Let me start off by saying I’m far from a boxing aficionado. In general, it’s a sport, more than others, where you would actually have to train and participate in order to truly grasp the technical aspects of the sport. And with the rise of mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, many consider boxers a dieing breed. But last Saturday Manny Pacquiao made it a point to show us there was still a pulse.
The exhibition Pacquiao put on against Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was like boxing’s version of Cirque de Soleil. It was truly beautiful to watch. By the end of the first round, it was clear to even the most novice viewer that the Englishman was completely outclassed.
People from multiple generations, races and backgrounds, myself included packed Masquerade’s at Harrah’s casino in New Orleans to watch the spectacle. It delivered. There was a buzz throughout the building that only a big time title fight could generate. And for a minute, I was reminded of the titanic bouts fought by the likes of Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, and Mike Tyson in the 90’s.
What boxing has lacked has been dynamic personalities and true “greatness”. Although he has been well known and respected in boxing circles for years, this fight truly put “Pacman” on the map. Hatton isn’t an elite fighter by any stretch, nonetheless what the brilliance Pacquiao showed in the ring last Saturday was impossible to ignore.
But it’s his next fight that may launch him into superstardom. With Floyd Mayweather Jr. unretiring and taking a bout with Juan Manuel Marquez on short notice, it’s clear what destination this road is winding toward. After the 39-0 Mayweather disposes of Marquez, there will only be two fighters left atop the pound for pound mountain. Whoever is in charge of promoting the potential fight could easily take the six months leading up to the goldmine off because the fight would sell itself.
But would it save boxing? In the short term, definitely. Boxing has needed a spark like this in the worst way and having two world-class fighters in their prime will undoubtedly add a little spice to the sport. You can’t expect Mayweather and Pacquiao to single handedly revive it but for one weekend we will get a taste of boxing’s glory years. And to tell you the truth, it can’t come soon enough.
