After the news that WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s “super fight” with Floyd Mayweather fell through, the world of boxing has seen better days. In 2009 alone, Alexis Arguello, Vernon Forrest and Arturo Gatti died, and Oscar De La Hoya retired.
The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight was projected to bring in $200 million in revenue and shatter pay-per-view records but negotiations between Pacquiao and Mayweather over drug tests broke it off. Mayweather wanted to Pacquiao to be randomly tested and Pacquiao tried to compromise but Mayweather disagreed. Pacquiao’s compromise was to be tested three times, including immediately after the fight and within 24 days of it. But, the 24-day test is required by the Nevada Athletic Commission, not randomized which most experts agree is the only what to catch performance-enhancers.
Instead, Pacquiao may square up against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey, a former International Boxing Federation champion. However, the matchup doesn’t compare since Pacquiao’s win over Miguel Cotto in 2009 resurrected the sport and Clottey lost to Cotto. For now, boxing will have to search for unlikely boxers to fill the spotlight like Brian Viloria (26-2, 15 KOs), who fights Colombian Carlos Tamara (20-4 Kos) on Jan. 23 in the Philippines.