Finally the wait is over.
After more than six years of buildup and agonizing anticipation, Floyd ?Money? Mayweather Jr. and Manny ?Pac-Man? Pacquiao finally reached an agreement to punch each other in the face for money ? a lot of money. No, it?s not another unconfirmed rumor. The breaking news didn?t come from Mayweather?s third cousin, Pacquiao?s personal chef or any of those ever-so-reliable ?anonymous sources close to the fighter.? I vowed to remain in a state of disbelief until I saw pen-to-paper or the two combatants standing across from each other in the ring. Mayweather satisfied my requirement by posting a photo of the signed contract on social media. It?s now officially official.
It would be easy to assume that universal joy and excitement would surface after the long-awaited announcement. A strange thing happened though. Instead of an adrenaline rush, I felt a strong sense of relief. Since 2009, the entire sport of boxing has been held ransom by the prospect of a mega fight between the two boxing superstars. With every Mayweather or Pacquiao fight announcement, there was as much chatter about who they weren?t meeting in the ring than the actual opponent they were scheduled to face. Though each has fought solid opposition over the years, their foes might as well have all been named Not Floyd and Not Manny.
Meanwhile, fight fans have participated in juvenile, repetitive, ignorant, idiotic and racist conversations about the brightest two stars in boxing. Boxing message boards were turned into cesspools of internet trolls, hurling insults back and forth with reckless abandon. Friendly debates comparing all-time greats were replaced with nonsensical screaming matches. Mayweather fans talked about his money like they earned a piece of every PPV. They defended their idol better than the shoulder roll specialist defends himself in the ring. Pacquiao supporters called Mayweather every name in the book except the one his mother gave him. His career accomplishments were written off as a sham due to his reluctance to take the Pacquiao challenge.
Who?s to blame for the long delay? Though there?s plenty of blame to go around on both sides, I?ve made it no secret that the buck stops with Mayweather. As boxing?s biggest earner, he is the sport?s undisputed power broker in terms of active fighters. There?s not a single opponent Mayweather cannot lure into the ring. For years we witnessed Pacquiao call for the blockbuster matchup. For years we saw Mayweather give reasons why he would not be facing his nemesis. Pac-Man fans call it cowardice, Money fans call it business and others blame it on ego. Whatever the reason, Mayweather?s patience has paid off as he?ll likely net $120 million for the richest fight in boxing history. Pacquiao won?t need to pass around the collection plate anytime soon as he?ll earn $80 million to try to remove Mayweather?s sacred ?0? from his record.
Yes, that?s a $200 million pot for two fighters. I remember when Pacquiao finally agreed to Mayweather?s (then-unprecedented) drug-testing demands and Mayweather upped the ante by demanding a $100 million guarantee. Considering the fact that the money being offered then was around $50 million each, many took it as proof Mayweather wanted no part of Pac-Man (myself included). Turns out, boxing?s Bob Barker, is willing to fight as long as the price is right.
Who will win? It?s far too early for predictions and stylistic breakdowns. We have until May 2 to get into the nitty gritty of the matchup. However, anyone who believes this will be an easy fight for either man will be in for a surprise.
Pacquiao?s struggles with Juan Manuel Marquez?s deft counterpunching abilities are well noted. The fistic phenom had three tough fights with Marquez before being sent to sleep in the fourth bout on a perfectly timed counterpunch. By all accounts, Mayweather is a superior counterpuncher to Marquez, which gives the pound-for-pound king a huge advantage. However, Marquez had to absorb quite a bit of punishment in order to land his knockout blow. Mayweather has rarely shown the willingness to exchange the heavy artillery necessary to rattle Pacquiao?s confidence.
Furthermore, while Mayweather has rarely struggled throughout his career, he has been touched on the chin by two southpaws, Demarcus ?Chop Chop? Corley and Zab ?Super? Judah. Neither Corley nor Judah are in the same league as Pacquiao, who may possess the speed, power, focus and aggression to make Mayweather uncomfortable all night long.
I?m getting ahead of myself. Like the fighters, it?s time to prepare for the fight. My eyes and fingers are getting back into the gym immediately for cardio and strength training. I?ll watch pull up some tape, watch for weaknesses and prepare to make my picks. The possibilities for this fight are endless. Thankfully for boxing fans, we will no longer have to say the same about the wait.
Follow Ishmael and In the Clench on Twitter @IshmaelSistrunk
