at Cowboys Stadium.
Per GMA News, Arum said:
"The networks are already talking. I am now more optimistic that the fight is going to happen than I was three or four years ago. I am talking to responsible people who are in touch with the Mayweather guys. All of these people have the ability to move it ahead and make it happen. If it happens, we're considering the Cowboys Stadium. It is the only venue which has the capacity to host a big show such as the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.
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This was one of the original venues mentioned when the bout was discussed previously. Per Satterfield, Mayweather's next fight scheduled for May 2, the timing would be ideal.
With all of the principles involved making some reference to the bout—and even throwing out dates—it seems clear there's a mutual interest to finally make the fight a reality.
The Breaking of the Cold War
Another sign that Pacquiao-Mayweather is close to becoming a reality is the warming of the cold war between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank. A major step was taken to bring fans the best fights when Bernard Hopkins, who is signed with Showtime/Golden Boy, took on Sergey Kovalev on HBO.
While Hopkins took a beating in the ring, he helped to crack the door toward a boxing world that is no longer restricted by feuding cable networks. If Hopkins-Kovalev cracked the door, Mayweather-Pacquiao could kick it in.
Per Satterfield, Pacquiao’s advisor, Michael Koncz has stated that his fighter is not contractually bound to HBO. This would free him up to face Mayweather on a Showtime pay-per-view event.
Here's a thought: Imagine if the card was stacked with other HBO-Showtime bouts. Just thinking about the revenue this could create is staggering. That is likely what Pacquiao and Mayweather are doing as they hammer out the negotiations for this superfight.
Both fighters are at the point of their careers where it's either now or never for the most highly anticipated fight this century. Mayweather, who will be 38 in February, has two fights remaining on the megadeal he signed with Showtime/CBS.
Pacquiao will be 36 in December. The clock is ticking, but because both men are still currently considered the class of the sport, there's still a ton of interest in seeing this fight.
The Spoiler
The only problem with this scenario is that I'm not convinced Pacquiao will beat Algieri.
The American is longer, quick and has an in-ring I.Q. that can't be overlooked. He's already pulled off one of the year's biggest upsets by out-boxing Pacquiao's plodding former sparring partner Ruslan Provodnikov.
Algieri had a rough first round that saw him hit the mat twice, but he recovered and executed a masterful game plan the rest of the way.
Because of the skills Algieri possesses and the decline in Pacquiao's power (he hasn't stopped an opponent since 2009), I'm predicting another major upset. With so much at stake, it's shocking Pacquiao would risk perhaps the biggest payday in history against a fighter like Algieri.
For the sake of argument, let's say I'm wrong—which for the good of the sport I hope I am—the stage would finally be set for Pacquiao to face Mayweather.
Should Pacquiao win, there's no reason the fight shouldn't take place.
Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.
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