For the better part of this century, boxing fans have been praying for a superfight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.
Unfortunately, it appears the dream matchup will never come to fruition.
After getting knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in December, Pacquiao looks like he's headed for a fifth meeting with his biggest rival. His promoter, Bob Arum, said as much to TMZ.
"Pacquiao is now in Israel. He'll be coming back and I think do another fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. That was a great fight. He ran into a really good right hand and we'll see what happens next time."
When asked if Pacquiao will ever fight Mayweather, Arum said, "Probably not, but life goes on."
Mayweather has also moved on from a potential Pacquiao fight. He is planning to fight twice in 2013, but neither bout will be against the Filipino legend. Instead, Mayweather will likely face interim welterweight titlist Robert Guerrero and, assuming he wins, junior middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (h/t ESPN).
While all three fights (Pacquiao-Marquez, Mayweather-Guerrero, Mayweather-Alvarez) would be entertaining, this is still a disappointing development for boxing fans.
Mayweather and Pacquiao are the two best fighters of their generation. Over the last 10 years, they have been the only men with legitimate cases for the title of best pound-for-pound fighter, and they are two of the most accomplished boxers in the history of the sport.
They also have perfectly contrasting styles. A matchup between the ultra-aggressive Pacquiao and the defensive master Mayweather would have been simply amazing. The fight would have shattered pay-per-view records and delighted boxing fans around the globe.
Unfortunately, the fight will never happen.
Pacquiao is 34 years old and Mayweather turns 36 in February. Both men are in the twilight of their careers, and with their schedules booked for 2013, there is no more time for the bout we all wanted to see.
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