Manny Pacquiao Being Boycotted Actually Poses an Interesting Debate

A lot of boxing columnists and the general public have been trying to boycott Manny Pacquiao’s fights.  There are YouTube videos and even a Facebook Fan Page dedicated to boycotting the Mosley/Pacquiao fight.  Both Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao are receiving a ton of venom from writers and fans alike.   To me, there are primarily two reasons Arum made this fight:  Because of Black and Green.  In other words, Bernard Hopkins’ comment on Pacquiao avoiding Black fighters and finances.  People just think Mosley is too old and Pacquiao’s cherry picking.  I think the boycotting of Pacquiao actually poses an interesting debate that” could” be good for the sport itself overall for boxing fans and the community.  Here are some reasons:

1. In order for us to see Pacquiao/Mayweather, do we refuse to support any fights of Mannys  until the big one is made?   I don’t necessarily agree with a Mosley/Pacquiao fight.  I think if Manny loses, the sport is hurt and Mayweather retires.   No one wants to see a Mosley/Mayweather fight again.   If Manny loses, a new star will certainly emerge.    If the fans refuse Pacquiao’s fights does it force a Mayweather/Pacquiao brawl to be made?   Or does Manny keep fighting these folks until Mayweather finally comes to the table?   And don’t say boxing will be alive and well without the two.   We will see fights, but not nearly at the level of these two men who would certainly break all monetary records.

2.  After Mosley, where does Manny go from here?  As a boxing fan, I’d rather see him fight a young lion like Berto  than a Mosley.   Marquez is old news to me.  I lost total respect for the man after choosing to fight Erik Morales of all people (especially after a Katsidis fight).  If anything do Katsidis/Marquez II.    Or maybe Manny fights a Sergio Martinez or a Paul Williams?  Bottom line: Boxers need to challenge themselves like Timothy Bradley and Devon Alexander are doing. If Manny fights a challenging young lion after and if he beats Mosley, I’ll respect him more.

3.   Pacquiao doesn’t need to prove anything more. What does he prove by fighting Mosley?  That he can box with a legend who is at the end of his career? Or that he can beat a black fighter?
Bob Arum/Leonard Ellerbe/Floyd Mayweather/Manny Pacquiao:  I was watching “When We Were Kings” the other day.   Ali/Foreman was sooo huge back in the day.  Shoot, Ali/Frazier was bigger.    Here’s my proposal:

Pacquiao/Mayweather I: Caesars Palace in Vegas
Pacquiao/Mayweather II: Manila
Pacquiao/Mayweather III: Africa

Get over your egos and make this kind of money.  Boxing fans may just refuse to support you guys if this crap continues to go on and on and on and on……….