£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."

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.....

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.

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.

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.

I don't think it's fair to compare though, because the economy is different, the fanbase is different (strictly cable) and boxing today doesn't get the coverage it deserves (due to it's own fault).

There is a size and reach difference and this fight has the capability of not living up to the hype, because of Mayweather's style. But this will be the biggest fight that can be made, in the current state of the game.

Let's get ready to rumble!

If you wanted to talk pure boxing terms then you should have mentioned that in the first place. You can't compare the exchanges between HW's vs Welters, but there is no way that you're going to convince a boxing historian like Bert Sugar, Nat Fleisher... that Pac and Mayweather surpasses Arguello vs Pryor or Duran vs Leonard......Hagler vs Leonard, Hagler / Hearns..........there's a long long list of incredibly gifted fighters who fought each other in eras that you might not have experienced personally (I don't know how old you are).....
I really think it's an audacious presumption on anyone's part to say that the combination of talent in this particular fight surpasses all of those great fighters and their matchups. Every one of those mentioned was at least as exciting to watch as FMJ and Pac will be- with similar skills and historical importance.
My take on it is that these are the 2 most talented welterweight boxers who will finally square off in this era - like those great superfights of yesteryear. I don't get caught up in the hype and trashtalking or Pacomania - that kind of frenzy is for school boyz..... you'll see where these 2 fit in historically with some perspective - only after they retire...... but neither of them is going to surpass SRL, Hagler, Hearns, Chavez, Arguello, Sanchez, Ricardo Lopez, Ali, Louis, Robinson.........man I could name others till my fingers started bleeding.

Kid - these are 2 great fighters of this era - they'd be competitive and excell in any era - but I don't go for those superlatives that exclude all of those fantastically gifted fighters from other eras.

I agree........ these 2 have incredible fan bases that might rival SRL.... but not surpass it. It boils down to the limp HW division and people looking for another superstar. Roy Jones fit the bill for a while, Tito.... Mosely could've but failed, Oscar was easily as big of a draw as Pac or FMJ.....and there were others but they all fizzled. I think that there were other fights that might not have netted the same $$ as this that had a huge fan following...... the Hamed/Barerra, Corralez/Castillo, Mosely/DLH, DLH / Nard, Nard/ Tito...... there are rivals - but we are so starved for quality matches lately - it's like this is mannah from heaven.... but let's not get carried away with the Pacomanics or Floydoholics..... IMO Floyd is no Leonard and Pac is no ................. I went and stopped myself - Pac is a unique boxer who could end up very highly placed - but I don't think anyone will place him above Duran.... and he could be already beside Hearns historically. Time will tell

The difference between the great fights of the past and the proposed fight between FMJ and Pac is this: we knew going in that Hearns/Hagler, Hearns/Leonard, Ali/Frazier, Ali/Foreman, etc were going to be great action fights.....Pac/FMJ will likely be Floyd running and Pac trying to catch him. Floyd wants to use his Olympic style of "I touched you more" to steal the win. Yawn! Some champion. Maybe he can pull it off. Pac isn't Judah, Baldomir, Gatti, Castillo, Hatton, De La Hoya, Corrales, or any of the almost great/b level fighters that Floyd beat, though. Should be an interesting fight, but I doubt it will be entertaining.

Whoa, whoa. Castillo was a helluva lightweight, Corrales was a helluva 130 lb'er.

You are aware that pac beat oscar, too, right?

He said "two all time greats"!!

I know one of them but who was the other one he was talking about??

Castillo will always be JC Chavez's less skilled sparring partner. Great? Who are his big wins against? (besides Mayweather in the 1st fight). Corrales? Sure he was capable of being great...he just chose to ignore defense most of the time. I liked both fighters. Hall of Famers? No. Delahoya? Are you saying he is great? Not in my book. Mayweather's resume is suspect. Hernandez and Marquez are the only potential hall of famers.

Wow, I hope you keep posting and learning, but you have a lot to learn. You're aware that Oscar beat Hernandez...right?

Dont get ahead of yourself. Just let him keep LEARNING, not posting.

So who were Castillo's big wins against? (if he's so great?). And ok, Hernandez isn't so great. And Delahoya isn't so great. Would any of these guys beat Aaron Pryor? Leonard? Duran? Chavez? Whittaker?

Castillo has wins over Casamayor, Corrales, Johnston, Diaz, Lazcano and many thought he beat Floyd in their first fight.

AND Yes, actually. Delahoya already beat Whitaker and Chavez.

Ok, this conversation is done. Much to learn, you have.

Technically didn't DLH beat Chavez and Whittaker?

Casamayor? All time great? Corrales? All time great? None of these guys are making it into the hall of fame. I like them as fighters, but no, sorry. Didn't Casamayor lose to Poo Poo Freitas? Castillo/Corrales was a great fight mainly because they abandoned their defense and slugged it out. Johnston, Diaz, Lazcano are all good action oriented fighters. Great? No. You're confusing fun to watch with great.

Chavez and Whitaker were past their prime when DLH fought them and everybody knows it. And DLH barely beat Whitaker.

Fact: The most impressive fighter Floyd beat was Castillo, and Castillo isn't that great. (and Yes, DLH was past his prime when facing Floyd). You can count Marquez if you want to, but everybody knows he had no business at Welterweight.

Not a Prime Whittaker or Chavez. But technically, yeah (although that Whittaker fight is questionable). Tszyu beat Chavez too....but come on. Age is a factor.

Given your criteria for ALL TIME GREAT...I don't see how there will be enough ALL TIME GREATS for any other ALL TIME GREATS to defeat.

wrecksracer, please keep posting, and keep learning.

You guys kill me. Leonard/Hearns...great fight. Hearns/Hagler....great fight. Leonard/Duran...great fight (well, the first one). Plenty of hall of famers to go around. Morales, Barrera, Marquez, Pac....all great fighters who have fought each other in their primes (for the most part). They will all be in the hall of fame. The only one Floyd fought was Marquez. Marquez was at a big size disadvantage. We all know Corrales had leaky defense. Hatton? Delahoya past his prime? Zab Judah? Which of Floyd's opponents will go to the hall of fame except Marquez?

There have been plenty of great fighters that have had great fights. Neither of the Mayweather/Castillo fights belong in the same sentence as these. Hell, I even feel that Mayweather is great....but he hasn't fought the best competition. Maybe when he fights Pac, we'll see how great he is.

I am sorry to burst your bubble but you best take Morales out of that arguement.
Zahir Raheem conqueered that Mt. before Pac, I quess Zahir is more HOF worthy than Floyd as well.

You are also ignoring 3K and the Battery of folks that Manny has been defeated by...you gotta consider the fact that Mayweather is undefeated when counting him towards the HOF.

Would Morales be a HOFer without a victory over Pacman...maybe not...so Morales gets into the HOF because he beaet Pac thus boosting Pac into the HOF because he beat Morales...thus Pac gets into the HOF because he LOST to Morales.

If Floyd had lost to a washed up DLH then come back and beat him twice like Pac did with Morales would you be saying Floyd should get in as well?

I still say Pac has fought the better fighters. Disagree?