Manny Pacquiao: What a Win Would Mean for Potential Mayweather Fight

Manny Pacquiao comes into Saturday's fight with Juan Manuel Marquez angling for a chance to fight Floyd Mayweather in the only boxing match that the average sports fan really cares about. 

If he manages to score a win against the 38-year-old Dinamita, the Philippine superstar will be closer than ever before to securing that dream matchup to end all dream matchups, and with good reason. 

For one thing, the win would make Pacquiao's resume, particularly over the last five years, better than virtually every fighter on the face of the earth. Pacman hasn't lost a fight since 2005, and has shot up the weight classes, using his stellar speed to counteract the superior power of bigger, stronger foes. 

At this stage of the game, Pacman's stock is at an all-time high, meaning that while "Money" might not get the cash he's been asking for, he'll come closer than ever before at this stage of the game. He has to know that the pay-per-view revenue from this fight would be more money than any other possible fight he could possibly want, and odds are good, he would get a pretty good sized chunk of that change. 

Sure, there's still the fear of losing on the part of Mayweather at this stage, but with the level of cash that the fight would draw, perhaps he could overcome that fear. 

But Pacman's resume isn't the only factor in the fight becoming more likely with a win. At that point, there would be no one left for the Philippine superstar left to fight. 

Think about it; the rest of the potential fights Pacman could schedule include fighters who are either old and washed up, young and not worthy of facing him at this stage, or simply not good enough. 

Who else is out there for him to fight? Amir Kahn doesn't want to get in the ring with him, and no one would want to see him fight Marquez a fourth time if he beats him on Saturday, and really, the only realistic option left at his point is Mayweather. 

Does that mean the fight is assured of taking place? Hardly; the two camps still don't get along with one another, and there have been rumblings of other potential opponents recently. 

But, should Pacquiao emerge victorious against Marquez this weekend, his chances of getting the fight that would make every fan's dream will never be higher. 

I'm still far from convinced it will, but with a win on Saturday, it's more realistic than ever.