by John Martinez
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Boxscore (Oct. 19, 2012) – There are very few instances where two or three words, or names for that matter, clumped together solicit a fevered response. One of these examples is that of Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Recently, boxing fans have been the beneficiaries of something great and long past. Today, world class fighters are now forgoing the easy tune-up bouts that have unfortunately been a staple of this era�s boxing �champions� and now are righting the ship by squaring off against top-shelf opposition in high- stakes fisticuffs.�
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This year alone, the squared circle has played host to the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr./Sergio Martinez, Andre Ward against Chad Dawson, Lucas Matthysse and Humberto Soto, Danny Garcia vs. Amir Khan, Cotto fighting Mayweather, Marcos Maidana and. well- anyone, and of course, boxing�s newest streaking meteor-Brandon Rios, who engaged in what this scribe believes to be 2012�s �Fight of the Year.� These are just a few of the top-flight rumbles that have made all of these participants winners, even when their hand wasn�t the one raised at the end of the contest.
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In the remaining months of this year, boxing�s society will witness Robert Guerrero match himself against Andre Berto. We�ll also see the return of Ricky Hatton and Erik Morales. Miguel Cotto will revisit the house that Miguel Cotto built (Madison Square Garden) when he faces Austin Trout and one week later, Manny Pacquiao will stand in front of his nemesis, Juan Manuel Marquez, for a fourth time in an �all or nothing� high caliber clash. With an eye on next year, Saul �Canelo� Alvarez is already talking about meeting middleweight juggernaut, Sergio Martinez on Cinco de Mayo weekend.
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Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao is rumored to face Rios (possibly) if Manny is able to get past his obsessed stalker, Juan Marquez. But what you aren�t hearing is that one name that has ruled boxing in recent years. You aren�t hearing the name Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Mayweather has had quite a year thus far. He extracted Cotto�s light middleweight title and shortly thereafter, spent 87 days incarcerated for harassment and domestic violence charges.
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So here�s the question: Where is boxing�s undefeated �God gifted� pugilist? And why hasn�t he responded to Manny Pacquiao�s challenge? Pacquiao vs. Mayweather was supposed to be boxing�s apex. Fans, media, their colleagues, and corporate America have salivated at the chance to witness these two combatants slug it out for this era�s supremacy.
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Early on, it seemed that it was the Pacquiao camp that didn�t want to adhere to Mayweather�s demands that random blood tests be administered to each fighter. Then it was the split of the pile of money that would be generated between the two. Many people believe the fight would do at a minimum 100 million dollars in revenue. These were just a few of the roadblocks that turned into barricades resulting in a fight that hasn�t happened and with every day that passes, loses it�s luster if it hasn�t already lost it all.
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That being said, it is Manny Pacquiao that has now acquiesced to Floyd�s demands. Manny has gone on television stating he will take less than half of the revenue generated from this mega fight; he has stated Floyd can enter the ring and be announced first or last, which ever suits the �Boy Wonder� of the sweet science. And yes, Pacquiao has agreed to random blood tests. Does this sound like a guy that wants to make the fight happen?
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Are these the actions of a fighter that is ready to continue the recent surge of boxing�s renaissance? Or, are we to believe that it�s Floyd Mayweather Jr. that wants to make this fight come to fruition since he was the one that pushed for its making so hard for so long?
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Perhaps. But we wont know until we hear from the man himself. In stark contrast to Floyd who seems to be playing his version of �Where In The World Is Carmen Santiago?� Manny is taking on the serious challenges that have eluded him in modern years. He, too, has caught the fever of the renaissance and as mentioned earlier, is going to answer the bell when he fights his Mexican kryptonite later this year.
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After not seeing Pacquiao score a victory by way of early stoppage against a B class fighter in Clottey, a faded former star in Mosley, and a weight drained Antonio Margarito, Manny has promised that he will repeat his earlier achievements like the night he fought Miguel Cotto and won by TKO in November of 2009.

So with boxing�s brightest and most daring warriors showing their willingness to pit themselves against the best, not for the title or the money, but for the glory and their self worth, do we even need to care if and when Mayweather will ever fight the Filipino icon?

If Mayweather and Pacquiao never meet in the ring, boxing won�t fret. There are far too many new and upcoming champions putting it all on the line these days, just like in days long past. We know when today and tomorrow�s superstars are fighting and who and when they�ll meet in 2013. As for those wondering if Floyd Mayweather will fight again- the answer is yes. Now as for the venue? That�ll either be in the ring, or in a nightclub.
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John Martinez is respected boxing writer who has interviewed many of the sport’s top fighters. A regular writer for the Boxscore World Sportswire, he is veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom.