Mayweather vs Pacquiao

appears to be off, at least until fall. While I prefer a June fight, it is too bad that the two couldn't agree on the issues for the March date.

It appears that Manny will meet Yuri Foreman next. That is not much of a fight. It will give Manny another paper title in a different weight class. Yuri is a talented fighter, but poses zero threat of pulling off an upset. I certainly do, however, understand why Manny would take an easy fight after the brutal match with Cotto.

Mayweather will likely meet Paul Malignaggi in March. Paul has earned a shot at a top fighter. He can also stir up some interest, with his trash-talking. Both Paul and Floyd have been public about their belief that Pacquiao has used PED. Both draw sports fans who want to see them defeated.

It's unlikely that either Manny or Floyd will lose between now and the end of the year. However, I do not think that they are going to build the potential gate much, either. Both fighters would have earned at least $25 million in March -- probably closer to $45 million each. I assume that they will make about the same when they do fight.

simply posturing?

I think that Mayweather is sincere in his concern that Manny is getting a pass, when he should be tested in a manner that would insure he isn't breaking the rules. Floyd was willing to take the exact same test. And, as a review of HBO's 23/7 series for the Hatton fight proves beyond doubt, Pacquiao did accept that level of testing before, despite his people's denials.

Cotto broke Manny's ear drum. I think it makes sense to fight a guy like Yuri Foreman, who has no pop on his punches. Even a great fighter needs to have tune-up fights. Nothing wrong with that.

At the same time, Floyd can benefit from another fight. His timing is key, and despite his high connect rate in his last fight, his timing was slightly off. Malignaggi would be ideal for him. Plus, Paul -- though not a serious puncher -- has very good speed, and more importanly, a quality jab. Paul even doubles that jab. So Floyd will look to do two things: first, avoid it and counter; then, anticipate it and fire first -- both skills he will depend on against Manny.

So, I don't think it's like the delay in the Holyfield vs Botha fight (which simply isn't selling, and isn't likely to). There is a serious disagreement on the blood tests. And both guy's camps are taking advantage of the delay.

Strange sport, sometimes.

a 36 hour window for the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight to be made for March. If there isn't an agreement reached by Saturday night (Sunday morning at the very latest), it looks like it is off.