At last!
It seems somewhat surreal that a bout between the two biggest stars in boxing is actually taking place albeit some five years after fight fans longed to see the two gladiators in the ring.
Today’s welterweight bout between unbeaten Floyd Mayweather and challenger Manny Pacquiao is set to become the mother of all fights an event that transcends the sport of boxing and which will prove once and for all who is the best fighter in the world today.
The history of boxing is replete with mega bouts such as Louis/Schemling, Ali/Foreman, Ali/Fraser, Hearns/Hagler, Duran/Leonard and Tyson/ Holyfield to name a few.
Today’s bout makes all those other bouts pale into insignificance simply because of the fact that it is by far the richest bout in the history of the sport.
Billed the `Fight of the Century’ the event is guaranteed to break every financial record existing with records already established for gate receipts and sponsorship.
The two are set to become the first boxers to surpass the billion dollar mark in career total pay per view earnings if today’s fight reaches the anticipated US$300m in pay-per-view revenue. What makes this fight unique is the contrasting styles of the two antagonists with Mayweather being a counter-puncher and defensive wizardwhile Pacquiao is renowned for his all-out attacking style.
The fight should be a purist’s delight should it live up to pre-fight expectations or it could very well turn out to be a chess match with Mayweather trying to nullify Pacquiao’s attacks through holding tactics
Then again, finally, fight fans might see a bulked up Mayweather throwing caution to the winds and going on the offensive in which case the fight could descend into an all-out war.
Picking a winner is virtually impossible though the bookmakers have Mayweather a slight favourite.
Many of boxing’s greats including Oscar de La Hoya, Roy Jones Jr., Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Tyson, Lewis, and Holyfield have given their perspectives on the bout but one will have to await the fight’s conclusion to see who was correct in their assessment or predictions.
There are some former fighters who feel that Pacquiao, having lost previously will be under less pressure that Mayweather who stands to lose more including his unbeaten 47-0 record.
Although he has never lost a fight it is doubtful whether Mayweather will be overconfident as he is aware that in Pacquiao he faces a dangerous and highly-skilled opponent.
One of the themes running through this fight is one of `Good versus Evil’ with Pacquiao being portrayed as a Christian (or the good person) and Mayweather, who was convicted of domestic violence and who served time in jail, portrayed as the bad person a similar situation as to what transpired in Holyfield/Tyson.
Another mark against Mayweather is the fact that he appears brash, boastful, conceited and that he constantly flaunts his wealth and his fleet of cars.
Even Tyson took offence to Mayweather suggesting that Ali was not `The Greatest.’ Mayweather, though, might find motivation in the fact that
Pacquiao, a 10-time World Champion and three-time Fighter of the Year, was also voted Fighter of the Decade.
What the fight will also settle once and for all is who is the best fighter pound-for-pound for as Mayweather says…“It’s all about the best fighting the best.”
Today’s fight will finally settle that debate once and for all.
