Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Pacquiao Already Lining Up A £100mill Floyd Fight, Stephen Lillis, Sun Uk

[Glax0r]

£100million May lure Manny

By STEPHEN LILLIS

MANNY PACQUIAO is already lining up a £100million clash with Floyd Mayweather Jnr.

The Filipino smashed WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on Saturday to claim his SEVENTH title at different weights.

Pacquiao, 30, stopped the courageous Puerto Rican in the 12th round at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.

Now the richest fight of all time between Pacman and Mayweather - two all-time greats - looks certain to be staged next year.

Promoter Bob Arum said: "Manny's the best fighter I have ever seen - that includes Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard."

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach added: "Mayweather is a fight the world wants to see but we will fight whatever gives the best deal for Manny."

Cotto was floored by a right in round three and a left hook in the fourth. He had no answer to Pacquiao's blazing speed.

As the ref stopped the slaughter 55 seconds into the final session, Cotto's face looked like it had been clubbed with a sledgehammer.

Pacman suffered a damaged ear but went on to play a concert with his band in front of 12,000 fans after his amazing performance.

He said: "I took a lot of punches and it was one my most demanding fights."

David Haye was handed his WBA belt by Oscar De La Hoya before he watched Pacquiao win in Vegas.

The Brit, 29, could not take the belt home after beating Nikolay Valuev nine days ago because the one owned by the Russian fitted his 48in waist.

Haye said: "It is crazy. Oscar was an inspiration. I was glued to the TV for all of his fights when I was coming through and now he's awarding me the WBA belt."

[Boricuahook]

This is the biggest fight since what???

I don't recall a fight of this magnitude.....

Two multi division champs at the top of their careers facing each other.

[shove-aloe]

This is the biggest fight since what???

I don't recall a fight of this magnitude.....

Two multi division champs at the top of their careers facing each other.

Ali vs. Frazier 1 is bigger and so was Louis vs Schmelling 2. I saw that Ali vs Frazier match...... no not even Pac vs Floyd will come close to that...... 2 undefeated HW champs - the Ali 4 yr layoff and draft refusal.... they were both gold medal Olympic champs and the HW division was at or near it's best quality.
There may be more money in this matchup because it's 40 yrs later, but the excitement that Ali vs Frazier generated will never be equalled - saying that, I imagine that the Louis vs Schmelling 2nd fight would have been even greater.... it represented (literally) the free world vs. the Nazis and Hitler..... facism vs. democrasy and freedom.
There are many other bouts that can be considered as important as a Pac vs Mayweather...... the 2 above sit in top spot IMO..... and then there's Leonard vs Duran 1 + 2..... Hagler vs. Hearns, Leonard vs. Hagler, Ali vs Foreman.......
There were many other superfights before you and I were even born and many that I saw before you were hatched son...... the beat goes on.....

[Boricuahook]

Ali vs. Frazier 1 is bigger and so was Louis vs Schmelling 2.  I saw that Ali vs Frazier match...... no not even Pac vs Floyd will come close to that...... 2 undefeated HW champs - the Ali 4 yr layoff and draft refusal.... they were both gold medal Olympic champs and the HW division was at or near it's best quality.
There may be more money in this matchup because it's 40 yrs later,  but the excitement that Ali vs Frazier generated will never be equalled - saying that,  I imagine that the Louis vs Schmelling 2nd fight would have been even greater.... it represented (literally) the free world vs. the Nazis and Hitler..... facism vs. democrasy and freedom.
There are many other bouts that can be considered as important as a Pac vs Mayweather......  the 2 above sit in top spot IMO..... and then there's Leonard vs Duran 1 + 2.....  Hagler vs. Hearns,  Leonard vs. Hagler,  Ali vs Foreman.......
There were many other superfights before you and I were even born and many that I saw before you were hatched son......  the beat goes on.....

You have a strong argument, but my point is that I have not seen a bigger fight in strictly pure boxing terms. Those fights may have been bigger for the people in general, but they were for the reasons you stated. Those reasons were mainly OUTSIDE boxing.

Ali was clearly not on his peak after coming off a 3 year retirement, and I don't think Joe Frazier could be compared skillwise to either Manny or Floyd.

I love the fantastic four pretty much like everyone else, but while Leonard and Hearns came on to be multi division champs, they accomplished that AFTER they fought each other. Same with Duran.

Here you have 2 guys that already won titles in 5 and 7 weight classes respectively, are on the absolute PRIME of their careers, and want to setlle once and for all who is the best of this generation, and earn a place among boxing's all time elite.

I think that's bigger than life.

[jeremiah2l]

Ali vs. Frazier 1 is bigger and so was Louis vs Schmelling 2.  I saw that Ali vs Frazier match...... no not even Pac vs Floyd will come close to that...... 2 undefeated HW champs - the Ali 4 yr layoff and draft refusal.... they were both gold medal Olympic champs and the HW division was at or near it's best quality.
There may be more money in this matchup because it's 40 yrs later,  but the excitement that Ali vs Frazier generated will never be equalled - saying that,  I imagine that the Louis vs Schmelling 2nd fight would have been even greater.... it represented (literally) the free world vs. the Nazis and Hitler..... facism vs. democrasy and freedom.
There are many other bouts that can be considered as important as a Pac vs Mayweather......  the 2 above sit in top spot IMO..... and then there's Leonard vs Duran 1 + 2.....  Hagler vs. Hearns,  Leonard vs. Hagler,  Ali vs Foreman.......
There were many other superfights before you and I were even born and many that I saw before you were hatched son......  the beat goes on.....

All those Leonard fights you mentioned PLUS Leonard/Hearns 1 to boot. This is probably the biggest Non Heavyweight fight in the modern TV era NOT involving Sugar Ray Leanoard. Maybe the Tito/Mosley/DLH era fights as possible competition.

[bazooka]

You have a strong argument, but my point is that I have not seen a bigger fight in strictly pure boxing terms. Those fights may have been bigger for the people in general, but they were for the reasons you stated. Those reasons were mainly OUTSIDE boxing.

Ali was clearly not on his peak after coming off a 3 year retirement, and I don't think Joe Frazier could be compared skillwise to either Manny or Floyd.

I love the fantastic four pretty much like everyone else, but while Leonard and Hearns came on to be multi division champs, they accomplished that AFTER they fought each other. Same with Duran.

Here you have 2 guys that already won titles in 5 and 7 weight classes respectively, are on the absolute PRIME of their careers, and want to setlle once and for all who is the best of this generation, and earn a place among boxing's all time elite.

I think that's bigger than life.

Sorry but this won't compare to those big time heavyweight bouts. Twist it however you like but this won't stack up. Big time heavyweight bouts are always going to draw more public appeal. Especially back in the days in which those fights happened.