What the boxing world is saying about Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao

Will Manny Pacquiao face Floyd Mayweather in 2015? (Photo: Chris Farina – Top Rank)

By Chris Robinson

It’s hard for me to think of a time when a Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao showdown was as big as it is now.

Sure, some of this has to do with the fact that the two men, considered the best of this generation, came face to face with one another on Tuesday night in Miami during the Milwaukee Bucks’ victory over the hometown Heat.

Seeing Mayweather and Pacquiao exchanged pleasantries with one another was a refreshing sign, but the buzz on the fight had begun to boil over even before that chance encounter.

For super middleweight champion Andre Ward, perhaps the moment has passed, as he insists it’s hard to get excited for the matchup after all these years of talking.

For world-class trainer and former world champion Robert Garcia, he simply doesn’t see the dream bout going down, telling us exclusively ‘I just don’t see it happening’. Garcia actually prefers a matchup between Pacquiao and his fighter, Argentina’s Marcos Maidana.

There is a general consensus floating around that Mayweather should be favored over Pacquiao and top-flight coach Joel Diaz seems to agree, pointing to Grand Rapids native’s defense and accuracy as two keys towards securing victory. One the other hand, veteran corner man Miguel Diaz, who spent several years with Mayweather, see the 37-year old slowing down a bit with his abilities.

There even is some debate as whether or not the public will purchase a Mayweather-Pacquiao pay per view, with veteran trainer Ronnie Shields claiming nobody will buy it while lightweight contender Sharif Bogere seems to feel the opposite, believing that people all over the world will purchase the duel.

There is talk that Mayweather may end up facing Miguel Cotto in a rematch on May 2 instead of Pacquiao, and in the opinion of the fighter’s Uncle Jeff, either Cotto or Pacquiao would be easy work for his nephew. Jeff also wasn’t too taken aback by the news that Floyd and Manny met in Miami, claiming it was just ‘two guys talking’.

The updates, whether substantial or not, are coming hot and heavy. Stay tuned for more news as the world continues to wait.

*** Check below for more Mayweather-Pacquiao coverage and other updates from the boxing world…

Andre Ward says it’s hard to get excited about Mayweather vs. Pacquiao