It?s been almost two months since the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao mega-fight and the boxing landscape is unchanged. Nothing was really settled by the most lucrative prizefight of all-time. The only real accomplishments from the highly-anticipated clash were the padding of a handful of bank accounts and the propping up of a few egos.
Fans from both sides of the great boxing divide have hunkered back down in their respective fox holes, focused on being as conveniently obstinate as ever before. Mayweather-Pacquiao seems to have done nothing but kick up a little dust and rattle the fans? cages a bit.
However, look closely enough and there may be a lesson or two learned after all. By taking delusional fan claims from both sides and a bit of reverse engineering, we should be able to see a thing or two about Mayweather-Pacquiao and the lessons learned. So, let?s do it:
Mayweather ?Schooled? Pacquiao in a Dominant Performance
Yes, Mayweather legitimately won the fight, but it was hardly the dominant performance some Mayweather supporters like to claim. It wasn?t a one-sided embarrassment by any stretch of the imagination and a really generous Pacquiao judge could even probably justify a 115-113 Mayweather win. Lots of the rounds were extremely close and there were several moments where Mayweather was legitimately buzzed and/or troubled by Pacquiao?s non-stop aggression. I had the bout scored 116-112 for Floyd. Decisive? Yes. A ?schooling?? Not even close.
Mayweather Win Proves Prime vs. Prime Debate
Mayweather-Pacquiao in 2015 proves that a faded, past-prime Mayweather is better than a faded, past-prime Pacquiao. In their primes, the result would likely have been the same, but there?s no way to get that answer from what we saw May 2.
This Proves that Mayweather is ?The Best Ever?
Not even close. On resume, alone, it would be hard to even place him in the all-time Top 20. This isn?t necessarily an indictment of Mayweather?s legacy, it?s just the reality based on each era?s list of available talent.
Pacquiao’s Injured Shoulder Hampered his Performance
Whether you debate the extent of the actual injury or not, there?s absolutely no doubt that it had nothing to do with Pacquiao?s performance on May 2. Throughout the fight, even after the alleged injury in the fourth round, Pacquiao threw punches with that right shoulder with reckless abandon, at full speed, and with absolutely no signs of pain or discomfort. Manny made no mention of the shoulder injury until well after the bout at the post-fight press conference with Bob Arum, Michael Koncz, and Freddie Roach there to fluff up the claim.
Pacquiao Really Won, Check Out the Video
This is just sad. Clinically, it?s called denial. Sadder are the YouTube videos with conveniently erroneous re-calculated punch stats that supposedly show why Pacquiao really did win. Pacquiao didn?t win. And he wasn?t cheated, either.
The Rematch Will Be Different
If there?s a rematch, we?ll see the same disappointing mangling of styles and the end result would be another Mayweather win that leaves plenty of room for fans of both fighters to claim victory or cry foul.
So, what can we learn from Mayweather vs. Pacquiao?
In 2015, Floyd Mayweather was the better man against a Manny Pacquiao who was amped up and highly motivated. It wasn?t an easy fight and both men made the other look less than their best, but at the end of the evening the proper verdict was given with two of three right-on-the-money scorecards.
