Manny Pacquiao: Winner-Take-All Would Only Push Floyd Mayweather Away

As enticing as the proposition of a "winner-take-all" mega-fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather would be, the shift in format would only dampen the prospects of these two superstars finally meeting in the ring.

Jimmy Kimmel was the first to suggest the idea, asking Pacquiao if he'd agree to such stakes during an interview on his ABC talk show to promote Pac-Man's November 12th fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao was quick to tell Kimmel that Mayweather would never fight under those circumstances, but when prompted by Kimmel for his own answer, said that he himself would.

And that makes a ton of sense. Pacquiao has long been picked out as the favorite to win if these two titans of the sport ever meet in a welterweight showdown for the ages.

Pacquiao has no reason to fear defeat because he's only lost three times during his professional career and he's got enough quickness to stick with Mayweather and enough strength to put him out in the process.

Mayweather, on the other hand, hasn't been shy about his desire to retire without a blemish to his perfect record. Some have speculated that Money May's fear of failure in a fight with Pacquiao, not any disagreement over drug testing, is what's keeping the two from touching gloves.

The last thing Mayweather wants to do, it seems, is to put his status as perhaps the best fighter in the world on the line and embarrass himself in front of millions of boxing fans.

Well, that may not be the very last thing Mayweather would want. Mayweather won't risk the shimmer on his spotless record unless he's guaranteed a hefty payday of some sort, whether it comes from the purse, the pay-per-view sales or both.

They don't call the guy "Money May" for nothing. Mayweather spends the stuff like it's burning a hole in pocket that he's not even aware of, so you can bet he'll expect an eight-figure hunk of cheese to lure him into the ring.

Mayweather may be arrogant, obnoxious and drug-free, but when it comes to boxing, he's no dope, and neither is Pacquiao.

So, as intriguing and talk-provoking as Kimmel's concept may be, it would ultimately be anathema to Pac-Man and Money May meeting in the ring.