Before Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao stepped into the ring Saturday night I had hoped for a “Pac-man” victory, but felt “Money Mayweather” would win a close decision. Mayweather did win the fight, but won it going away and by a wider margin than I had expected. It was not a great fight and a let down considering the anticipation fight fans had for the match-up.
This classic pairing of “good vs evil” was the main focus of the sporting world on a day that also featured the Kentucky Derby, last day of the NFL Draft, NHL and NBA playoffs and Yanks vs Red Sox. The Super Fight of the Millennium, but in the end a dull affair with neither fighter able to really mount any sustained attack.
Mayweather won the fight 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112. Meaning Pacquiao won four of the twelve rounds on two judges cards and only two on the third.
Immediately after the fight it was revealed Manny Pacquiao had suffered a right shoulder injury three weeks ago, but the Nevada Boxing Commission denied his camp’s request to take a pain dulling shot. After Mayweather’s insistence that there be random blood and urine testing for this fight it was hardly surprising Pacquiao’s request for an injection was refused.
If boxing was regulated like football, baseball or basketball Pacquiao’s injury would have been revealed prior to the fight, but the news would have jeopardized the huge amount of money wagered in Vegas and possible pay per view revenue. The immensity of the fight prevented a postponement by the Pacquiao camp, but now somewhat taints the Mayweather victory.
Boxing is a brutal sport, a one on one battle that leaves lasting injuries and true courage to survive. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao are great fighters who have survived the test of time, but their fight was uneventful. Some fight experts had touted this bout as one of the three biggest fights in boxing history along with the second Schmeling vs Louis and the first Ali/Frazier. It didn’t come close.
There were no knock downs or classic exchanges of powerful punches like the two other fights mentioned. Other than being covered in sweat and Vaseline, neither fighter even looked like they were in a boxing match when the final bell sounded.
Manny Pacquiao normally is a whirlwind in the ring, throwing punches from all angles and constantly on the attack. Instead, he came out tentative from the start and unable to close the distance between himself and the bigger Mayweather. Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame trainer Freddy Roach claimed he had a strategy for defeating Floyd, but whatever it was will remain a mystery.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a great defensive fighter and a master at avoiding danger. Every time Pacquiao put Floyd on the ropes he covered up or spun out of danger. Mayweather also threw enough jabs to keep Manny on his heels and surprisingly threw more punches in many of the rounds.
Floyd Mayweather Jr is not an easy man to like. His brash and cocky attitude turns off more fans than it recruits and his history of violence towards women will forever tarnish his legacy. However, in the ring he is unbeaten at 48-0 and has managed to make most challengers look ordinary.
I did not think Floyd Mayweather could do that to Manny Pacquiao, but that’s exactly what he did in Las Vegas Nevada on the night of May 2nd. The biggest fight of the millennium was a bust and boxing is the worse because of it.
Filed under: Koshinski's Korner
Tagged with: boxing, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao
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