Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Preview

Image: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

For the better part of a decade, two names synonymous to boxing have stumbled into the same sentence. Standing the test of time through the agonising waits, impromptu blood testing and beyond, the wait of the world is over.

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is more than just an economic supernova. The countless cash stacks of millions of dollars correlate to the astronomical magnitude of this 12-rounded affair that will take place on May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

When the bell rings in the fight capital, history will be in the making. Then, and only then will we really realise what is upon us—the two greatest fighters of our generation will share the same ring and the potential is seismic.

Hotels sold out, closed-circuit viewings on demand, Las Vegas crammed with the rich and the rabid—but there's so much more. With the eyes of the world solely fixed on this fight, experience—albeit some of the most seasoned in the sport—will only pay little into what Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will experience on fight night.

Vegas is frantic in preparation for the fight. Image: John Locher / AP Images

"I've never wanted to win a fight so bad in my life," 'Money' explained in the first press conference. There's little doubting that his Filipino counterpart shares those same desires—will we see mistakes of the old? Will it be a tactical cagey affair? Or will it just be a fight?

If there was an answer, we wouldn't be here right now. That's of course because the only way to find out is to watch how the action unfolds—and this is not a demonstration of a PPV-buying lesson learnt from Floyd Mayweather, it's the unanimous truth.

Boxing exists in its own realm—a dimension completely different from reality. This fight perhaps is so big that there are blurred lines between reality and the world of boxing—a step-up is required from both athletes, and for them to undergo that is almost a forgone conclusion.

At the end of the day, both fighters, the advocates, the staff, the promoters and so on will take away a crazy amount of cash. While it remains a phenomena to marvel on, bank balances are set, it's the fight what will really count in history—not bank balances.



"What I say, you must obey" will be the final words expressed in the journey of dialogue and the anticipation towards this grand fight. They will be delivered by the man in charge of the fight, Kenny Bayless who carries a wealth of experience and work with both fighters leaving the contest in more than reliable hands.

As TheSportMatrix's Mikey noted, this isn't just another big Mayweather fight, it's more than a typical superfight—if there are any either. It's not just the innumerable dollars that give it such a name—its about the opponent, Manny Pacquiao.

In the complex roller coaster of a timeline that is the birth of this fight, negotiations were heating up similarly to the roll that Pac Man was riding—tearing through the star-spangled Welterweight division and propelling his name into the mix of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the World.

Image: SHOWTIME Sports

There were setbacks, but they are behind us. More importantly, they are behind Many Pacquiao. The crushing, shocking knockout he suffered at the hands of Juan Manuel Márquez seemingly evaporated any talk of that: Pacquiao was out of his prime, he was out of his depth, he was done.

Oh how things have changed since that catastrophic December night back in 2012. A shadow of doubt was cast over the Christmas celebrations, and Floyd Mayweather's path looked that little bit clearer on his quest to retire undefeated, and as he believes, The Best Ever.

While none have concluded in a dent to the untarnished record of the American, Mayweather has endured his deterioration too. Around a year ago, Money was troubled by the relentless Marcos Maidana, with the Argentine landing plenty of shots—not clean enough to be the first man to knock down the Champion, but enough to nudge us in alert of the changing times.

If Manny Pacquiao is able to trouble him just like Marcos Maidana, the outcome may be significantly different. Using plenty of physics jargon allowed physicist Simon Foster to conclude that he packs the world's most powerful punch, via the Telegraph. Power—something Philippines' residents are being urged to save to watch the fight on television—remains something wedged into his forte, even if he hasn't managed a finish in what has seemed like an eternity.

Image: Getty Images

Whether a knockout, or even knock down will come in the fight remains questionable, but not the least impossible. With a fight of this magnitude, mystery and anticipation, nothing can be ruled out. 

Through all the history, the journeys taken—the media has found plenty of space for this fight, and rightly so. But when the bell rings, it's not about Mayweather's prison sentences, or about Pacquiao's dad eating his dog; it's about defining the future.

We will all be witnesses to the ultimate judgement. A rematch could happen, but its likely that, if it does occur, we would have witnessed an awe-inspiring moment, or incredible contest to further spark appetite for a redo of the fight of the century. That shouldn't even register as an after-thought at this point, however—Saturday is the pinnacle of boxing.

At times its been scrutinised for tending to bore—the shoulder-roll tactics that Mayweather has adopted has corresponded with the "0" on the losses column. In what is a huge risk for him taking this fight, there is a risk that a continuation of his defensive boxing may throw further doubt on his legacy compared to other greats before his time. That code could be cracked come Saturday.

Southpaw, constant pressure, a high volume of punches and from power in both hands—there may be vague similarities, but Floyd Mayweather has never faced an opponent like Manny Pacquiao. The element of surprise shouldn't necessarily throw him though, since he has proved himself to be the best pound-for-pound boxer on the globe, with the night opening itself as an opportunity for him to cement that.

After all, he is one truly gifted athlete. 47 wins and no losses says it all. So much is on the line; not only the record, the legitimacy, the critics waiting to feed on the shortfall that could certify their claims.

Love him or hate him, there's no doubting: Floyd Mayweather is one of the greatest boxers to ever brace the sport. But, as it has so perfectly unfolded, that's poised against someone who comes close to sharing that claim.

Image: Ethan Miller / Getty Images

When the spotlight shines over the ring, anything can happen. With two legacies winding down, it is the perfect time to put them out there as the undisputed best. In order to achieve that, vast measures must be taken.

Don't expect anything reckless, but expect something to remember. These athletes surely won't drop their hands and try and take chunks out of each other, but when it's all said and done, this is the cornerstone of a unique, golden era.

My prediction: Having waited for this fight eagerly from the early dawning of the whispers more than 5 years ago, the significance and importance of this fight has certainly not withered. Maybe we'll see Floyd get knocked down by Manny, but I have a feeling that Floyd will adapt and overcome - eventually. With that being said, I am going with Mayweather by split decision.

Anticipation mounts each passing second. It will be talked about for generations to come. For all that transpired to finally give us this meeting is not just a thrown-together tale of fortunes, it's fate.

So many questions, only one answer. When the gloves are touched, and they are sent back to their corners, the wait ends, but the truest test of them all will just be beginning.

Image: John Locher / AP Images

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