The minute Errol Spence, Jr. was declared the new unified welterweight champion of the world, now holding the IBF and WBC belts, the boxing world toyed with the idea of dream match next. One would be a rematch with Shawn Porter or a thrilling unification bout in the same division. That would be against the WBA welterweight king Manny Pacquiao.
However, none of the two will happen. Following the split decision win by Spence over Porter, the one foe lined up immediately for the former climbed up the ring. And dutifully, the ring announcer let the crowd know that the next big welterweight clash for Spence would be with Danny Garcia, per the report by the World Boxing News.
The news came as a surprise because in recent days reports came out that Team Pacquiao is working on the possibility of setting up a fight with Spence. The plan was for Pacquiao to put his WBA crown at stake and for Spence, his IBF-WBC titles. It would have been a blockbuster match.
To think, however, that the unification bout is a cinch since Pacquiao had proposed the scenario would be naïve, according to Boxing News & Reviews. The key character on how things will play out is Al Haymon, which the same report said, serves as an advisor both for Pacquiao and Spence.
On that note, it's hard to imagine that Haymon will sanction a Pacquiao-Spence duel, no matter the potential buzz that it will generate. It's quite apparent that Haymon is playing a different movie in his mind, and likely with the tacit approval of Team Pacquiao.
The same report indicated that Spence is unlikely to face Pacquiao anytime soon because of the latter's seeming renaissance, "which still leaves open the possibility of a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao rematch,"
That read correctly: The day Pacquiao had defeated Keith Thurman, the former's crosshair has been fixed on one target only, and it's none other than Floyd Mayweather.
Why the fixation? It will be a windfall for both camps, so the moves they have been taking lately were in unison, pointing only to the repeat of an early bout that saw dollars raining down for both fighters.
Clearly, the pieces of this puzzle are falling into their rightful places, gradually and surely. Recently, Mayweather floated the possibility of an exhibition match starring him and the Pacman. The Filipino boxing icon, however, begged off. It was the real thing he is after, Pacquiao insisted.
Now with Garcia given a shot on the twin titles that Spence currently holds, Pacquiao now has more space and time to prepare for the big thing. And the Pacman might just pay heed on the recent suggestion made by Bob Arum.
Pacquiao's former promoter has advised the Filipino fighter to quit boxing and enjoy the fruits of his labor a healthy man. And if he must fight again, it has to be the last and not to settle for anyone else. It has to be against Mayweather.
