Wait is over for fans as Mayweather vs Pacquiao will happen in May…
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will finally meet in the ring on May 2 in Las Vegas, but after years of waiting, is it still the best match-up in the sport?
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After taking a few days to digest the fact that the fight will actually happen, the general consensus is that this will be the biggest fight, both financially and in terms of world appeal, in the history of the sport.
There are no doubts over the records that it will break and both fighters will finally be able to settle the debate over who is the pound-for-pound king in boxing.
However, considering negotiations first started back in 2009, six years on are these two fighters the athletes and threats that they once used to be?
Pacquiao has suffered losses to Timothy Bradley and old nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez in that time, while many believed that they saw a decline in Mayweather during his first bout with Marcos Maidana.
Naturally, this fight would have been an epic encounter if they had met in their prime, and questions will be asked as to whether they have delayed this fight too long for it to be labelled the best fight that could possibly be put on in any division.
Personally, it matters little that this fight is a few years too late. This remains a super-fight match-up with Pacquiao’s speed and front-foot style coming up against the defensive genius and counter-punching threat that Mayweather possesses.
In addition, consider the other fights out there that could realistically be made and their limited global impact and it will soon dawn that there isn’t enough demand elsewhere.
Gennady Golovkin vs Andre Ward could be a possibility in the future, while Canelo Alvarez vs Miguel Cotto is a quality fight that will do brilliantly in pay-per-view numbers.
If done right, Wladimir Klitschko vs Deontay Wilder could be huge in unifying the heavyweight division, while Guillermo Rigondeaux vs Leo Santa Cruz has a lot of appeal too.
However, no other fight holds the intrigue and interest of even casual fans as much as this match-up. Despite Freddie Roach insisting that fans will have to rely on Pacquiao to bring excitement to the bout, the styles of the two fighters combined will make it enthralling viewing.
Mayweather’s fast feet and hand speed coupled with his ability to dodge and counter-attack will be incredible to watch against his toughest opponent yet. Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s ridiculous angles and combinations from his southpaw stance and constant bombardment will have fans on the edge of their seats.
All in all, this is undoubtedly the best fight in boxing today regardless of all the frustration and anger around why it has taken so long to make. We’re just over two months away from witnessing history being made and it will without doubt live up to expectations as both a spectacle and a fight.
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