ALLAN THE MAN

Now that eight division champion Manny Pacquiao is back to his winning ways, speculations as to whom he will fight next are a plenty. But fans and experts alike agree that a match against undefeated Floyd Mayweather is the perfect match for the Saranggani representative.

"Bagay sila ngayon. Halos magkasing edad na sila eh. Bagay na sila," said boxing analyst Sev Sarmenta in an interview with News To Go's Howie Severino and Kara David. "Yung Mayweather through the years kaya magaling yun, maingat din yun eh. Hindi nagpapatama. Ang ilag-ilag nung Mayweather."

Mayweather's reputation as a very defensive-minded, even "dirty" boxer, may play a role if the fight pushes through, but the allure of having the American feel the power behind Pacman's punch is enough to get people excited.

"Magulang eh. Magulang," Sarmenta said of Mayweather. "I think magkakaroon ng problema. Hindi madaling kalaban si Mayweather. Magaling naman, tatama at tatama naman. Ang gusto siguro ng Pilipino is tamaan lang, tamaan lang kahit isa, para tumahimik lang. Ang Pilipino ganun kasi eh, kahit maisahan lang. I think aabot, I think that fight is going to happen, sooner than we think. Yung April, yung susunod sa September, hindi na pwede mag-iwasan itong dalawang ito."

Sarmenta added that a fight against Timothy Bradley may not be a good option given that the American is weak in attracting pay-per-view buys. Juan Manuel Marquez too might be apprehensive in facing Pacquiao anew, after knocking the Filipino out just before the end of the sixth round in their last fight.

Both Bradley and Marquez defeated Pacquiao in 2012.

With eight division titles already under his belt, plus a political career in the mix, the call to have the "People's Champ" retire has grown louder over the years. However, Sarmenta adds that there are several factors that affect Pacquiao's eagerness to stay in the ring:

"Yung glory, solve na siya dun eh. Yung pera siguro naisip niya ang limang anak nya, paglalaanan niya na iyan. What we do not understand and misinterpreted kay Manny is yung willingness niya na tumulong sa tao, natural eh. Sabihin natin, pulitiko. Pero pag galing ka sa wala, nakikita mo yung mga wala, there is a natural part na gusto nyang tumulong. I’ve seen that. What does he want? One last fight kay Mayweather."

The purse that comes with a Mayweather fight, plus the opportunity to scratch out the last name on his fight list might just usher in the end of the Pacquiao era.

"More than 20 million, 30 million," Sarmenta estimated as to how much Pacquiao might take home if he faces Mayweather. "Beyond our imagination siguro. It will have to be in US para matuloy yun. Pero I think Pacquiao wants to be measured against the best of our generation. Pag hindi nangyari ang laban, kawawa naman ang boxing fans in general.

"I think he will beat Mayweather in solid knockout. Natatakot si Mayweather kasi unblemished ang record eh. Ingay lang yan eh. Alam mo naman African-American, ang daming katabi eh, parang the group, sisigawan niyan tapos si Pacquiao, may group din naman si Pacquiao. I think Mayweather is thinking about it right now." - JDL, GMA News

Follow @AllanTheManBlog Follow @allanistheman11