The allure of boxing hasn’t faded for Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino boxer, despite last fighting in 2021, is flirting with the idea of a comeback. While he has some illustrious names on the table, one peculiar name keeps popping up: Gervonta Davis. Their history goes back to 2019, and a recent call-out comes to mind. But is it worth the trouble for either of the two?

‘Tank’ ignited the flame of a potential match with ‘Pac-Man’ in 2019 when he demanded Al Haymon fix the dates. However, the heat soon fizzled out. The American boxer rose through the ranks while Pacquiao lost the charisma he had in his twilight years. The hypothetical fight got traction in October last year when Pacquiao expressed his eagerness to meet Davis at catchweight. And the traction of the fight hasn’t died yet, with Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Sean Gibbons adding fuel to it recently. But is it a terrible business that has come too late for all the parties involved?

Manny Pacquiao vs. Gervonta Davis: Too much, too late

Surely Manny Pacquiao, at 62-8-2, wants to make his splendid comeback, but he needs to stick to one idea. He recently aired rumors of his much-coveted rematch with Floyd Mayweather. The talk of him facing Conor McGregor also made waves. Then there is his Olympic dream.

The Kibawe native is still hitting the pads and is in peak physical fitness. He is far from content with retirement. Despite this, he has to pick his battles and choose one path to pursue. At 45, he can’t afford to plan a fight with ‘Tank’ and then overlook his other plans, which certainly come with a shelf life.

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In addition, there are lingering questions about Pacquiao’s boxing acumen. It has been almost three years since we saw him fight. A case can be made that he isn’t the same fighter today as he once was. If his twelve-round unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugás is any indication, he has already lost the speed, sharpness, and movement on his feet that established him as one of the modern-day greats. Therefore, taking a fight with one of the most devastating young boxers could be disastrous for Pacquiao and the same goes for Davis too.

A loss-loss situation for ‘Tank’

What does Gervonta Davis stand to gain by dismantling a depleted, aged Pacquiao? While the American boxer might be eager to fight the legendary boxer, a win doesn’t bolster his resume. Undoubtedly, Pacquiao is a popular choice, but there are more concerns attached.

Pacquiao, at this age, is a mismatch for a relatively younger Davis. If Davis wins the hypothetical fight, he will be bashed for putting an old Pacquiao on the canvas. The same is true even if he drops the fight. Finding a middle ground for the weight category is a hassle in itself.

Pacquiao wants the fight in the welterweight division. But he would be open to facing Davis at a catchweight of 145 lbs. Davis has been at lightweight except for one time when he ventured into light welterweight to fight Mario Barrios. Therefore, a fight at 145 might be too much of a leap for him. Also, on the negotiation table, he will hold very little power. On the other hand, there is nothing exciting in it for the traditional fans.

A disastrous farewell fight

Most likely, the hypothetical fight will be an exhibition fight, which might be a hard sell for traditional boxing fans. Exhibition fights are often close to extended sparring sessions or half-speed bouts. The fans are not keen to shell out money for not-so-thrilling encounters anymore.

If Pacquiao and Davis end up exchanging blows in an exhibition match, they may just dance around and fail to entertain the fans. This is the scenario fans fear the most, especially when asked to pay for such an event. Only when the fight is for professional records, it might pique fans’ interest. On paper, it remains a fight with a predictable outcome. An image of a battered and bruised Pacquiao is not how the fans want the boxing legend’s farewell fight to be.

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What do you make of this supposed fight between Manny Pacquiao and Gervonta Davis? Do you believe this is the fight to make? Let us know in the comments below.

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