It’s no secret that I’m a boxing fan. I won’t claim to be the world’s biggest fan, in fact I think I know them, but it would be an understatement to say the sweet science takes up too much of my spare time.
Remember as a kid when your dad would take you to a rugby league game but you would get there four hours before kick-off and he would sit and watch every second of the Harold Mathews Cup, Jersey Flegg and Reserve Grade just for his love of the game?
I’ve become like my dad in that regard, but with boxing. When I lived in Sydney I would go to Paul Nasari’s fight nights at Club Punchbowl, amateur nights at Sutherland PCYC and South’s Juniors. I’d watch Friday night fights, Super Six, Boxcino and any PPV that was on, and yes, I also watched every season of The Contender.
Now I live in LA and can attend PBC events, Golden Boy Promotions LA fight nights, Uni Mas Boxeo nights, ESPN Friday night fights (RIP), and any PPV I can afford the flights and accommodation for, and all of that is before the local fights are considered.
When I found out I had the opportunity to not just cover the Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao fight, but attend live from the venue, the weigh-in, the press conference and the fight, I couldn’t contain myself. I remember texting just about every fight fan I knew and ringing my parents to tell them it was happening.
As the night approached, I’d never seen Vegas so packed and electric. Talking with lifelong Mayweather fans brought hope that we might see the return of the Floyd that beat Diego Corrales.
Meeting all the Pacquiao fans made me think of every Filipino man and woman I’d shared a drink with at Narwee Hotel while Manny proved his worth beating the likes of Antonio Margarito, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton and many others.
On the night I started getting messages from friends and family back home telling me how proud they were and how much they wished they could be there. I still get shivers thinking about it.
If you follow my Twitter you would know I’ve always had a soft spot for Zab Judah. I got the chance to meet him and talk past fights and predictions.
One of my greatest conversations must have been one of Zab’s worst as I spent most of it in shock and awe that I was actually hanging out with him.
Among the plethora of celebrity and boxing greats there, I was lucky enough to meet a large number of the current crop of stars like Deontay Wilder, Andre Ward and Danny Garcia.
Having been critical of Danby in the past, I must say he and his father Angel were two of the nicest and funniest people I had the opportunity to spend time with. They also loved that an Australian knew them and told me how they love the people and plan to visit.
During the fight I was fortunate enough to share small talk with future Hall of Famers Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez. It was a surreal night that often times left me speechless in front of these men I used to idolise.
The hype and occasion itself was the most intense event I’ve ever experienced. There were people from all over the world, in the right mood, vocal, excited and ready for the fight of the century.
As the fight started and Manny pushed forward, everyone thought the Manny of old had arrived. When Mayweather lined Pacquiao up and threw a big right in the second, there wasn’t a soul in the building who didn’t think both fighters might actually, against all logic and prediction, go to war.
It brought back memories of the feeling I got the first time I watch Hagler versus Hearns or Gatti versus Ward. I couldn’t contain my excitement and thought how wrong I was to write an article about how formulaic this fight would be and why people wouldn’t want to watch it.
However, as the fight went on, it became clear that I was justified in writing that piece. Mayweather is the best technician of his generation and schooled Pacquiao in the finer points of boxing.
Personally, I was happy with the result. Mayweather proved his worth and brought boxing back into the mainstream.
With the amount of talent coming through right now, in all weight divisions, it was perfect timing for the public to get interested in boxing again.
It might not have been The War of this generation, it might not have been the fight of the century, but it was definitely my night of the century.
jules
Guest
Haters allways gonna hate.Only a fool would bring up knockout stats when pac hasn't knocked out any of his last 10 opponents and is supposed to be a knockout artist. I suppose there allways has to be one I suppose.
jules
Guest
Yeah ran all night and landed more shots than your boy pac.Makes perfect sense.
jules
Guest
It was uneventfully to people who know nothing about boxing and simple haters.The two best fighters of this generation finally fought and one got beaten easily by a boxing genius and possibly the best ever.intelligent knowledgeable people realised that floyd's brilliance stopped pac in his tracks which nobody has ever managed to do apart from Marquez who still got pummelled before landing a knockout shot.That makes it a spectacular event to people who actually know what they are talking about
big J
Guest
are we still going on about this crap? Is the words of comic book guy 'WORST FIGHT EVER"
Ryan
Guest
Anyone watching the fight, who has observed many fights and scored many fights could quite clearly see Mayweather won that boxing match. He may not of won the "fight", but he won what was a boxing contest quite easily. Greatest fighter of his generation by some way.
ji
Guest
I think from now on all fights should be fought in slow motion and the commentators should only be able to use sign language lol. The mayweather hate club is crazy.. where are all the people asking for the pac man vs Marquez fights to be replayed with no volume in slow motion... pay might have 3 more losses if you did that..
jules
Guest
You floyd haters are hilarious ,your hate is so visceral that you lack any form of common sense or honesty.What's hilarious is that you don't even realise that your comments say more about you guys and your lives than floyd's and his just like pac and his excuses for losing so much so that even the commentator took the mic out of manny in the interview afterwards which obviously you choose to ignore ! Please guys carry on,it's super funny !
Mayweather Fan
Guest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-OsGL1aRIA
James James
Guest
Gee - Manny wasn't afraid of getting counter-punched, he was afraid of getting molested! Gayweather grabbed, clinched and hugged Pac Man like he was a rubber female blow-up doll every time Manny got close. As far as Manny pushing harder and getting KO'd, you're dreaming. Floyd hasn't KO'd anyone since 2007! Too much Floyd Kool-Aid, you need to go on a diet. Finally, Floyd did not do what he does...Floyd beats up women. He's a first rate coward and hides behind men and this charade he plays about being a fighter: Read it and weep. http://larrybrownsports.com/boxing/floyd-mayweather-beating-stealing/222420
jules
Guest
Oh yeah the whole world apart from you needs their heads examined.You clearly know nothing about boxing,even if you really thought that common sense would dictate than obviously that's not the case as the whole world apart from a few haters thought differently.
jules
Guest
Your boring mate.The whole world saw paciquio get beaten easily and yet you still moan making up stupidness like pac won.let it go and grow up.You cannot expect to be taken seriously when you start using words like Gayweather and hugging .
Bata
Guest
If every fighter would fight like mayweather style. It would defenitly boooooring to watch. He is not the best! He Love to hug pacman hahaha
ramie
Guest
Seriously a lot of people were disgusted with the result and the fight itself. If running and hiding makes Mayweather the Best then probably he is really the best on that aspect but never will he be the best in boxing. In the eyes of the people inside the Arena that night Mayweather didn't win.
Gee
Guest
If Pacman was so good, why couldn't he impose his will on Mayweather? The reason why he was afraid of getting counter punched! Mayweather took Pacman out of what he has done to other fighter because Mayweather is not like other fighters. Pacman knew he would have pushed harder, he would have gotten knocked out. Mayweather did what he does, why couldn't Pacman do what he does?
Tabl10s
Guest
Should Mayweather fight in the Philippines? The corruption would "Out-of-this-world"!
Willie
Guest
Y'all salty as hell. PacMan lost because he didn't fight his own fight. He fought how Floyd wanted him to fight, meaning he allowed Floyd to dictate the flow of the match.
chico1963
Guest
I agree mayweather didn't show anything,he was boring and ran all night.He was the larger fighter yet avoided any heated exchanges. He was afraid of Manny Pacquiao power.
James James
Guest
So Graeme Cross you write: "It might not have been The War of this generation, it might not have been the fight of the century, but it was definitely my night of the century." LMAO! Yo dude, seriously get a life, get outside more, take a trip to a museum of art, read a good book, what the heck- jerk off with a Playboy magazine if you don't have a girlfriend - all of which were more exciting than Mayweather's chicken track meet against Pacquiao. May v. Pac was the most uneventful "Fight of the Century" of all time - ALLTIME!!! WTFU and smell the coffee, Mayweather is a lame excuse for a boxing champ.
ReaL DeaL
Guest
Did Floyd deliver what he truly promised I mean it was a $100 a pop is that what you gave us Floyd?
ReaL DeaL
Guest
They wanted $100 for this fight now we all ask Floyd. .. you had all these demands did you deliver your end of the bargain?