Boxing: Manny and Mayweather Still Poles Apart

Everybody wants Pac-Man and Money to finally settle their differences in the ring but the superfight looks no closer after Manny Pacquiao’s points victory over Shane Mosley on Saturday night.

An unsatisfying evening
The one thing Boxing betting fans thought was safe to assume entering Saturday night was that Shane Mosley would try to engage Manny Pacquiao. At 39, Mosley may be past his best but he appeared to have the desire to come out and fight. Unfortunately the tired looking Mosley mirrored the effort of Joshua Clottey last year, merely doing all he could to avoid getting hurt. This strategy led to an inevitable points victory for Pac-Man. Hold nothing against the Filipino, there’s only so much a fighter can do when his opponent flat-out refuses to engage.

Too much politics
No-one really wanted to see Pacquiao-Mosley, all it did was serve to make Boxing fans yearn even more for a meeting between Pac-Man and Floyd Mayweather. Money hasn’t been in the ring for over a year, insisting on refusing to fight Pacquiao until the Filipino agrees to his specific demands on pre-fight drug testing. Pac-Man for his part has sued Mayweather over Money’s comments on the matter, claiming defamation of character.

Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, said Pac-Man would never step in the ring with any Golden Boy Promotions fighter including Mayweather. Arum’s firm, Top Rank, is insisting Golden Boy issue a public apology before re-opening negotiations on a potential superfight. Don’t hold your breath waiting for that. There is so much bad blood and hostility between the parties at this stage that Pac-Man has no choice but to seek out alternative opponents while waiting for the drama to come to a resolution.

Juan more time
Wow I really hope Juan Manuel Marquez doesn’t kill me for the pun in that sub-headline. No-one has pushed Pac-Man quite like the Mexican in recent times. After earning a draw in 2004, Marquez was on the losing side of a split decision to Pacquiao in 2008. A third meeting between the pair looks the most likely option for both fighters at this stage.

Sergio Martinez would arguably produce a more interesting contest but Pac-Man won’t move up 160lbs, especially as he won his first world title at 112lbs. Marquez is next due in the ring in July, to defend WBA and WBO lightweight titles. There is also a Mayweather connection. Marquez was beaten on points by Money in 2009. If nothing else, a decisive victory over Marquez sometime around November would give Pac-Man another chance to gain Mayweather’s attention.