By Norm Frauenheim
Manny Pacquiao versus-Floyd Mayweather Jr.? Did anyone really want to see it all over again?
Didn’t think so.
The good news is that it looks as if the rematch – or is that redundancy? –won’t happen because of the legal mess surrounding Mayweather, who used to call himself Money May.
Lawsuits that seem to multiply by the day, however, suggest money may be gone and on to a life of uninterrupted court dates.
The latest evidence came Thursday when Mayweather’s exhibition against Mike Zambidis in Athens Saturday was called off, according to federal court records filed in New York.
The bout was in jeopardy after CSI, an events company reportedly contracted to stage Mayweather dates, sued, alleging breach of contract. CSI also filed for an emergency injunction to halt the fight. According to the suit, CSI claims it has rights to stage other Mayweather exhibitions, including one against Mike Tyson.
But it was never clear when – or if – the Mayweather-Tyson exhibition would ever happen. Now, it’s fair to say that the Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch is in doubt.
In effect, that’s what Pacquiao told Boxing Scene’s Lance Pugmire Thursday in the wake of news that Mayweather- Zambidis was suddenly just another Greek myth. No live stream was reported. No ticket sales were reported. No opening bell was inevitable.
Then, Pacquiao told Boxing Scene that the Mayweather rematch, scheduled for Sept. 25, had been postponed indefinitely. Indefinitely can mean lots of things, including forever.
Deepening doubt is there because of the avalanche of lawsuits involving Mayweather, who is believed to have earned a billion dollars in his prize-fighting career.
Dollars, of course, have been the only reason for a rematch. Mayweather’s victory over Pacquiao eleven years ago is memorable only for the record revenue it generated. The fight itself was a dud. Mayweather won a unanimous decision in what was a unanimous bore.
International interest before the fight was squandered during the fight. Then, the money generated by the fight was apparently squandered. Who wants to do that all over again?
That verdict has already been delivered by fans who aren’t likely to pay again for another money-grab between fighters more than a decade past their primes.
Notes on a Scorecard
Elijah Garcia (18-2, 14 KOs), a prominent prospect a couple of years ago, got back into the win column with a mandatory victory, a first-round stoppage, of Ryan Adams last Saturday at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix, Garcia’s hometown.
Jose Benavidez Sr., dad and trainer of three division champion David Benavidez, confirms reports this week that he has talked with troubled and talented Tank Davis about being his trainer. “Tank will announce his plans and we’ll go from there,’’ Jose Sr. tells The Good Fight. There’s uncertainty because of Tank’s problematic legal issues.
