By: Robert "Blaze" Belen / Photo credt: Chris Farina - Top Rank
The waiting game for us boxing fans continues, and for how long remains an unknown question.
Since the Pacquiao-Mayweather talks failed again for the nth time, and as both boxers now booked to fight different opponents, what type of challenges can we expect from the opponents that they have chosen?
On May 5, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is set to challenge Miguel Cotto for his WBA Super welterweight title.
Cotto is a four-time world champion in three different weight divisions, and as we all know, he is the fighting pride of Puerto Rico, the biggest boxing name in their country after Felix Trinidad.
I admire Mayweather for choosing the toughest competition available to him at the moment. There were a lot of names being lined up for him as his next since he announced in November that May 5th is already booked for his next fight.
From Guerrero to Morales up to the biggest names who can bring cash in his pockets other than Pacquiao like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in light of the Mexican Cinco de Mayo celebration, instead, Mayweather chose the best available in the in Cotto.
Cotto had a good 2011 campaign, beating Ricardo Mayorga last March, and dominated Antonio Margarito last December in their grudge rematch. Cotto has the skill and power that can shock the boxing world on May 5th. And the fact that Mayweather picked to challenge Cotto at 154, which is Cotto's comfortable weight class, makes the fight more interesting to watch.
On the other hand this is a different saga for Pacquiao as he chose to fight his fellow Top Rank fighter Timothy Bradley.
Top Rank also listed some names that had a shot in winning the Pacquiao sweepstakes, but in the end, all fingers were pointed at the undefeated Bradley who is expecting to earn at least $5 million, the biggest in his career.
We are used of seeing Pacquiao going for new challenges that adds to the hype when he fights. When he fought then lightweight champ David Diaz in 2008, it was his first time to fight at 135, and was gunning for his 5th title in 5 different weight divisions.
When he fought Oscar De la Hoya in his next fight, he be faced a legend, and a boxer who was 3 weight classes above him. De la Hoya was simply so much bigger, which caused a significant amount of concern for Pacquiao’s safety coming into that bout.
When he fought Ricky Hatton next, he challenged the best 140 pound boxer at that time and for his 6th weight class belt.
More challenges came when he fought the younger and power-punching Boricua Miguel Cotto for his 7th division title, and during his defenses against legitimate opponents much bigger than him in Joshua Clottey and Shane Mosley. In between, he also fought Antonio Margarito for an unprecedented 8th world title in 8 weight divisions.
But this right here before us is a different story. Let me tell you why.
First of all Bradley hasn't fought a tough opponent in his whole life (I don't consider Devon Alexander and Lamont Peterson as tough competition at the time Bradley fought them, and I’m sure you also know why).
Second, Bradley has only fought once since January 2011, and that was against Joel Casamayor, who we all know was way over his prime and was simply looking for some cash before as he officially retired from he sport. To fight the best boxer in the world with some ring rust, all I got to say to Bradley is “good luck”.
Third, they'll be fighting at 147 lbs., which is the best fighting weight of Pacquiao right now. Bradley has only fought once at 147, and it was against an unimpressive opponent named Luis Carlos Abregu. Bradley will simply be outgunned against Pacquiao.
One factor that can be decisive for Pacquiao's future fights is Bradley’s history with head-butts, and with their fighting styles, a clash of heads is almost expected at some point in the fight.
I'm not counting Bradley out in this fight, as he also has the skills that made him a world champion, but this might be a walk in the park for Manny as long that he doesn’t sustain any cuts that can compromise his chances of a win.
Brawlers are tailor-made for, and Bradley's fighting style will leave him susceptible to eating a lot of power shots. Bradley may prove me wrong as Juan Manuel Marquez did many boxing experts, but as I earlier stated, all I got to say to him is “good luck”.
Follow me on Twitter @robertbelen
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