? in case the experts hadn?t noticed, Mayweather?s older and not exactly the same fighter he was six years ago, either?Paul Magno
There are only so many variations on this potential fight, but to make a very, very long story concise, a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather will garner the highest revenue in boxing history. It would also be a style showdown between arguably one of the very best offensive fighters and the current best defensive fighter. Less obvious, it would give Mayweather ?assuming he wins–a reasonable pretext (that might be oxymoronic) by which to avoid the oncoming Tsunami of muscular Shawn ?Show Time? Porter and talented Keith ?One Time? Thurman.
I recently posted on another site that I thought Manny just might have a pretty good shot at beating Mayweather given their respective levels of activity. The more I break it down, the more I think it makes sense.
Pac Man has fought six times since dismantling Antonio Margarito in 2010 (and showing mercy at the end). He beat Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez before ?losing: to Timothy Bradley in June 2012. Six months later he was sedated by Marquez, but a year later bounced back to totally dominate Brandon Rios at the Venetian Resort in Macao. His dominant win over Bradley on April 12 was simply a repeat of his ?first-win-over Bradley-that-was-not-a- win.?
Arguably, Manny?s last easy fight was in 2004 when he waxed Fahsan 3K Battery (43-7-1) in Manila in 2004, though he had plenty of tough ones prior to when he turned off 3K?s batteries. As fellow-writer Paul Magno nicely sums it up: ?Manny is essentially the same man and the same fighter he was back in 2008-2009. He does the same things, tries to work the same angles, and employs the same strategies. The difference is that the pool of tailor-made Pacquiao KO victims has run dry. There?s no more face-first Ricky or old Oscar or painfully predictable Cotto left to wallop. In his recent fights, Manny has had to deal with stone-chinned tough guys, veteran minds, and the awkward-tough Tim Bradley. Manny?s perceived decline is not about a lack of killer instinct or hunger as much as it?s about a lack of fall guys lined up to be crushed.? Mayweather
Floyd has duked four times since beating Sugar Shane Mosley in 2010. His opposition has not been as stiff as Pacquiao?s but it has included the likes of Victor Ortiz, Miguel Cotto, Robert Guerrero, and Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez. Mayweather is scheduled to fight Marcos Rene Maidana on May 3. Floyd has used time intervals to his advantage in scheduling his fights. Some might call it cherry picking but I don?t buy that. Setting the Stage
Both have fought De La Hoya; Pacquiao did better
Both fought Hatton; Both KOd him.
Both fought Cotto; Pacquiao did better
Both Fought Mosley; Pacquiao did better
Both fought Marquez; Mayweather did better but Manny IS 2-1-1.
Since December 1998 when he iced Thai legend Chatchai Sasakul (33-1 coming in and 65-4 at the end of his long career), Manny has clearly fought stiffer opposition. Four fights with Marquez, three with Erik Moralas, two with Marco Antonio
Barrera, two with Timothy Bradley highlight a list that also includes several future Hall of Famers, Americans, South Koreans, Thais, Ghanaians, South Africans, Europeans, Colombians, Australians, Japanese and even Pinoys. Manny has been an equal opportunity dispenser of punishment.
Floyd has not had a clean KO since Ricky Hatton in 2007 (unless the Ortiz KO can be termed clean). Manny has not had one since Cotto in 2009. Both have about the same respective KO percentages. Neither seems capable of stopping the other at this point. And both will have fought their last fight at roughly the same time (April already done for Pacquiao and May upcoming for Mayweather).
Everything is just about in place. It?s now or never to make history. The fight still has more gravitas than any other; let?s not let it pass us by.
Oh yes, Mayweather must still beat Maidana. If not, the gravitas will disappears like a punctured balloon.
