You’ve got your MMA guys and you’ve got your boxing guys.
And while many who’ve chosen sides in the debate would be loath to think a positive thing about the other, let alone say it out loud, it’s quite clear that UFC President Dana White sees it another way.
The self-professed “huge” boxing fan had nothing but good things to say about the rival sport and its prospects recently, particularly when asked by ESPN to react to the making of Mayweather-Pacquiao.
“Damn, I wish this happened five years ago,” White said. “I wanted to see the fight five years ago, but, that being said, I just made a call today to try and get a bunch of tickets. It’s the fight to go to. It’s the fight that everyone has been waiting for. I just wish we could’ve seen those two fight in their primes.”
Mayweather celebrated birthday No. 38 in February and Pacquiao turned 36 in December, but both are still considered at or near the top of the mountain when it comes to the sport’s most respected pound-for-pound rankings. Ring magazine has Mayweather first and Pacquiao third on its list when it comes to all fighters regardless of weight class — the same positioning as Boxrec.com, an international database.
Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, who turns 39 later this month, is No. 2 on both lists.
Dana White is as excited as anyone for Mayweather-Pacquiao. (USATSI)
Mayweather beat the No. 10 fighter on the Ring pound-for-pound list, Canelo Alvarez, in September 2013 and has a win over the No. 7 fighter, Juan Manuel Marquez, from 2009. Pacquiao defeated Ring’s No. 6 fighter, Timothy Bradley, in April and is 2-1-1 in four career fights with Marquez since 2004.
“Floyd Mayweather has consistently stayed in great shape and taken care of himself,” White said. “I think Floyd is definitely the favorite in this fight.”
The match is expected to challenge the record for pay-per-view buys ?- 2.4 million — established for Mayweather’s fight with Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007, and based on what he said to ESPN, count White in as one person who hopes it does so.
?I hope they do seven million buys that night,? White said. ?I always like to see what the ceiling is. I’m excited for that fight. I want to see it and I hope it crushes it.?
The biggest UFC pay-per-view ever — which had Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir in the main event — came in July 2009.
Another UFC commodity, former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar, also weighed in with Inquirer.net and insisted that Pacquiao’s best opportunity for victory will come from perpetual motion.
“It’s not an easy fight,” he said. “I think Floyd has the best defense in boxing, he’s very fast. But Manny is one of the most dangerous guys in the history of boxing. He’s got great, great feet, a lot of power in both hands and he’s gonna keep coming. I think if it’s a slow-paced fight it will go Floyd’s way but if it’s fast-paced and there’s a lot of exchanges I think Manny will get it done.”
