11 reasons why Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao will make boxing history
Flilipino sensation Manny Pacquiao and US stalwart Floyd Mayweather Junior’s match for welterweight (67kg) world champion title in Las Vegas on May 2 (Saturday) is being touted as the richest, if not the greatest fight of the century. While boxing fans have witnessed super battles before, Mike Tyson versus Lennox Lewis in 2002 and Wladimir Klitschko versus David Haye in 2011 for heavyweight titles; here's a look at what makes the Mayweather-Pacquiao title clash epic.
Huge money at stake
The huge prize money at stake always attracts fans. The match is expected to generate $300m; Mayweather is set to earn $180m and Pacquiao $120m. Both could earn extra millions, depending on how many fans subscribe to pay-per-view television scheme. The last highest-prize money bout was between Mayweather and Saul Alvarez of Mexico in 2013, which generated $150m.
Ticket prices
Chances are slim for the average Joe willing to spend extra for a ticket. In the 16,500-capacity MGM Arena in Las Vegas, between 500-1,000 tickets, valued between $1,500-$10,000, will go on sale. If this appears a huge amount to you, take a deep breath, as the ringside ticket is valued as high as $100,000.
History in making
No boxer has even beaten Mayweather in professional boxing. His record of 47 wins in as many bouts, with 26 of them coming through knockouts is one of the best in the category. Pacquiao, on the other hand, has lost five times in his 62 bouts. If he manages to beat Mayweather on Saturday, his name will go into record books.
Battle of world champions
Mayweather may be unbeaten in his career, but he is the world champion in five weight divisions. Pacquiao, however, has won the crown in eight different weight divisions. It is not common that boxers of such diversity fight in the ring. It will be interesting to see who emerges the champion among two greats.
Pacquiao's Olympics dreams
While Mayweather participated in the 1996 Olympics and won a bronze medal, Pacquiao never got a chance to compete at the quadrennial event. Recently, he expressed desire to participate at the 2016 Olympics, saying the International Boxing Association (AIBA) had allowed pro boxers to compete at the Games, where only amateur boxers could have participated. The AIBA president CK Wu slammed the door on Pacquiao, saying he was ineligible for Olympics as he had played more than 20 pro bouts. The bout is expected to garner huge attention worldwide, and it will provide a chance for Pacquiao to show that his presence will add glamour to the Olympics.
Glamour quotient
Considering the importance of the bout, top Hollywood celebrities and business tycoons will be found jostling for a ringside seat. Though the MGM arena in Las Vegas is commonly frequented by celebrities, this time they will be lucky if they can even get a single ticket this Saturday.
Hope for Asia
Pacquiao’s enormous success has already made him the most successful pro boxer from Asia. He has a cult following in his native country Philippines where he is a parliamentarian and is appreciated for his humanitarian causes. Locally, he is known as the "National Fist" and is a supreme example of fighting against odds. His victory will encourage Asian youth to follow in his footsteps.
Versatile Pacquiao
Boxing may be his forte, but Pacquiao has two song albums under his belt, he also plays basketball and has appeared on sitcoms and reality shows in Philippines. His critics often accuse him of losing his focus. With a win over Mayweather, the Filipino can show that he never lost it.
Mayweather better than Ali?
Mayweather recently said that he is greater than Muhammad Ali. Such a comment has made boxing fans eager to witness whether Mayweather has the potential to live up to his words.
Excitement is building up
The bout is scheduled for Saturday but mind games have already begun. On Wednesday at the MGM Arena in Las Vegas, Mayweather said, “I’ve broken records before. Are we going to do record-breaking numbers again? I believe so”. Pacquiao came up with an equally catchy riposte: “I have something to prove. I like being the underdog because my killer instinct and my focus is there.” Such an exciting build-up ahead of the big fight is most likely to spice up the show.
Hard training
Mayweather said he has returned to Rocky Balboa style of "throwback training" for the match. For his training, he picked up a sledgehammer and chopped wood to make himself strong. Pacquiao, on the other hand, opted for a traditional intense training. It will be interesting to see whether tradition wins over experiment.