The Fight of the Century, the ‘Ali-Frazier’ of our generation, the pound-for-pound king takes on the Pride of the Philippines and claims his 48th win by unanimous decision.
Floyd Mayweather silenced some of his critics by defeating Manny Pacquiao and adding the WBO title to his Welterweight collection, but added nearly twice as many detractors with his performance.
Antics and arrogance aside, Floyd Mayweather put on a boxing clinic against Manny Pacquiao on Sunday morning and Mayweather rightfully remains the undefeated and undisputed pound-for-pound king. However for the millions out there who ordered and paid for the supposed ‘Fight of the Century’, many pay-per-view buyers felt robbed and cheated with what they saw – and they should be given no sympathy.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but did anyone really think this was going to be a war like an Ali-Frazier or a Ward-Gatti? Did anyone realistically expect the two greatest boxers of this century to lay it all out on the line and trade blow for blow in the middle of the ring?
If you’ve ever listened to just five minutes of a pre-fight boxing or UFC show, you’ve probably come across the phrase “styles make fights”. It’s one of the more over-used cliches thrown around in combat sports but nevertheless, its application to the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is just.
What made these fighters so good to begin with was not only their ability to adapt,but their ability to turn their strengths into near invincibility. Pacquiao piled up knockout after knockout on the back of speed and an unrelenting ability to outpunch his opponent.
Mayweather however, ascended to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings on the back of a supreme ability to hit and not get hit; utilising world class speed and ring presence as well as his famed shoulder roll defence. Expecting Mayweather to come out all guns blazing and willingly engage with Pacquiao is ignorant; Mayweather has an enormous ego but he’s not stupid.
The fact is Floyd executed his gameplan to near perfection. He landed punches at a better rate, he avoided any serious damage outside of a couple of flurries and a flush fourth round left and he was able (for the most part) to get off the shots and punches he wanted.
Although I think he should have been deducted a point for repeatedly holding Pacquiao, it would be hard to justify Manny winning 7 out of 12 rounds in that fight. Pacquiao managed to win rounds 2, 4 and 6 convincingly, but giving him anything more than that may be a bit of a stretch.
Manny was the aggressor but he was not always the effective aggressor, as although he managed to control the ring and cut off Floyd’s space, he was not always able to effectively use angles to penetrate Floyd’s defence.
From an outsiders perspective, yes this fight was boring, and failed to match the astronomical hype that it received. If you expected to see a war, Game Of Thrones might have been a better Sunday option for you, but for boxing fans they got exactly what they expected.
This fight was always set up to be boring, most of Mayweather’s fights are, but that’s not why we watch. Apart from the growing legion of people that wish to see for nothing more than for Floyd to lose, we watch because we want to see if Floyd’s opponent is able to do what no fighter has done before – beat the champ.
Pacquiao had his moments against Floyd and even looked getting a knockdown in the fourth round, but realistically it was about as close as he came to derailing the champ as Mayweather was able to outscore Pacquiao effectively in the later rounds.
Great fight – no. Good bout – yes.
jason
Guest
spot on, u took the words out of my mouth
peeeko
Guest
agree jez, i wont be watching any more boxing especially Floyd for a very long time
PAPUSHKING
Guest
No one really, Floyd only looks to fight out of their prime boxers (not on Hagler- Benitez-Sugar Ray Leonard-Hearns-De Jesus-Palomino-Cuevas) league) and right now there are NONE left!!!!!!!!!!!. He will keep his "0" fighting guys like Khan, nothing to write home about!!!.Is he a Master of Defense and Technique?, YESSS and one of the all time greats at that!.Is he a complete package as a fighter?: Defense (who stayed in the packet to take risks)?- a dominant power house who liked to trade and could KO any one?-a superb chin like Ali-Duran-Chavez-Arguello-Laporte-Camacho?. Floyd elite qualities: Defense Master Ring Generalship Stamina Decent Chin, but could buckle his knees if conected to the chin with a Mosley type of punch Elite boxing purist technician Speed: Hands and Feet Reflexes I give Floyd his dues but I don't over do it by taking achievementst and dues away from other all time greats who were the complete package like Leonard and Roy Jones!.
big J
Guest
I agree, he'll just fight two bums and get his 50-0 record, so you never know Mundine may get his shot yet, with no belts to offer who really wants to go after mayweather now? His undefeated streak is not worth a title. If someone was to beat him now it would be like, yeah so what
RMC
Roar Pro
I agree Mayweather is an incredible boxer. It's hard to compare people from different eras in any sport, but he will go down as one of the greats. But I don't think he's even near the class of the likes of Ali or Robinson because he didn't the 'rivalries' in his career. I remember reading a while ago someone from Golovkin's camp said he would be willing to go down a class if it meant fighting Manny or Mayweather. But even if weight and promotion weren't an issue I don't think Mayweather would want to risk his unbeaten record in potentially his last fight.
Kavvy
Guest
It was 6-4 on 2 of the cards after ten. I thought you could've even argued 5-5 and Floyd should've lost a point for clinching so it really should have been close after ten but Manny did nothing in rds 11 and 12 and no one could argue Floyd won but if Manny went for it in the last two rounds it would've been something worth talking about (he would have at best lost a majority decision based in the final cards but it would've been a close controversial loss and a strong case for a rematch)
Jack O'Toole
Roar Guru
Thanks mate, Look I differentiate massively between Floyd Mayweather the person and Floyd Mayweather the boxer, and he'd be one of my favourite athletes ever if all I had seen of him was between rounds. But there's no way he'll fight Golovkin. Not only is Golovkin at a higher weight class but Golovkin poses a threat similarly to a 2009 Pacquiao when Manny was running through the Hatton's, De La Hoya's and Cotto's of this world. Realistically they could meet in a catchweight bout, but I think Khan has bigger pull internationally with the UK market backing him and therefore will draw more money, but I could be underestimating Golovkin's reach amongst casual fans.
big J
Guest
Mundine wants a crack don't forget
big J
Guest
Ali only used the rope-a-dope after he came back from his exile as he longer had the speed and reflexes to avoid punches. Go back and watch him before exile, they could not touch him and then watch him after exile, he gets the crap kicked out of him, especailly ALI V FRAZIER III the real fight of the Century.
big J
Guest
damn right!!!!!!! just like with Mundine people paid good money to see the bad get knocked cold not the good guy win. As for the heavyweight division, people are only interested when a American is the champ, heavyweights really have not had a real fighter since Lennox Lewis and he was a pom. , if not for floyd boxing in American would be dead or in seriuos jepodary. I wonder what will happen when he retires. All eyes on GGG I suppose
Gazzatron
Guest
It's certainly a mouth watering match up!!
RMC
Roar Pro
Great article Jack. As much as I dislike Mayweather, I'm sick of people saying Manny was robbed or that Mayweather won by 'running'. I think this fight showed why Mayweather has never been beaten. As the saying goes 'winning ugly is better than losing pretty'. I love seeing fights end via KO, but that was always unlikely in this fight. I'm glad this fight happened but I'll forever be disappointed it didn't happen 5 or 6 years ago when Manny was at his peak. I wonder if all Manny's commitments away with boxing slowly caught up with him. I don't think this fight did much to enhance Mayweather's legacy. They could of had two or three fights when they were at their peak, rather than one during the twilight of their careers. Had Mayweather beaten him in say 2010, it would have been more impressive. The other thing that stands out about Mayweather's career is I think he should of had a rematch with De La Hoya. I think if Mayweather really wants to enhance his reputation as one of the greats he should fight Golovkin. I've only seen Golovkin's fight against Geale, but his KO record is seriously impressive. But given Mayweather has said he only wants one more fight I think he'll see it as too big a risk.
Davico55
Guest
It is all well and good saying that Manny needed to be more aggressive, but if everyone fought like Mayweather there would be no point having a fight as it would just be 2 blokes standing 5 foot away from each other not throwing any punches. Might as well be Morris dancing!!! Don't get me wrong, Mayweather is great at what he does when the other guy has to force the pace and he beat Manny. Have been watching boxing a long time and I think I am stuck in the old school when boxers came to throw punches and try to win a fight rather than make sure they do not lose first and then try to get a decision by just doing enough.
Kavvy
Guest
Well said. Sweet Pea and SRL would've both beaten Floyd at WW in their respective primes. Obv very different weights but Floyd has nothing on RJJ in his prime just making a fool out of elite boxers with his defensive reflexes. Just wish Roy would hang them up now, still rate him the best of the past 20 years just about.
Kavvy
Guest
Try 8 figure cheque nearly 9 figure
Kavvy
Guest
Vitali definitely had his moments, had a lore more entertaining fights and definitely more than Floyd. Wrong to lump him in with Wlad and Floyd as boring stylistically.
Kaks
Roar Guru
Talking about UFC, i cant wait for the Aldo vs McGregor fight. Everything about it has 'classic' written on it, hopefully the fighters deliver.
Kaks
Roar Guru
He was extremely unlucky in the title match IMO. Lost his concentration for a split second and it cost him.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Except he has a better reach than Manny, I think. If he fought Manny's fight he may well get him a few more times, because 5 inches hurt the Pacman. Don't get me wrong, though, I wouldn't bet on Amir to win, but he might be a chance.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
He should look no further than himself in that regard. He, his brother, and Mayweather are all boring as hell to watch, Particularly Wladamir and Floyd (Vitali had his moments). His fights aren't sell outs because no one wants to watch him fight. The only way "Money" made money was by making everyone hate him.