By Yannis Mihanos: On May 2nd in the famous city of sin and pleasure Las Vegas Nevada the two big stars Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will finally meet on a fight that everybody expects to see the best fighting with the best.

There is no doubt that each of these fighters have unfinished business to deal with. I believe that both in their best day can neutralize each other as they are polar opposites in styles. To win each other though, someone must be at his best, someone must be critically better than the other on that specific day. That’s what I will discuss today in this article.

At his best, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26 KOs) becomes invincible: a ghost that no one can reach or touch with clear punch. Floyd at his best seems to be so far ahead of the game. The frustration for his opponents is great while he seems mocking with them and telling them: “I’m invincible, try to catch me if you can.”
At his best Manny Pacquiao (57-5-2. 38 KOs) becomes the terror: he becomes this menacing monster who inflicts pain and attacks nonstop in the face and in the body of the opponent. He creates panic in the ring and it is basically like saying to them: “You can run but cannot hide.”

I remember well Floyd’s encounter against the promising young fighter from Mexico, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in their fight in September 2013. It was a display of tactical brilliance. At times Floyd looked like an actor choreographing sequences for an action film. It’s the one scene where the actors fight but without real contact or hurting each other. With Floyd was exactly the same, Canelo with his punches could only catch air again and again to the point where it became embarrassing and frustrating. Floyd made the fight to look like a walk in the park. This was a flawless performance by Mayweather.

I remember the first time that I watched Manny Pacquiao on TV against the very strong and accurate puncher from Mexico Marco Antonio Barrera. From the beginning Barrera seemed at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was shocked with the hand and foot speed of little known then Pacquiao. Before he could hit once Pacquiao would hit him twice and thrice.

Before you knew it the match had become a ridiculous mismatch. Marco Antonio Barrera couldn’t see from where the punches were coming, the speed was just unbelievable. He made Barrera look extremely slow and old. After taking a lot of punishment, in the late rounds Barrera was forced to stop and quit on his stool. This was one stellar performance that established Pacquiao as one of the greats of boxing.

So as you may notice each fighter on at least one occasion have displayed brilliant performances, they have shown their best. I am sure you have watched them in other occasions too.

‘In the end there can be only one.’ That’s a quote I got from the classic film Highlander. I think it fits here nicely. On May the 2nd only one will be the champion, only one will be the ultimate best, only one will sit on boxing’s throne.