Here's something you probably don't know:
The people behind tonight's Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight don't really care what people like me will think of the match.What's more, they don't care what you will think of tonight's fight either - if you're a boxing fan, that is. This is particularly true if you're a hard core boxing fan who follows the sport religiously.
If, however, you're not a boxing fan, yet all the hype has you curious, then the people behind Mayweather-Pacquiao are very eager to make you happy indeed. Why? Because people like you have already gone and removed boxing from the margins, where it's been for well over a decade now. You've actually gone and made it Kardashian popular. Yup, you - yes, you - are responsible for putting boxing back in the spotlight, however briefly.
By mentioning the matchup in passing at the water cooler, by raising an inquisitive eyebrow while watching television, by briefly considering for a single moment whether this extravaganza is worth coughing up close to a hundred dollars for, you've done the sport of boxing wonders.
Truth be told, most of you who are not boxing fans won't watch this fight. But a lot of you will. A whole lot. Enough, in fact, to make this one of the biggest sporting events of the year. Believe it. So, for those of you who will be watching to satisfy your curiosity, or simply because you're caught up in all the hype (there's nothing wrong with that, by the way), here's a guide to Mayweather-Pacquiao that will provide you with all you need to know.
First, this fight really is that big of a deal. Both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are all time great boxers, and probably the two best fighters in the sport of boxing today. The match is going to be in the welterweight division, which means that neither man will have weighed in at more than 147lbs and numerous titles will be at stake.
As for styles, Pacquiao is something of a anomaly. He's a southpaw, which means he fights left-handed. He's also extraordinarily fast, and extremely aggressive, What's more, he moves towards and away from his opponents at off angles. He's a lot like that mosquito that annoys you at family picnics, only he throws a lot of punches when he's in range of you and those punches are very hard.
Mayweather, who is widely regarded as the greatest pound for pound fighter on the planet ("pound for pound" simply means if size didn't matter), is amazing to watch. Some say he's boring and they may be right in saying so. Still, the man's a wonder. He simply avoids getting hit in ways that are extraordinary. He's also possibly the most accurate puncher in boxing, which means his punches find their targets at a greater percentage rate than anyone else's in the sport. In short, Mayweather is extremely hard for you to effectively hit...but he can literally hit you more efficiently than perhaps anyone else on the planet.
You can see why Floyd's won close to fifty matches without losing once in his life. You can also see why this is a compelling matchup. There's two very unique and very effective styles are at play here. Most experts think Floyd will win, but they also agree almost universally that he's never met anyone as good as Manny before. Oh, and I personally believe that Manny will be the one to win tonight (for what that's worth). Floyd's simply never met anyone as fast, as active or as aggressive before now - and I think that will tell the tale.
Expect this fight to go late. It won't start until after 11 P.M. on the east coast and probably won't actually begin until significantly later. People always worry about the judging in boxing matches being unfair, especially in Las Vegas, where this fight is being held, so that's a concern you may hear being brought up. Also, Floyd has a tendency to hold his opponents a lot (to keep them from hitting him, of course) and the referee for this fight, Kenny Bayless, is known to allow holding, although it's technically illegal. Another possible point of contention.
One quick thing - this fight will go no longer than twelve three-minute rounds, with a one minute rest period in between rounds. And, oh yeah, both Floyd and Manny are going to make a TON of money for a maximum thirty-six minutes of work.
Enjoy!
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