I’m as disappointed as anyone that Pacquiao/Mayweather looks to be off for March, but let’s keep this in perspective. Boxing has survived events like this before. It’s unlike any other sport in that the fighter controls his own destiny, and, as such, is subject to the uncertainties of whims and personal idiosyncrasies not at play in the geometric brackets of other sports.
Furthermore, if the fight does eventually end up happening later in the year it will likely have turned out to be for the best. Two months was simply not an appropriate amount of time to hype and promote an event of this magnitude. Something like this needs an old-time press tour with stops in a dozen cities and features in all the glossy magazines. Everyone knew the date was problematic, but it had to be squeezed in before Pacquiao’s congressional run in the Philippines.
While this fight is clearly the biggest and most-anticipated fight in the sport, it doesn’t compare to some of the longer waits in recent boxing history. Leonard-Hearns took years of seasoning and waiting before it finally happened. If you go to 7:00 minutes in the video above you’ll be reminded of the half-decade wait for Hagler-Leonard. Tyson-Lewis was another fight a decade in the making. De La Hoya-Trinidad took years of anticipation and negotiation before it finally happened.
Pacquiao/Mayweather was nothing more than a wild fantasy 13 months ago, before Pacquiao demolished Oscar De La Hoya. Yes, now it seems all consuming and all-important, but it has been a relatively short time since the fight became a viable option.
It’s appropriate to be upset, and clearly both sides share some measure of blame, but consider the following scenario. Manny Pacquiao beats Yuri Foreman in March to win his eighth divisional title. Two months later he wins a congressional election in his native Philippines.
Meanwhile, Floyd Mayweather scores a decisive victory over Paulie Malignaggi. Or, even better, he waits until May to fight Shane Mosley. The victory over Mosley quiets Mayweather’s critics and clearly establishes Mayweather and Pacquiao as the unquestionable top-two in the welterweight division.
After a tense and acrimonious negotiations the two sides finally agree to meet in October. They have a multi-city press tour filled with genuine acrimony and anger. The fighting congressman against his outspoken accuser. The fight is held in Las Vegas at a temporary outdoor stadium filled with 45,000 fans.
Wouldn’t that be worth the wait? Wouldn’t that in many ways be preferable to a rushed and somber March 13 fight?
Of course, there are many dangers with this scenario. It’s hard to see how either fighter will be able to back down from his current demands without a loss of face. The interim fights are risky in themselves. While Tyson/Lewis and Hagler/Leonard eventually happened something was lost in the wait. Jones/Hopkins II never happened, and when it finally came close it was derailed by a longshot opponent.
I’m not saying not to be upset. I am upset. But let’s try to keep a little perspective. This is nothing new for boxing, and if the fight does happen later this year the stakes and interest will have been raised to such a level that all the anger and disappointment will have been worth it.
