After more than half a decade of waiting, holding our breaths for an announcement that seemed like it would never come, the fight of the century has finally arrived. Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KO), the Filipino sensation pound-for-pound puncher with dynamite in his hands and love in his heart, is fighting boxing’s top villain, the fast-talking and faster-moving undefeated defensive American genius Floyd Mayweather (47-0, 26 KO).
The fight billed to take place in Las Vegas on May 2nd would be the biggest and richest bout in the history of boxing, with a record purse worth as much as $250m. Pacquiao, who has been the more vocal of the two men in urging that the fight come about, completed his contractual agreement last week. Pacquiao had agreed to 40 percent of the proceeds and now, Mayweather pockets 60.
For most casual fans, it’s a fight all about glitz and glamour. After all, they are the two biggest stars in boxing; perhaps the last household names competing in what was once a premier mainstream sport, squaring off for tens of millions of dollars and a lifetime of bragging rights. It’s a fight to decide which man was the best fighter of the last 10 years.
As excitement about the long waited bout between five-division world champion, Floyd Mayweather, Jr and Manny Pacquiao and eight-division world champion, climbs to the crescendo, Mike Tyson, former boxing legend is giving his take. The former heavyweight champ sounded a warning signal to Mayweather against taking his normally conservative approach.
“He has to fight. If he’s not going to score, he is going to lose the round. Also, if he is laid back, he is going to lose the round,” Tyson said.
“Floyd doesn’t throw near a hundred punches per round. He is more of a scientific fighter. He sits around and pulls it. I don’t think he is going to be able to play that plot. This guy is all over your face. He moves and feints. He is in perpetual motion.”
Thirty-eight years American Mayweather is known as one of the best defensive fighters in boxing history. Calculated with every punch, typically wins his rounds by landing a high percentage of quick-strike blows and using his defensive prowess to thwart his opponent’s attack.
Pacquiao, 36, is one of the most powerful pound-for-pound punchers on the planet. While age has undoubtedly drained a bit of his power and quickness, Pacquiao was dominant in his win against Chris Algieri in November 2014, at times overwhelming the American into near-submission. Thirty-eight of his fifty-seven career wins have come via knockout, though he’s currently on a drought dating to 2009.
Mayweather is known for taking advantage of slower, over-aggressive fighters, taking his time before systematically picking apart his opponent as the fight goes on. Tyson’s quote seems to indicate Mayweather would be better off taking a more aggressive game plan this time around or risk dropping early rounds or becoming Pacquiao’s 39th knockout victim.
Also, American rapper 50 Cent is preparing to make a huge bet on pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather beating Manny Pacquiao in their mega-fight on 2nd May.
50 Cent, who used to be part of Mayweather’s Money Team, in an interview with fellow G-Unit members Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo told radio station Power 105.1’s ‘The Breakfast Club’ that he will stake $1.6m (£1m) on the American boxer ‘smoking’ the Filipino.
A Mayweather win in the richest fight ever would see 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, pocket around $2.3m (£1.5m). The purse is expected to fetch as much as $250m as various broadcasters battle for the right to show the contest.
“I got the champ,” he said. “The champ gonna smoke him. It’s gonna look like [the fight] was pumped up for no reason.”
The rapper and boxer were engaged in a very public feud last year when Jackson promised to donate $750,000 to charity if Mayweather could read a page of a Harry Potter book.
Mayweather responded by sharing pictures of his last two pay cheques, totalling more than $70m.
Mayweather and Pacquiao both began training earlier this week and will meet just once ahead of the fight, at a press conference in Los Angeles on 11 March.
As for whether Mayweather agrees, we’re now less than two months away from finding out.
“This is the biggest boxing event of all time, we’re confident of that. We couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it and help craft it,” Ken Hershman, president of HBO Sports told reporters on a media conference call Friday. “We look forward to May 2. It’s going to be a spectacular night for this sport and for HBO and Showtime as well,” he added.
Mayweather seems to be the likely favourite for a reason. He’s beaten every man who’s ever stepped into the ring for a professional prize fight against him. But Mayweather is not unbeatable. Pacquiao has a path to victory and this fight won’t be won by default.
Anthony Nlebem
