THE last time Floyd Mayweather, Jr. stepped on the square ring was last December in a comedic spectacle against a Japanese kickboxer. Prior to this, there was “The Biggest Fight in Combat Sports History” where Floyd, Jr. broke Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 boxing record when he defeated two-division MMA champion Connor McGregor on August 2017 at the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada. He TKO’d the equally loud-mouthed Irishman in the 10th round, thereby extending his undefeated professional fight victories to 50.
He tied Marciano’s record on May 2015 when he unanimously won over Manny Pacquiao in what was billed as “The Fight of the Century”. But fight of the century it was not because Floyd, Jr. employed his famous hit-and-run tactics which forced Pacman to chase and miss. That was one obscenely lucrative fight that collected revenues in excess of $400 million and earned Pacman over $150 million.
This time, after the Broner win, Pacman is sounding desperate and is reportedly on taunt mode for Mayweather, Jr. to bite the trash talk. It could still generate enough PPVs but not as high as the prequel considering that the fight was borderline boring. But a guaranteed $150 million is $150 million and whether you’re an “old” prize fighter, a semi-pro basketball league owner, a senator and an aspiring presidential candidate or just plain retired, the figures laid on the table could alter your senses. Considering what we writers get, I will go insane with that amount.
Both fighters had exceptional and unrivalled careers and no other boxer in their respective divisions can surpass, let alone equal Pacman’s and Floyd, Jr.’s fight accomplishments. As I see it, there’s no more point in going at it and fight again as there’s nothing else for them to prove. They both have placed their earnings to good use.
After disposing Broner, Pacman was interviewed and in reference to the rematch with Floyd, Jr. said, “I’m still here in boxing. I want to fight the best fighters out there. If he cannot fight on my level, he better stay retired.” Oh, he will, he will. Floyd, Jr. seems content on three-round exhibition matches that still earn him the millions.
But I would assume that the Pacman would want to have another big payday because he is deeply involved in the country’s favorite pastime, politics, where friends, acquaintances and relatives, either real or imagined, seek monetary favors ranging from the sublime to the outrageous. And yes, you have to please them all or run the risk of losing their votes.
Pacman in that same interview said that he will be fighting again sometime May or June of this year. Hopefully after this fight, he will finally consider retirement from this brutal sport and walk into the boulevard where the sun finally sets on boxing immortals./PN
