HOF Boxing Announcer Bob Sheridan States Floyd Mayweather Jr. Is ‘The Problem’ Why Fight Against Manny Pacquiao Is Not Happening
With over 10,000 fights covered during his illustrious broadcasting career, Bob Sheridan is considered a legend in the fight sports business. So when the Hall-of-Famer talks, everybody in the boxing world listens to veteran broadcaster. It was only a matter of time before he was asked of his opinion on the current Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao negotiations and Sheridan is blaming the former why the super fight is not happening yet.
“The problem is Mayweather. If he wants to have the fight, the fight will happen,” Sheridan stated via ontheropesboxing.com. “The PPV numbers will be there, there’s no question about that, but he doesn’t seem to care about that because he can generate PPV numbers on his own and so can Manny Pacquiao, although Pacquiao’s aren’t as high as Floyd Mayweather’s.”
READ ALSO: Roach Still Optimistic On Super Fight, Hopes That Alvarez-Cotto Bout Will Push Mayweather Jr. To Accept Fight Against Pacquiao
Sheridan was quick to point out that while the boxing public wants to see the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao bout there are other fighters, particularly in the same welterweight division where the pair are campaigning, that also warrants some attention. Fighters like Timothy Bradley, who has already fought Pacquiao twice; Kell Brook, the undefeated British fighter rumoured to be one of Amir Khan’s potential next opponents; Shawn Porter; Terrence Crawford and Keith Thurman among many others.
Sheridan’s broadcasting resume includes covering fights— both on radio and television— in boxing and mixed martial arts (MMA). He was inducted to the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004 owing to his vast experience and contributions to the sport as a broadcaster. Among the big fights Sheridan covered were the “The Rumble in the Jungle” George Foreman vs. Muhammad Ali fight held in Zaire, Africa in 1974; the “Thrilla in Manila” Joe Frazier vs. Muhammad Ali fight held in Manila, Philippines in 1978; and the Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas in Tokyo, Japan in 1900. All in all, Sheridan has covered 900 world title fights in his broadcasting career.
READ ALSO: Manny Pacquiao’s Adviser Mike Koncz Gives End of January Deadline For Floyd Mayweather Jr. To Accept Fight
Sheridan has another Mayweather vs. Pacquiao prediction that could stir the pot saying that the Filipino pugilist has the edge over the undefeated American if they meet on top of the ring.
“No it wouldn’t change my mind because I think Pacquiao is a sensational fighter. He’s lost some credibility with the public when he got hit with that one punch by Juan Manuel Marquez, but that can happen in boxing — it hasn’t happened to Floyd Mayweather but it has happened to Pacquiao,” Sheridan added in the same interview. “Pacquiao came back, he beat Tim Bradley and controlled Tim Bradley in the last fight. I think that this guy is a sensational fighter, in spite of the fact that the Mayweather fight probably should have taken place three or four years ago when they were both at their absolute peak.”
READ ALSO: Manny Pacquiao 'Not The Same Anymore' According To Trainer Robert Garcia, Wants Marcos Maidana To Have A Shot Against the Filipino Boxer
No new updates have been released from either the Mayweather Jr. or Pacquiao camps regarding the negotiations of the fight. However, there are reports that Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer is remaining positive and that he’s confident the fight will take place in 2015 because of the Canelo Alvarez-Miguel Cotto match-up. Mike Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser has also given Mayweather until the end of January 2015 to decide if he wants the Pacquiao fight or not.
