In the most anticipated fight of the decade and the most lucrative bout of all-time, two of the generation’s best pound-for-pound fighters settled the score after nearly six years of waiting.
Some questioned whether Mayweather belonged in the same class as some of the best fighters of all-time, including the likes of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, etc. Mayweather, though, erased all doubt whether that questioned remained with a career-defining victory over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday at MGM Grand in Las Vegas in a match which was as intriguing to watch as it was intriguing to see the inconceivable amounts of money two superstars could earn in one night.
Pacquiao didn’t start off as fast as expected but was able to hurt Mayweather a couple of times in the early rounds with counter left-hands and ferocious combinations to the body.
Inevitably, Floyd Mayweather was going to adjust and dictate the pace. It was just a matter of when. Ultimately, his defensive mastery was too difficult to solve for the eight-division world champion, who found himself throwing a ton of punches, but most of them getting blocked or missing entirely.
The judges scored the bout 118-110, with two scores of 116-112. I scored the bout 115-114 for Mayweather, with one 10-10 round at one point during the fight.
Pacquiao disagreed with the decision.
“I thought I won the fight,” Pacquiao said. “He didn’t do anything.”
While Pacquiao didn’t win the fight, it was a close fight. The pro-Pacquiao crowd roared every time the Filipino landed a punch and Pacquiao was able to keep Mayweather honest at points in the fight, but once the American got comfortable in the pocket, it was target practice for the boxer from Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“I’m a calculated fighter; he is a tough competitor,” Mayweather said. “My dad [Floyd Mayweather Sr.] wanted me to do more, but Pacquiao is an awkward fighter.”
There weren’t any knockdowns, and neither was seriously hurt at any point in the fight, although Pacquiao landed the biggest shot in the fourth round – a counter left hand that sent Mayweather back into the ropes – but Mayweather covered up effectively, and Pacquiao wasn’t able to mount anything offensively against the now unified welterweight champion.
Mayweather made it a chess match – he kept Pacquiao at bay with the jab – in order to keep the Filipino slugger away. Although Pacquiao tried to bully his way on the inside, Mayweather was too elusive and was often unreachable for Pacquiao. Pacquiao, whose reach is 67 inches, struggled with that disadvantage.
According to Compubox, Mayweather landed 148 of 435 punches while Pacquiao landed 81 of 429.
With one fight remaining on the contract he signed with CBS/Showtime in early 2013, Mayweather will have the opportunity to match former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record, which once seemed impeccable, let alone unapproachable.
On Saturday, May 2nd, facing the rival that he had been accused of avoiding for over half a decade, Mayweather exhibited phenomenal boxing skills, using speed, quickness, precision, and impeccable ring intelligence that few can emulate and few can ever witness in person because of the expense.
With the talk, hype, and the fight aside, Floyd Mayweather Jr. does have a T.B.E. in his name. While he may not be the best ever, with his performance on Saturday, he solidified himself as “The Best of the ERA.”
