It has been onwards and upwards for Pound for Pound boxing champion, Manny Pacquiao in 2010.
After the demolition of Miguel Cotto in November of 2009, talks immediately began of a potential matchup between Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao but with Mayweather refusing to fight him unless he undergoes random testing, negotiations came to a halt.
Bob Arum soon began to look for an opponent for Pacquiao and Ghanian, Joshua Clottey stepped in.
The fight was staged and set for Texas in March and the bout was more of an event than an actual fight as Pacquiao comprehensively outpointed the very defensive Clottey. Pacquiao finished the match looking rather worse for wear, however.
After Floyd Mayweather outclassed Shane Mosley in a rare statement of his career after being rocked twice in the second round in May, Arum dictated terms to Floyd in another attempt to get the fight on that every boxing fan wants to see.
However, with no response from Floyd after a deadline was set, all hope for the fight was thought to be lost, and practically still is!
After Antonio Margarito’s boxing licence was reinstated in Texas in August, a storm of controversy erupted after a bout with Pacquiao was soon announced.
Fans immediately stated that the fight was a mismatch of epic proportions and that the Mexican did not deserve to fight for the championship on moral grounds.
However, this did not stop the bout going ahead and the fight was set for November, 2010 at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas, Dallas, the same stadium Pacquiao and Clottey had their one sided duel.
It was to be the hardest fight for Pacquiao yet, even though it did not look that way watching it on television and from the stadium, according to attending fans.
Pacquiao outsped and outclassed the former WBO Welterweight champion but received some hard, powerful shots in the course of the fight, especially in the sixth round when Manny was forced on the backfoot.
At the post fight press conference, Pacquiao, himself, stated the bout was his most challenging so far and the Filipino was unable to sign autographs and stick around like he routinely does.
As 2010 comes to a close, there are strong indications that Pacquiao will, again, enter another controversial bout, this time with 4 time champion, Shane Mosley.
If this bout had taken place, perhaps, a year ago I am sure Manny would receive an infinite amount of praise but with Mosley recently come off that heavy loss to Mayweather and drawing with Sergio Mora in September in a mundane bout, it is hard to see the bout being competitive.
Fans have stated that they would much rather see Manny facing the likes of Andre Berto, a boxer who has a much different style than the come forward fighters than Pacquiao has been facing over the last two years.
A third bout with Juan Manuel Marquez is also a curious one with many but with the 38 year old proving that he does not belong at the Welterweight division, it is difficult to see how a third bout could trouble Pacquiao.
I remain unconvinced that the bout taking place even at 140lb could be beneficial for Marquez.
With Golden Boy Promotions now aiming for a showdown between Floyd Mayweather and British sensation Amir Khan, probably sometime within the next twelve months, it is looking more likely that the two current Pound for Pound champions of boxing will always have a question mark looming over their careers because of their unwillingness to agree to terms.
Only time can tell what will bring Manny Pacquiao from here on until he retires, but the final stages of his career may just turn out to be the most curious of all!
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