Manny Pacquiao Needs Floyd Mayweather More Than Money Needs Him

Entering his third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night, Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao was the darling of the boxing world. After a third consecutive controversial decision against Marquez, though, it seems as though the Pacquiao hype has cooled considerably.

There is only one thing that can help Pacquiao restore his prestige after escaping with a majority-decision win over Marquez, and that is a win over Floyd "Money" Mayweather. During previous negotiations, it was thought that Mayweather needed to beat Pacquiao to cement his legacy.

Now, after Pacquiao's shaky performance against Marquez, it appears to be the other way around. Mayweather has cleared every hurdle put in front of him and holds an undefeated record. Quite simply, he has never really left any doubt about whether or not he won a fight.

That isn't the case for Pacquiao as he has three losses, as well as a draw, plus two questionable wins over Marquez. Pacquiao was considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world by a country mile prior to his bout with Marquez on Saturday night.

Because of his less-than-inspiring performance, though, that distinction may once again belong to Mayweather. With that in mind, Pacquiao's legacy hinges on him defeating Mayweather much more than the other way around.

Even if Mayweather never fights again, he can always claim to be an all-time great because of his unblemished record. The same can't necessarily be said for Pacquiao as the albatross that is Marquez will always hang over his legacy.

While the best way to cement himself may be to beat Marquez decisively, it probably wouldn't be smart for Pacquiao to fight Marquez a fourth time due to the clear issue he has against Marquez's defensive style.

Save another match with Marquez, the only thing that can change public perception of Pacquiao is a win over Mayweather. If Mayweather so chooses, he can refuse to fight Pacquiao and keep his title as an all-time great. Pacquiao does not have that luxury, though, due to his struggles with Marquez.

Ultimately, with so much money on the line, I firmly believe that Mayweather will risk his status and fight Pacquiao. While this should thrill Pac-Man, he most definitely needs a win over Mayweather.

When it comes to Mayweather, money talks, so he will likely be happy win or lose. For Pacquiao, however, the fight would mean so much more than a big pay day. Pacquiao's livelihood as a boxer is waning, and the only antidote is a win over Mayweather.