Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao: Is This the Beginning of Something Bigger?

Floyd Mayweather, Jr (41-0, 25 Knockouts) challenges Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 Knockouts) on September 17 for the WBC welterweight world title, one of four prestigious world titles at welterweight.

Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 Knockouts) owns another prestigious title from WBO, which he will defend against Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez (53-5-1, 39 Knockouts) on November 12.

Andre Berto (28-1, 22 Knockouts) recently captured the IBF world title on September 3 in a sizzling five-round demolition of tough veteran Jan Zaveck (31-2, 18 Knockouts).

Amir Khan (26-1, 18 Knockouts) plans to move up to the welterweight division in 2012 to fight Mayweather while his fellow Briton Kell Brook hopes to lure Khan into a big U.K. showdown as he guns for the WBA world title.

With all the events of 2011, there seems to be a general move toward a welterweight unification. Here's four reasons why.

Berto Is Making a Comeback

When Ortiz dethroned Berto this past April, everyone expected big things to come for the Mexican American, but not many expected Mayweather to be that "big thing".

Had Berto won that fight, he could've been the one in the ring opposite Mayweather on September 17 and not Ortiz.

Berto, likely kicking himself, decided to bounce back with another title shot, winning by TKO in Round 5 against Jan Zaveck (31-2, 18 Knockouts) to claim the IBF world title on September 3.

Berto awaits the winner of Mayweather vs Ortiz to see if he can catch them. If Mayweather were to lose, Ortiz likely wouldn't mind having a rematch of a fight that won him so much respect in the first place.

That would lead to unification of the WBC and IBF world titles. If Ortiz loses, expect Mayweather to take the WBC belt with him into a unification against Manny Pacquiao for his WBO world title.

Meanwhile, Berto would have to look elsewhere for the fourth world title.

Amir Khan Is Moving Up to Welterweight and Kell Brook Is Chasing Him

Amir Khan (26-0, 17 Knockouts) is moving up to the welterweight division in 2012 in search of a showdown with Floyd Mayweather.

Khan says he'll make his welterweight debut in March in his home of the U.K.

Fellow British boxer Kell Brook wants to fight Khan, but recognizes he isn't as popular as Matthew Hatton (42-5-2, 16 Knockouts), Khan's planned opponent and brother of retired British legend Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 Knockouts).

Brook's solution? Win a world title. Hence, Brook is facing Rafal Jackiewicz (38-9-1, 19 Knockouts) October 8 for a mandatory shot at WBA world champion Viacheslav Senchenko (32-0, 21 Knockouts).

Once a mandatory challenger is selected, the champion usually has 90 days to face the challenger. That means December or January would most likely be when a Brook vs Senchenko fight would occur.

Should Brook defeat Sechenko, many British boxing fans will want to see Khan face him simply because he's an undefeated British world champion.

Two 25-year-old British, world-class athletes equals a sold-out Wembley Stadium, money that Khan won't pass up. Though Hatton is a solid name, he's no longer a young rising star.

Brook does have a tough task in beating Jackiewicz and Sechenko, but he also has the tools and smarts capable of becoming welterweight world champion.

A Summer Showdown Shall Occur Amongst the Young Welterweights

With Kell Brook aiming for the WBA belt and Berto looking to continue an impeccable comeback, it's only a matter of time before the IBF and WBA belts come together.

Even if Brook can't win the world championship, Berto or Khan would likely be paired with WBA champion Senchenko in an effort to make a verified HBO star a welterweight champion.

Mayweather and Pacquiao need motivation to continue after they face each other. What better way than to have a unified welterweight champion that represents the best of the young welterweights.

No matter how it ends up, Khan vs Berto or Berto vs Brook, this unification battle will be fierce and well-promoted. If Ortiz can conquer Berto in a rematch, we could even see Khan vs Ortiz.

The possibilities are endlessly entertaining.

A Legend Will Fall, a Star Shall Rise

So far, Mayweather vs Pacquiao has not been treated as an inevitability by many fans and members of the media.

With Mayweather facing a strong, quick southpaw (like Pacquiao) in Ortiz and Pacquiao hinting that he has nothing left to prove unless it's against Mayweather, this match will happen.

There is no doubt in this writer's mind that these two superstars are on a collision-course and, when they collide, one shall fall and the other shall rise as the official best fighter of this generation.

The winner of the best of the younger generation (Khan, Berto) will face the winner of the oldies (Pacquiao, Mayweather) in the unification match to end them all.

HBO will toss money galore and hype Berto and Khan to no end in order to score one final mega pay-per-view from the retirement-seeking winner of Mayweather vs Pacquiao. With so many false retirements that have occurred in boxing, Mayweather or Pacquiao will do the same for one final championship payday.