Manny Pacquiao could be barking up the wrong tree in trying to chase Floyd Mayweather Jr. out of retirement and make him his final opponent.
This was suggested by boxing expert Hermie Rivera, who has been keenly watching developments in the prizefight world from behind the scene at his cozy nest in Newark, California.
If Mayweather, indeed, decides to un-retire, it would be to shoot for a greater trophy.
Writes the sharp, peppery boxing guru: “It would be mighty interesting if the lily-livered Floyd Mayweather Jr. faces Genady Golovkin. It will be a mind-boggling act, a thrilla, if Money May un-retires to tackle the GGG brag (that he hopes to unite all the belts) for all the marbles.”
Mayweather, in a stern shot to dash rumors about a rematch with Pacquiao, cried: “It’s totally false. I am not fighting anymore.”
Still, there rolled wild expectations for Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch through All Souls’ Day.
Mayweather was unusually diffident after watching Golovkin at close range in his last title defense, Rivera observed.
But don’t be fooled; the unbeaten (48-0) king of the ring could be sniffing at something big, truly great.
“Tahimik na tahimik noong mapagmasdan ni Motormouth Floyd si Golden Golovkin (Mayweather was specially silent when he saw Golvkin),” said Rivera, who said he would be the least surprised if Mayweather springs a surprise one of these days.
And didn’t Larry Merchant himself say he would watch Mayweather again only if he goes up against the power-punching Golovkin, unbeaten world middleweight king from Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao last week shone as a big, big hero by serving as manager of the underdog Letran Knights, who ruled the 91st NCAA basketball season at the Mall of Asia.
Letran beat mighty San Beda to polish and sustain a legendary run that started with the Murder Inc. of Lauro Mumar & Co. in the 1950s.
After inspiring and helping Letran capture its 17th overall senior NCAA basketball championship, the multi-millionaire Pacquiao rewarded the Knights with P100,000 each.
It was a great memorable day for Pacquiao and the Knights, but there were keen game observers who claimed it would’ve been perfect if the crown had been won in a more noble fashion.
There was, indeed, record hysteria delivered by the delirious crowd, matched only by wild, mindless scrambles on the hardcourt.
It would have been a true epic if the championship game was played the way a championship must be won, with great craft, adjustments, sharp skills, not through sheer luck that mercifully smiled through a frenzy of fumbles, dumb misses that made the game look more a street fiesta fight for the slippery larded coconut fruit.
