Does anyone want Mayweather-Pacquiao II?
If indeed Floyd Mayweather Jr. does what every single soul has thought he’d do since announcing his retirement – and that is un-retire – finding a foe whom will seem acceptable to the masses he’d hope would buy the fight might not be easy.
The perception is now, pretty much across all boards, Floyd is too damn good.
“Haters” held out their benediction as long as they could; they needed to see him face off with Manny Pacquiao before offering the mighty thumbs-up. Most all watchers thought Floyd made “Pacman” look less the A-grade pugilist he is when they did their cash collection exercise in May 2015, and holdouts finally admitted what many have known for a long spell: Unless Floyd goes out of his comfort zone, like fighting at 168 pounds, there is nobody who can test and tax him. 160, maybe…Golovkinites say their man, Gennady, is the one who can tear down that wall of invincibility that went up after Floyd fought Jose Luis Castillo the first time, 14 years ago.
Showtime boxing boss Stephen Espinoza told Mitch Abramson on Monday that Floyd seems closer to getting back into the ring swing. The right foe is key, as the lack of interest in Floyd’s final – to this point – scrap, against Andre Berto, was notable. The first name that forms on most lips on who could bring Floyd off the hammock is Manny Pacquiao. That was the case before Manny looked A-grade against Tim Bradley in their rubber match on April 9, and more so after. “But really, in terms of a Mayweather rematch, it’s really up to the audience, to the fans and the writers,” Espinoza told Abramson. “I know from talking to Floyd – if there’s demand for a particular fight – I think he will give it strong consideration. But I think this is one where we’re not going to put the cart before the horse. If people are interested in that fight, then I think they’ll make their voices heard and we’ll start working on it.”
I put it to you, fans.
Are YOU interested in that fight? Is Manny, with a 100 percent right shoulder, a different animal, one who can unanimously take more than two obvious rounds against “Money?”
We think your voice could influence this possibility, though we realistically can’t be sure.
You heard Pacman promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions, tell TMZ, “If either man agrees to fight, my feeling is that they won’t be able to resist.”
On Monday, trainer Freddie Roach told Randy Gordon and Gerry Cooney of Sirius XM Radio’s “At the Fights,” that 1) he thinks Manny will get bored with retirement, 2) he thinks they will fight again and 3) a healthy Manny beats Floyd.
Then again, on Wednesday, Mayweather aide Leonard Ellerbe was asked about #MayPac2 and he told Lance Pugmire, “There’s nothing to talk about. Floyd’s retired.”
So, I throw it back to you, the folks who would or would not support this sequel: Would you want to see Floyd against Manny again, or no way?
Whoa, whoa, WHOA! OK, you can stop throwing things at Woodsy! It was just a suggestion!!