By Klaas Mabetlela: Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have divided the boxing fans down the middle and the fans’ fight is reaching a boiling point. For most general fans, Money may have already lost the fight with Manny even before the bell rings. Mayweather will still be labeled as ‘boring’ and not brave enough after the fight even if he wins clearly. His sin is being the most complete practitioner of trade during his era. Love him or hate him, the guy just knows how to box and has a boxing brain second to none. For most general fans, this is still not good enough.

After all, this is a sweet- science and Money Mayweather seems to have invented the term. Most general fans prefer blood-drenched fighting styles of the likes of Gatti and Mancini. I like watching that too but I also enjoy looking at the practitioners of sweet-science plying their trade. They prefer to hit and not get hit and dazzle their opponents with artistry like a master painter. Manny Pacquiao’s style is aggressively entertaining and we are blessed to have him in sport and it is not my accident that he commands such a deserved fanatical following. Money and Manny are a huge credit to the sport and it is not a sin to like them both.

Most fans pick a certain style and whoever does not practice it is labeled and will never be appreciated. I just think they miss a lot because boxing is full of diversity. The styles of Manny and Money do not have to create two warring fan base. We can like their styles as different as they are because that is what sport is all about. I like them both and think that they are both great for the sport. Personalities and egos are also part and parcel of the game and people should not be too carried away about that.

Money and Manny are both super athletes who are committed to their craft and they do not need to have same personalities and lifestyles to mesmerize us when they ply their trade. Ironically the very fact that we rather have a ‘good guy’ and ‘bad-guy’ in the equation will ensure that they share the biggest payday in history of the sport when they finally meet in the ring. And that is not bad for business at all.