Manny Pacquaio vs. Floyd Mayweather: 5 Reasons This Fight Needs to Happen

In recent months, there has been reports of declining viewership from different websites for boxing articles especially if the topic is not about Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

For avid boxing fans and industry critics, the declining readership trends are quite alarming. They predict the sport is headed for extinction if no changes are made to salvage whatever is left of the once-popular ancient sport. 

And unless some changes are made now, its popularity will continue to decline as promoters are more concerned about financial survival than anything else. 

In the last two years, boxing stories have revolved around the twice-scuttled Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight. For a writer who wish to generate more reads for his articles, he only has to write anything about these two guys and he gets the viewer's attention. 

The long-awaited Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight is seen by many as a "shot in the arm" for this "dying sport" and there are quite a number of reasons why the fight needs to happen.

First and foremost is the need for a super fight that would generate widespread publicity for the sport of boxing. Quite a number of boxing fans say boxing popularity will dive to its lowest level if the fight does not happen.

Secondly, the fight needs to happen not just to fill the deep pockets of the boxers and promoters with such a sinful amount of money but it will settle once and for all the long-running feud between these two great boxers.

Next is the possibility of prolonging this very popular matchup into a three-fight affair and get the public hooked into the sports for the next two or three years at most. And while the public is "tuned-in" to the three-fight series, boxing stakeholders can capitalize on the momentum the fight has generated to find ways to keep the public hooked into the sport even after the exit of these two great and popular fighters.

Still, there is a need to heal the wounds of the warring but passionate Pacquiao and Mayweather fans who have been feuding just like the fighters on the issue of who really is the greatest between them. The proposed fight has gone a long way and it's about time the promoters and fighters reach mutual agreement to diffuse the "exploding fan bomb."

And finally, the momentum the fight will generate must be put to good use by keeping the public informed of the changes the stakeholders are doing for the good of the sport. These changes would include drug testing rules, officiating, training for promising young boxers, equal opportunity for capable but unpopular fighters and media reach via regular TV programming, among other things.  

These are some of the compelling reasons the fight needs to happen and the timing is important as the fighters are getting past their prime.

Boxing fans will be happy to see Pacquiao and Mayweather face each other in the ring early or even later next year.