As the boxing world mourns, yet again, another round of failed negotiations between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, a second collective sigh may be upon us, depending on who Pacquiao decides will have the right to fight him on November 13. It is increasingly likely that he'll face off against Antonio Margarito in Abu Dhabi, but should that fall through, a rematch with Miguel Cotto is Plan B. Seeing how easily Pacquiao handled Cotto in their first fight makes it illogical that a rematch would take place to begin with. It's a fight that only Bob Arum would want to see. With that in mind, here's a list of some of the worst rematches in the modern era. The question is will Pacquiao vs. Cotto II join them?
Chad Dawson vs. Antonio Tarver II
When these two had first met, Dawson shut Tarver out and knocked him down in the final round to secure a dominant victory, leaving many to believe that Tarver should just retire. Yet, in classic Tarver fashion, he acted on his immediate rematch clause and continued to berate Dawson, citing that he's never lost a rematch fight. And with that, the rematch almost nobody cared about was headed to HBO. Even Dawson looked uninterested and unmotivated coming into the ring, but he still handled Tarver, without much hassle, just like the first time.
Ironically, it was Tarver who was praised more for putting up a better fight against his younger foe, while Dawson was criticized for fighting a fighter over the age 40 in three consecutive fights. The bigger irony is that Tarver too made himself noteworthy for beating past their primers Eric Harding, Roy Jones Jr. and Glen Johnson...and don't forget Rocky Balboa.
Hasim Rahman vs. Oleg Maskaev II
In the first fight, seven years prior, Rahman was beating the plodding and slow Maskaev until his notoriously poor chin failed him when Maskaev knocked him out of the ring. At the time of the fight, Rahman held a Heavyweight title and Maskaev came into the fight undefeated in four years, therefore HBO deemed this fight as a pay-per-view attraction for reasons only they would know. The fight followed the same script as before, with Rahman using his superior skills and building up a lead until, in the final round, Maskaev caught him with a hard shot. That was all she wrote for Rahman, as it seemed to mark the end of his prominence. It's almost baffling to consider that he was once the face of the Heavyweight division. As for HBO? Well, the pay-per-view did a phenomenally pathetic buy rate of 60,000, which was four times less than what Bob Arum had in mind when he made the fight. Let that be a lesson to you Mr. Arum.
Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez IV
Okay, so technically this isn't a rematch, but it almost makes it worse when you consider that it was the fourth time the two had faced each other. These battle-worn combatants fought three fights for the ages that saw Vazquez coming out on top 2-1. Last October, I saw Israel Vazquez struggle just as mightily with tomato can Angel Priolo, until he stopped him in the middle rounds. It was very apparent to all of us ringside observers that Vazquez's career was probably over. Of course, Vazquez wanted to prove that he still had what it takes and challenged Marquez yet again. The difference was that Marquez looked in much better form in his last fight. In this fourth installment, Marquez didn't need to waste any time as he cut Vazquez early and stopped him in three rounds, the most authoritative victory of their series.
Yet, as with all boxers who just don't know anything else, Vazquez might still consider fighting. Let's just hope the only thing he truly considers fighting is his urge to permanently damage himself, which would for sure happen should he step in the ring again.
Antonio Margarito vs. Kermit Cintron II
When Margarito and Cintron fought the first time, then-champion Margarito knocked Cintron down five times and beat him to tears. It was as definitive as a win as it could be. The tables were turned for their second meeting as Cintron was holding a Welterweight title and Margarito was trying to secure a mega-fight against Miguel Cotto. It was the perfect chance for Margarito to collect a belt and he capitalized on it. Margarito simply picked up where he left off and battered Cintron, who performed no better in the second fight, stopping him in six and wresting his title in the process. Following the loss, Cintron was released from Top Rank and his career, to this day, is still a big question mark.
Oddly enough, this was the only Cintron fight that I could remember where we were spared from his prima donna attitude and constant complaining.
Roy Jones vs. Bernard Hopkins II
Hopkins was not going to be denied revenge against the badly faded Jones, even if Jones was coming off a 1st round KO loss. Rumor has it that the buy rates for the pay-per-view and gate sales were so bad that Jones didn't even get paid!
Also receiving consideration:
Manny Pacquiao vs. Erik Morales III
Again, technically not a rematch, but after Pacquiao battered Morales in the second fight of their trilogy, nobody thought a third fight would be any different...and they were correct. Morales had lost two straight and clearly was nowhere near the fighter who beat Pacquiao the first go round. Pacquiao dusted him off in three one sided rounds.