Pacquiao vs. Marquez: Win or Lose, Manny Pacquiao Must Fight Mayweather Next

Manny Pacquiao will forever be remembered as a disappointment unless he steps into the ring against Floyd Mayweather. 

Pacquiao might be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and he may further that feeling after he beats Juan Manuel Marquez Saturday night, but the reality is none of that will matter unless he steps into the ring with Mayweather. 

Pride

If Pacquiao’s legacy means as much to him as it does most fighters, ducking or flat-out refusing to face your toughest opponent will only mar that legacy. It would be a shame for Pacquiao to transform from hero to coward in the blink of an eye.

Retirement, Timothy Bradley, Sergio Martinez, none of them have the sort of prestige that fighting Mayweather does, and he knows it. 

Money

If Pacquiao must look beyond his pride, perhaps he shouldn’t look further than his wallet.

There is no question it would be the biggest fight of the last 20 years and likely for the next 20. It would yield a payday that one could hardly pass up. If Pacquiao makes the mistakes of missing out on that sort of bank, he should have his head examined. 

Testing

This whole issue, at least on a surface level, has come down to drug testing.

Mayweather has shouted from the mountaintops that he wants the fight if Pacquiao is willing to comply with certain testing rules. Pacquiao has refused, as he doesn’t want his blood drawn within one week of the fight.

However, it’s time to put that aside and cope with that reality. The prick of a needle within seven days of fighting may not be ideal, but spending the rest of your life being perceived as a coward or a cheat wouldn’t be a better fate.