Opinion: Bob Arum & Top Rank Must Allow Pacquiao To Face Mayweather Next

Dear Bob Arum and Top Rank;

I have bought every single Manny Pacquiao Pay-Per-View event to date, even when I showed up at the venue in-person just to show support to Manny Pacquiao. However I must protest that I will NOT support a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao is in the twilight of his career and his reputation of fighting Anyone, Anywhere at Anytime is on the line if Top Rank REFUSES to make the fight with Floyd Mayweather.

The Manny Pacquiao BRAND is based on the Fighter’s WARRIOR Mentality of facing ALL COMERS — and his LEGACY is that of Fighting the Biggest and the BEST. If TOP RANK prevents the Mayweather Fight From happening, then Manny Pacquiao’s Brand and Legacy will be seriously diminished and irreparable. As a Manny Pacquiao Fan, I can live with Manny losing to Floyd Mayweather in the ring, What I cannot defend is Manny being protected like a little child because someone thought the risk was too high. If Manny loses this bout, myself and myriads of Pacquaio Fans will still support him in the Future against possible foes such as Andre Berto, Victor Ortiz or Timothy Bradley, but the Mayweather Fight, MUST COME BEFORE any of those matches and certainly the Juan Manuel Marquez rematch is not palatable.

Thank you very much for your time,

Sincerely,
Clay Cawley

Clay Cawley is a Salt Lake City-based boxing fan since 1970. He is the Captain of the Utah State Prison and was a personal friend of former Muhammad Ali opponent Lamar Clark before his passing.