Mayweather dominates Pacquiao in Fight of the Century

And just like that…

The biggest fight boxing fans wanted is in the books.

In the aftermath of Mayweather Pacquiao fight is the fallout of another Floyd Mayweather boxing clinic. While many fans both die hard and casual were anticipating something more to the likes of an all out brawl a Rocky type of action, most were left with disappointment to such a methodical fight that produced few toe to toe exchanges but with the outcome all but assured by the final bell.
This is not a “I told you so” but there is nothing that Floyd Mayweather has done over much of his career to make any boxing fan actually believe that he would do anything different in the bout than what he has done the previous 47 times. Especially over the last couple years. Make no mistake, Floyd “Money” Mayweather is the best fighter of this era but Money Mayweather the character is even better. He has made millions by playing his bad guy, flamboyant persona. Flashing his extravagant lifestyle at every turn. People tune in because they want to see him lose. They want to see the moment he hits the canvas or his reaction after a loss. This past Saturday night many hoped that Manny Pacquiao was the man to finally dethrone the self proclaimed TBE- “The best ever”.
Mayweather had other plans.

For much of the fight he did what got him to this point of his career- a strong jab, straight rights and the ability to stay out of the range of his opponent. While other than the staggering amount of money being made by both fighters in this match up the actual fight felt no different than when Mayweather fought Robert Guerrero, Canelo Alvarez or Marcos Maidana the second time around. Mayweather was able to control the pace of the fight, avoid any real damage while landing the cleaner shots and by the 10 round or so, it felt like anything but a KO would all but seal Pacquiao’s fate just the same as every fighter before him.

Floyd Mayweather made the only other fighter to be considered his equal over the last couple years look pedestrian. Something Manny acknowledged in the press conference afterwards, “my best wasn’t good enough” he would state. While there was also a revelation that Pacquiao may have had an injured shoulder, it seems unlikely it would have made much of a difference. Regardless of what Pacquiao had going on, Mayweather was the better fighter tonight and five years ago and for many boxing fans thats hard to hear. Mayweather turns off so many people because of his actions outside of the ring, that now that the fight has been made and over, fans would like to see Mayweather disappear. But before he does, he will take 120 million if not more to the bank.

And then…

Over the past week with all the coverage boxing got because of the fight, opinions have came from all sorts of so called experts. Niche sport seemed to come up as where boxing is and how it needs to capture the “mainstream” if it ever hopes to be relevant once again. The truth is, boxing is going to be fine. Boxing does not need Mayweather and Pacquiao to provide relevance, boxing has heard this song played over and over. People who get paid to make statements for ratings will say someone outlandish stuff, use MMA as the better product and so on.
Did boxing need Mayweather Pacquiao to save it? No, Boxing was here before Manny and Floyd and boxing will be here after.