Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
First and second options may prove elusive for WBC champion
Five-weight world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. is slowly
running out of options for his upcoming fight on May 5th at the MGM
Grand as a fight against Manny Pacquiao slowly slips out of his reach.
The 34 year-old, who tops the WBN Pound for pound rankings,
is unable to commit to a multi-million dollar mega-fight with the Filipino
Congressman as the WBO belt holder and his team eye an outdoor event at a later
date.
‘Money’ Mayweather told waiting journalists at a recent
charity donation that he is willing to back-up a fight with Pacquiao by
agreeing to face former WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez at a
catchweight of 150lbs, without thinking of the logistics of the Argentinian
fighting on March 17th in New York.
The Pacquiao bubble seems on the verge of bursting for the
American and if a bout between him and Martinez was to be organised, it would
certainly have to come at the expense of British fighter Matthew Macklin’s
scheduled bout against ‘Maravilla’ on St. Patricks’ Day.
It is highly doubtful that Martinez, 37, would then be able
to fight on May 5th, just seven weeks after his already promoted
fight with Macklin and backing out of the contest would prove tricky for the world’s number one middleweight.
That leaves Mayweather with few options for his pre-prison
bout, having publicly ruled out Miguel Cotto and Robert Guerrero and placing a
fight with WBC 154lb champion Saul Alvarez somewhere in the future.
Who would then step in and fill the void? Possibly Andre
Berto if he comes through Victor Ortiz next month or maybe Timothy Bradley,
although Floyd may not want to deal with Bob Arum if he and Pacquiao are kept
apart until November and could you rule out Amir Khan at this stage with
Mayweather’s choices looking limited?
I personally hope that the Pacquiao fight is made obviously,
although if a ‘Canelo’ bout comes off for the Cinco De Mayo date,
I believe that the youngster could cause Mayweather some serious problems, even
at his tender age and it would be worthy fight for May 5th.