It?s finally here?the fight between Floyd ?Money? Mayweather and Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao is officially happening. After more than five years of setbacks due to conflicts between both fighters? camps, the fight will take place May 2 at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas. It will have the biggest purse in boxing history. According to thestar.com, Mayweather and Pacquiao will earn around $120 million and $80 million respectively. The only negative about the matchup is both fighters are past their prime. Pacquiao is 36 and Mayweather just turned 38. Neither of them are as fast as they were in their prime but they still have skills honed from years of experience. Having both men fight at this point of their careers is a tremendous letdown for boxing fans. Imagine the spectacle viewers would witness if this fight happened five or six years ago. It would be one of the most entertaining matches in the sport?s history. Don?t get me wrong, the upcoming fight is sure to be entertaining, but the clash between two fighters in the twilight of their careers is a snub to the viewers. It?s satisfying to watch competitions when the players or teams are at the peak of their powers, otherwise it?s not fun to watch. What this event reminds me of is my high school baseball career. I played all four years, including two on the varsity team. I had tools to be successful?I could hit and I had a decent arm, but I didn?t apply myself to other crucial areas of the game. Defense and base running weren?t important to me, and my lack of effort wasn?t unnoticed. In crucial late-game situations, my coach would pull me when I reached the base or I would be replaced by an outfielder who played better defensively. My mental approach to the game was also a weakness. My confidence would fluctuate based on how I was performing and if I was in a slump or made errors in the outfield, I would become withdrawn and depressed, which is unacceptable when playing team sports. It wasn?t until after high school that I improved in these facets of the game and looking back on my short career, I always feel disappointed that I didn?t try to improve. I transitioned to slo-pitch softball last year and I?m a far more effective player. I?ll admit that the sport is not nearly as difficult as baseball. It?s easier to field and hit the ball plus the base paths are about the same distance as Little League. That being said, I?m no longer a liability defensively or on the base paths?I now excel in those areas. I feel playing slo-pitch gives me a reprieve of sorts from my previous failings as a baseball player, but I constantly catch myself reminiscing about memories from those days and feeling it was ultimately a wasted opportunity. That?s what I experienced when I saw that the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight was finalized. Both men are going out with the biggest fight of their lives and earning themselves the largest single payday of their careers, but the lateness of the impending brawl leaves a sour taste in viewers? mouths. I expect to see them duke it out with their contrasting styles, but their physical limitations due to age will be noticeable. It?s going to be a great fight, but not nearly the masterpiece that would?ve happened half a decade ago. – See more at: http://spartandaily.com/134181/mayweather-pacquiao-brawl-long-overdue#sthash.R9tNBTnd.dpuf
