'Floyd needs fight more than Pacquiao'

**Admin Magic Man13** Wed Jul 27, 2011 12:47 am

MANILA, Philippines – From a financial standpoint, it looks like Floyd Mayweather Jr. needs the super fight more than Manny Pacquiao does.

ESPN boxing analyst Teddy Atlas said the Filipino superstar earned so much in his past few fights that he can retire even without Mayweather.

“Pacquiao has made so much money, and I mean, Mayweather has made a lot of money too, but Pacquiao has probably made even more with his recent activities,” Atlas said in Fighthype.com.

Atlas said Pacquiao has reached a certain level where he can still earn millions even by fighting lesser known boxers.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao

“(Mayweather's), not quite to that level (yet),“ he said. “So for Mayweather to really cash out, if you want to look at it that way, [the fight] has to be with a Pacquiao.”

'Lawyers cost money'
Atlas also said the controversial American boxer will need to replenish his finances because of his legal troubles.

“Lawyers cost money. And I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but lawyers charge a lot,” said Atlas.

Mayweather has a pending felony case for allegedly assaulting his former girlfriend aside from his misdemeanor case for reported run-in with a security guard over parking tickets.

There’s also Pacquiao’s defamation suit regarding Mayweather’s performance enhancing drugs (PED) claim.

Pacquiao retiring soon?
Atlas added that Pacquiao’s activities outside boxing indicate that the Filipino boxer is preparing for his retirement.

“I mean, he has the political stuff… he also has films that he is the star of over there (the Philippines), and the recording career. He doesn't have to put two notes together that sounds anywhere close to making music and he's still going to be a recording star over there,” he said.

This is why Atlas said the best time for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight to happen is sometime in 2012.

“I think they both... will be aware of the closing of that window is at some point next year… before that happens, they will make that fight.”

Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News