Boxing fans waited half a decade for Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao to finally touch gloves for the WBA, WBC and WBO world welterweight titles. And to anyone wondering about a potential sequel, there is good and bad news.
The good news is that fans won’t have to wait a millisecond to see Mayweather-Pacquiao II. The bad news? The fight will never happen, at least in the eyes of none other than Floyd Mayweather Sr.
In a recent interview with our very own Sean Zittel, Mayweather Sr. was gracious enough to bless ThaBoxingVoice with his trademark words of wisdom and candor. As is generally the case with Floyd Sr., all quotes are [sic].
“Floyd Jr. ain’t fighting no rematch (with Pacquiao),” said an exuberant Mayweather Sr. “(Pacquiao) want a fight with Floyd Jr. He want the biggest payout, you know. That’s all that is. He want it but he ain’t gone get it.”
At the suggestion of the name Terence Crawford as a future opponent for Pacquiao, Mayweather Sr. seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the potential style contrast that might play out if the fight ever gets made.
“There you go. There you go right there,” Mayweather Sr. said. When asked if Crawford (27-0, 19 KOs) could beat Pacquiao, Mayweather Sr. added, “I think he got a good chance.”
Mayweather Sr. then accessed the advantages Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) would carry into the ring with him.
“I think that Pacquiao will get some real good shots in on Crawford because Crawford ain’t defensive at all,” Mayweather Sr. opined. “He throws a lot of punches. A lot of his punches land, but he’s not defensive at all. He takes a lot of shots, too.”
Pitting Pacquiao against Crawford – in what could be the final bout of Pacquiao’s career according to Bob Arum – does offer plenty appeal.
For Crawford, it would present a classic “passing of the torch” opportunity for the young lion to nab the biggest win of his career versus an all-time great. It would also answer the question as to whether Crawford, who only this year moved up to the junior welterweight division from the lightweight division, can seamlessly ascend into the welterweight division.
For Pacquiao, a final fight against Crawford would be a chance to put a stamp on his Hall of Fame career by defeating a rising star just entering his prime. It’s not like Pacquiao’s legacy needs cementing, but a convincing win against a future superstar would be a bold exclamation point on an exemplary career as he rides off into the sunset to go serve his country.
While the idea of Pacquiao-Crawford isn’t as saliva-inducing as a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch, it’s a very solid alternative given the realistic options available to Pacquiao.
