Philippines, 28 Mar 2024
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Hayashi Hopes Mayweather and Pacquiao Live Up to "Fight of Century" Expectations


PhilBoxing.com




LOS ANGELES--Like any other fan around the world who lives and breathes boxing, Kazumichi Hayashi hopes to see Floyd Mayweather engage Manny Pacquiao in a type of fight befitting the billing "Fight of the Century" on May 2 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

If he had his wish granted, the 70-year-old Hayashi would want to see a classical match that could match the intensity of some of the most unforgettable wars in history and not a boring fight devoid of fireworks and excitement.

"Floyd should not be scared to lose. He may still be perfect in his professional career but he is not like (Roberto) Duran, (Sugar Ray) Leonard or (Muhammad) Ali," said Hayashi. "The greatest fighters in history have all lost at one point in their careers but overcame these losses to become some of the game's greatest legends because the crowds loved them," he added.

Hayashi likes both Mayweather and Pacquiao's chances of winning because both are highly skilled, deft and adroit enough to put up a spectacle like the all-time Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns classic, among other notable fights in recent memory.

However, he appreciates fighters he calls "spirit" warriors. These are the fighters who put up a show and perform spirited acts of skillful boxing but still emerge victorious despite the dangers of the trade and the drama they generate. Hayashi traveled to the Philippines last year, wishing to see Pacquiao in training in his native General Santos City as a form of pilgrimage and was not disappointed with what he saw.

"Both men should do this for all of the fans, as an offering or homage to all of boxing," said Hayashi. A letdown would be in the form of a boring fight where one fighter would not participate in the "dance" and try to make it as boring as possible.

Pacquiao's style--his gameness and reckless abandon--appeals much to Hayashi's taste, that is why he fancies the Filipino's big fighting heart in every bout he has been into, whether he wins or loses.

Kazumichi, as he is fondly called by everyone, is the exclusive distributor in Los Angeles of Japan-based boxing training equipment company Winning. He is also a journalist and a photographer, one who has seen them all, rubbed elbows with most of boxing's "royalty," from Ali to Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya and even the younger generation of fighters like Gennady "GGG" Golovkin. His office in Redondo Beach is adorned with photographs of some of the great fighters, which includes both Pacquiao and Mayweather, flanked by with his wife Junko.

He has traveled around the world to be with the likes of Mike Tyson, Marco Antonio Barrera and Julio Cesar Chavez and still has a vivid memory of all of the glory days of boxing. Slowed down by a life-saving operation recently, Kazumichi will have to watch the fight on cable TV come fight night.

"There is even a greater possibility that Rocky Marciano could lose a match at one point if he did not die in a plane crash especially because he was fighting in the heavyweight division," said Hayashi. Marciano had a 49-0 record with 43 of them ending by a knockout. Hayashi, a former boxer, can recall trinkets of trivia when the unsinkable Tyson was flattened by a Buster Douglas haymaker in Tokyo in 1990.

Ali, who is considered by many as the greatest of them all or the best ever, has fought some of the biggest and meanest heavyweights ever including "Big" George Foreman and "Smokin" Joe Frazier, whom he faced in a timeless trilogy ending with the "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975.

What made Ali the greatest to a horde of fans was how he bounced back from losses to Frazier, Ken Norton and Leon Spinks, among others.

Hayashi knows Pacquiao will come to fight like a fearless samurai giving it all out with "spirit" on May 2. "That's why I like Pacquiao," said Hayashi, who is hoping that Mayweather will make it more interesting should he decide to mix it up and come up with a more sterling performance like how the all-time greats have done in the past.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Winchell Campos.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Press Conference Notes: Oscar Valdez-Liam Wilson & Seniesa Estrada-Yokasta Valle Doubleheader Set for Friday
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • WEIGHTS FROM BIG TIME BOXING USA IN DETROIT
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Undefeated Super Featherweight Contender Andres Cortes to Attend Oscar Valdez vs. Liam Wilson Fight Eyes Potential Showdown with Winner
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • PACE to host FIDE chess tilt this weekend
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Preserving a Legacy: The Birth of the Philippine Boxing Historical Society
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Garcia vs Haney: Boxing Match or A Live Mental Break Down?
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Christian Mbilli-Mark Heffron Super Middleweight Main Event & Arslanbek Makhmudov-Junior Fa Heavyweight Battle Set for May 25 at Gervais Auto Center in Shawinigan, Canada
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • MATÍAS MAKES HOMECOMING DEFENSE AGAINST PARO ON JUNE 15
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • ‘ROCKY’ HERNANDEZ RETURNS AGAINST LUGO IN MEXICO ON MAY 11
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • PCAP: Cavite eyeing to bounce back
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • HALL OF FAMER ANN WOLFE TO ATTEND 2024 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
    , Thu, 28 Mar 2024
  • Gathering of champions
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Filipinos AJ Paciones and Ador Torres Make Weight for Title Fights in Highland Boxing Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Visiting Teams All Won vs Hosts; Boston Finally Loses
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Lukas to face undefeated Jaiklom on March 30 in Bangkok
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Sulaiman leaves Manila with fond memories
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Montano to Fight for WBO Oriental Welterweight Title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • JOSE RAMIREZ AND VERGIL ORTIZ JR. HOST FRESNO PRESS CONFERENCE
    , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Joseph Adorno-Nicholas Walters Weigh-In Results
    , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Oscar Valdez and Sergio Rodriguez Give Back to Local Phoenix Children Ahead of Friday's ESPN+-Streamed World Title Doubleheader
    , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • “Granite Chin Box Off” to launch May 11th 4-fighter, 1-night super middleweight tournament
    , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Starling Castillo Ready For Jesus Saracho After Linking Up With Bob Santos
    , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Blair "The Flair" Cobbs Joins Forces with Coach Justin Gamber
    , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Cutiyog sweeps Imus tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024
  • Sarcon beats Huang by UD
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 27 Mar 2024




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2024 philboxing.com.