Pacquiao vs. Marquez 3: Round 4 Sounds More Likely With Latest Mayweather News

It looks like the fight everyone has been waiting for is getting nixed yet again.

Despite the insane payout that would be historic by boxing standards, the odds of getting a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather fight is getting slimmer by the day.

Golden Boy Promotions CEO and Mayweather advisor Richard Schaefer puts it in simple terms:

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We have been informed that Bob Arum is not interested in pursuing a fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao at this time.

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Sigh.

It’s been a bunch of lies and name calling between the two camps. It's clear Schaefer doesn’t see eye-to-eye with Bob Arum, Pac-Man’s top promoter. Schaefer would rather have yet another round of Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez:

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The truth of the matter is that we received this afternoon (Monday) an email from retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein, who has informed us that Top Rank is pursuing a rematch with Marquez and, therefore, is not interested in immediate talks for a possible Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. This is obviously as clear as it can be that they have no intentions of making a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. Therefore, Floyd Mayweather will have no other choice than to move on and identify and lock in another opponent for his ring return on May 5.

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Sure, the first three bouts were great, but it gives you the strong sense of “been there, done that.” Regardless of how you feel about the judge’s decisions (especially on Saturday’s Round 3), Pacquiao has nothing left to prove. He has a 2-0-1 record against Marquez; he doesn’t need to beat him again to legitimize his legacy.

Dan Rafael of ESPN.com talks about when the date will be for the next bout if a Mayweather match is nixed:

It’s ridiculous that two promoters who don’t like each other are now the main reasons boxing fans may be denied the fight of the decade. Sure, Pacquiao-Marquez is going to make all parties involved a lot of money (again), but the promoters have to realize that they are screwing up boxing history.

There is no question who the two best fighters in the world are right now...and the most popular.

I think I speak for all boxing fans when I say this: Please put all your petty differences aside and look at the picture of the sport.

Boxing needs Pacquiao-Mayweather to happen.