3 Boxing Matches That Will Never Happen

Amir Khan, Victor Ortiz, Robert Guerrero, Timothy Bradley, Andre Berto, Brandon Rios.

The above fighters are between the ages of 21 and 28 years old and wish to face Mayweather and Pacquiao, two boxing legends who are entering their mid-thirties.

One of the problems with boxing is that the best don't face the best of their peers often enough.

Without the promise of multi-million dollar paydays and instant shots at fame and glory that come with the heads of pound-for-pound boxing idols Mayweather and Pacquiao, these young fighters would inevitably face each other.

Chasing after old men with money may damage the sport more than help it. Here's a list of the three most exciting fight scenarios we may never see as a result of the chase of Mayweather and Pacquiao.

3. Robert Guerrero vs Brandon Rios at Lightweight (135 Lbs)

37-year-old Juan Manuel Marquez has been the king at lightweight (135 lbs) for years. Now he plans to move up to face Manny Pacquiao in a third fight to close their epic trilogy.

Marquez will reap the biggest fight purse of his career. It's safe to say that at his age and with that money, win or lose, Marquez will likely never fight at lightweight ever again.

That means the next most dominant fighters at the weight must be seen as the heirs to his throne.

Outside of 31-year old Humberto Soto, Rios and Guerrero are the biggest and hottest properties at the weight class.

But after Guerrero's latest impressive domination of lightweight standout Michael Katsidis, he called out none other than Floyd Mayweather.

Also, after Brandon Rios' three-round slugfest with Urban Antillon ended in a brutal KO victory, he called out Filipino Typhoon Manny Pacquiao.

Now in order to face Pacquiao or Mayweather, both fighters must move up to welterweight (147 lbs). When moving up in weight, they have to convince skeptical fans that they can handle the weight.

Usually, the fighter planning to move up in weight must beat a well-established fighter already in the weight class. That means fighting another lightweight (each other) brings them no closer to a fight with Pacquiao or Mayweather.

Enter Marcos Maidana and Timothy Bradley.

Guerrero's next match is scheduled for August 27th against Marcos Maidana at junior welterweight (140 lbs).

Rumors have circulated the Internet that Rios will face Bradley on the undercard of Pacquiao's Pay-Per-View event against Marquez on November 12th. 

The winner of Guerrero vs Maidana will likely face Khan and then possibly Mayweather. The winner of Rios vs Bradley will likely face Pacquiao or some other opponent before facing Pacquiao.

Neither fighter will face each other for perhaps a long time, if at all.

2. Timothy Bradley vs Amir Khan at Junior Welterweight (140 Lbs)

Timothy Bradley and Amir Khan have been the No. 1 and No. 2 junior welterweights for quite some time now. Both switch back and forth on various professional rankings depending on what the other accomplishes on any given month.

The wish for them to fight has grown stronger with each victory the other one gains over a respectable opponent. Then finally, a deal was in the works for Bradley to face Khan July 23rd of this year.

When Bradley pulled out of the July 23rd fight stating promotional issues and the money not being big enough, the boxing public immediately began to ask "what inspired this?"

Bradley seemed to hunt down a Khan fight for a while and then the opportunity didn't please him enough to jump on it. Rumors began circulating that he was being courted by mega boxing promoter Top Rank.

Later, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum mentions how he'd love to have Bradley as the next to face pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao should negotiations with Mayweather fall through in 2012.

Khan then focuses solely on the one goal he's talked about for the past two years, Floyd Mayweather. All Khan has on his mind is Mayweather, Mayweather, Mayweather.

The goal of facing Mayweather has only been accelerated by his recent defeat of Bradley replacement Zab Judah. The experienced ring technician went down in round five to an uppercut to the gut, resulting in a KO that has given Khan much acclaim.

Now Khan only wants ONE more fight at junior welterweight before moving up. Bradley's promotional problems are still in limbo, leaving him likely out of the picture for Khan's last junior welterweight showdown.

The ever-ready Mexican legend Erik Morales is likely to take Bradley's place. After the jump to welterweight, Khan wants to face a British fighter in his home country to please his U.K. fans.

Then Khan will face Mayweather. Bradley could also be facing Pacquiao if those rumors prove true. By then, a Bradley fight may be a far forgotten dream that won't come into reality.

1. Victor Ortiz vs Andre Berto II at Welterweight or Higher (147 Lbs+)

Victor Ortiz moved up to welterweight this past April to face undefeated WBC champion Andre Berto.

Berto was the major favorite to win with Ortiz the live underdog. Ortiz shocked Berto and the world when he gave the champion his first loss in the now front-runner for fight of the year.

The fight featured a fantastic series of knockdowns of both Ortiz and Berto. The ebb and flow of the action inspired a live and television audience like no fight has this year.

The closeness of the fight could easily lend itself to a rematch and maybe even a trilogy should Berto come prepared for vengeance, but another undefeated superstar, Floyd Mayweather, may have thwarted this opportunity.

The upset has awarded Ortiz a fight with Mayweather. This fight will likely raise Ortiz's profile, win or lose, leading him to other high-profile battles with the likes of Miguel Cotto, Canelo and maybe even Pacquiao.

Berto, on the other hand, will have to fight his way back into a rematch with Ortiz and hope Ortiz will fight him again in the near future. In boxing (especially in recent times), a loss, no matter how close, is often not rewarded with an immediate rematch.

Boxing's history has seen a plethora of proposed must-see rematches get tossed on the backburner while the two stars fade into very different directions only to meet up in the twilight of their careers, no longer the youthful dynamite warriors of yesteryear.

From Roy Jones, Jr. and Bernard Hopkins rematching nearly 17 years later to Pacquiao and Marquez waiting four to five years between fights in their epic trilogy, boxing often doesn't rematch as quickly as needed to retain the initial fire from the first fight that sparked the demand for a sequel.

Conclusion

Sometimes the gold that men search for is not the object with the golden glow off in the distance at the top of the mountain. Sometimes the true treasures are right in man's backyard waiting to be uncovered.

Mayweather and Pacquiao are a closing portal pondering when to leave the business of professional boxing.

A chase of those two can be foolish if the only thing attained is an embarrassing loss.

Mayweather and Pacquiao have used their exceptional skill and ability to embarrass countless great foes. There isn't much indicating they aren't ready and willing to do so again.

Legends such as De La Hoya, Mosley and Marquez can take embarrassments because they're established with fans that will love them and writers that will carry their legends beyond the grave.

But an embarrassment doesn't bode well for a young talent yet to establish itself. Just ask Fernando Vargas. A much heralded rising undefeated star in Vargas faced a far more experienced undefeated Puerto Rican legend in Felix Trinidad.

Trinidad knocked out a weary Vargas in the 12th and final round. From then on, Vargas would never defeat another A-list fighter.

Even if victory is attained, the media is likely to give much of the credit to Father Time and Mother Ring-Wear.

Meanwhile, meaningful matches against among peers are being delayed and possibly even lost through the pursuit of a fight that may never come.

It's not as if other great fights won't come along, but sometimes the new opportunities that come are dimmer than the golden ones that were there before.