It’s been reported that Manny Pacquiao and Conor Benn are working towards a deal that would see the two square off against each other on June 3rd in Abu Dhabi.
It’s become apparent that Pacquiao isn’t ready to get 100% away from boxing and, unlike Floyd Mayweather Jr., fighting exhibitions isn’t quenching his thirst.
The last time we saw Pacquaio in a “real” boxing match, he lost by unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas.
Like most sports, it’s hard to hang it up if you’ve been a superstar. For boxers, it’s even harder.
In other sports, there are multiple post-playing career paths. There’s the media angle. For team sports, a former player can look to go into coaching or the front office.
Boxing is an individual sports. There a very few television and radio spots to fall to and when boxers do get one, they don’t let them go easily which is understandable.
Plus, the damage that the sports brings can make former fighters incapable of performing those duties. The only other option becomes being a trainer.
That’s the long way of saying that I can somewhat understand why politics hasn’t put out Pacquiao’s love affair with being a boxer.
For Benn, this opportunity is about getting his name back.
Benn has spent his career trying to be more than just the son of the legendary boxer, Nigel Benn.
He seemed to be down that path until a failed drug test forced the cancellation of Benn’s fight against Chris Eubank Jr.
Twice Benn tested positive for having the female fertility drug, clomifene in his system.
Clomifene can boost testosterone levels in men and that’s a definite no-no in the world of boxing.
A fight against Pacquiao will provide Benn with the opportunity to get his name back despite it coming against an aging, former champion.
It’s why the fight makes too much sense not to happen.
Pacquiao can no longer get fights against current champions or big-name contenders.
Benn needs to get in the ring with a familiar name and prove he can win without the whispers of cheating.
