By Babatis Banda: If what is being said is true, then we are about to witness the end-game to the controversy over the two fighters. In my view, after this fight boxing will become some-what boring. Boxing will certainly not die, but it will command little interest in some quarters. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have carried this sport on their shoulders for a while now. It is very true that they have made this sport popular in their own way.
Let the truth be told, styles make fights. The unfortunate thing is that over the years, some people have come to believe that Pacquiao is the only fighter that can dethrone the unbeaten American. While anything is possible in the sport of boxing, it is highly unlikely that this will be so. It is because this fight has taken too long to be made, that such thoughts have grown in people’s heads. Optimism has merely turned into belief and there is nothing wrong with that.
If this fight materializes, people will realize that they have been too optimistic, too expectant of the Filipino icon. As good as he is, Floyd will outbox him easy. I am not saying that this will be a walk in the park, but that Floyd’s boxing IQ is bigger than what Pacquiao can ever throw at him. People talk of how Maidana was able to hit him, yes, he may have lost some of his reflexes but remember that styles make fights.
Maidana is a ragged brawler that is hard hitting. There is really no skill in Maidana excerpt he will push you into the ropes and throw whatever he has at you. Again as we saw, pure boxing beats pure brawling and the same is true with power. People are not accustomed seeing Mayweather getting hit. He is a little older now and besides, the sport itself demands that he gets hit once in a while.
It is being overzealous to think Pacquiao can take Floyd out. This is a boxer that has never been taken out, let alone decked. In fact, Floyd has a pretty solid chin and can take a punch. It is also folly to believe Pacquiao will out-work or out-box Mayweather. Pacquiao can only outbox Mayweather if Mayweather chooses to exchange punches with Pacquiao, a thing he never does. All Floyd needs is the best of his boxing IQ and I have no doubt he has plenty of that to give Pacquiao fits.
Let us keep our fingers crossed, the time for the truth is here, don’t be surprised that you have waited for years for something that will turn out easy
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