Floyd Mayweather, JR – Manny Pacquiaio: Final Thoughts
By Roy Bennett
There is an old saying in sports. Get the win. Look good next time. Sniping from distance to nullify his opponent’s strengths Floyd Mayweather, JR. comprehensively outboxed Manny Pacquiao last Saturday night to put an end to any speculation as to who the better fighter is.
Of course the hoards of Mayweather haters who had hoped, prayed, and paid to see him get knocked out and publicly humiliated are none too pleased about his victory or the manner of it. But Mayweather was never going to make the same mistake Tim Bradley made against Ruslan Provodnikov. Taking a beating to prove prove how tough he is was never part of the master plan.
The fact of the matter is Floyd Mayweather, JR. boxed well within himself and was never forced to go through any higher gears. Manny Pacquiao was unable to make him do so. And that showed the difference in level between both fighters. The howls of discontent about Mayweather’s choice of strategy to box and move, control distance behind a sharp jab, and a biting straight right, are utterly nonsensical. In this contest between the two best fighters of the era Mayweather showed how boxing’s fundamentals, when correctly and consistently applied, can slow an aggressive come forward fighter right down, reduce his punch output, and render him ineffective.
It’s Boxing Science 101. It sucked the drama right out of the fight and put Mayweather firmly in the driving seat. Utilizing smooth footwork, circular movement, and sound defense, he stayed off the ropes for the most part, slid under Pacquiao’s attempts to trap him in corners, and stayed on the outside at long range. But he still won’t get the credit he truly deserves for clearly beating his arch rival, because a large percentage of the critics of his boxing don’t understand what they’re looking at. I challenge anyone to show me where in the Marques of Queensbury Rules it says it’s illegal to move your feet, box from distance, and make your opponent miss?
I’ll wait…….. Still waiting…………. Crickets, I hear Crickets……
Mayweather could have been more aggressive but Pacquiao couldn’t force him to be. Neither could Canelo Alvarez. You don’t fight fire with fire. You fight fire with water! Floyd’s legs might not be what they used to be but he still had more than enough spring in his step to deny Pacquiao optimum punching distance and thus leverage to win a clear points decision. There is no controversy in the final result.
Mayweather has one more bout left to honor on his six fight Showtime Sports contract and then he says he’s going to retire. As is so often the case with some fighters perhaps he will be more appreciated after he’s gone. Mike Tyson is a good example of this paradigm shift in the general perception of sports fans about a fighter who was once the most hated man in American sports.
The end of another boxing era is almost nigh. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao will soon hang up their gloves for good. I say we were lucky to have them entertain us over the years. The way they did it was different. Pacquiao was Fire. Mayweather was Ice. But I’m glad I was able to witness them both at their scintillating best. This fight came too late for some. I say the result would have been no different in 2010. Floyd Mayweather, JR. is just the more skilled, intelligent, and versatile boxer of the two. There is no need for a rematch. It’s time to move on…..
