The True Gauge for Pacquiao-Mayweather
Manny Pacquiao's rise to boxing superstardom has been as fast and as furious as the offensive style he adopts when he enters the ring. His last 6 fights have been against superstars in their own right, at least 3 of whom have their place in Canastota concreted. 'Pacman' has beaten Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and most recently he dismantled Miguel Cotto, all in just over 2 years and throughout 4 weight divisions: Super Featherweight, Lightweight, Junior Welterweight and Welterweight. Such great achievements in such a short space of time should be enough to impress even the harshest critic.
Yet Manny Pacquiao still has his doubters.
Each victory was followed by excuses. Barrera was over the hill, Marquez was the victim of bad judging, Diaz was overmatched, De La Hoya was dehydrated, Hatton was an accident waiting to happen and Cotto had absorbed too much punishment in recent fights. Although some of these reasons may have some credibility, you cannot take anything away from Pacquiao. He is now a polished performer on the highest stage, and has evolved from a national hero into an international icon. Now Pacquiao has the chance to silence the minority of critics who believe his success is attributed to careful matchmaking, timing and luck as opposed to his seemingly limitless skills as a boxer and as an athlete. That opportunity is in the form of arguably the greatest boxer in the last decade, the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr.
If Pacquiao disposes of Mayweather in a similar fashion to his last 6 opponents, his name will be mentioned alongside with the greats such as Ali, Leonard and Robinson forever. What makes this potential bout (and fingers crossed it becomes more then a potential bout in coming weeks) so fascinating is that the same is applicable vice-versa. Mayweather is in the same boat and the respect he has told us he deserves throughout his career in finally in his grasp.
Lets not dismiss Mayweather either, the last time he was an underdog he put on a career defining performance, scoring a 10th round TKO victory over previously unbeaten Diego Corrales in 2001. This was one of his last fights at the 130 pound limit that Pacquiao was fighting at just 22 months ago. This would generally create size issues, but the way Pacquiao has handled himself at welterweight against the larger Cotto he should have no problems as far as size is concerned. However Floyd Mayweather presents a challenge for Pacquiao that you cannot compare to any of his recent opponents. Some fighters are a product of nature, some fighters are a product of nurture. Floyd Mayweather is a rare exception, he is a product of both. Blessed with reflexes and hand speed that put him on par with Pacquiao, and born into a boxing family where he began to box at the age of 7. Mayweather was born to be a boxer, and he will be the first person to tell you this. That is why there is no clear favourite in the fight set to take place on the 13th of March next year at an unknown venue.
But one thing is for sure, everybody will be a winner if this fight occurs. Promoters, fans and fighters alike. As Floyd Mayweather told Sky Sports in an interview when questioned about losing the 'O' one his 40-0 record "If I can go out and make 50, 60, 75 million in one night come on man, I'm not losing".
James will be one of Fight Game's many new International reporters in 2010.