By Ryan Allan: After years of hype, hyperbole and hubris, the fight that everyone has waited for is finally within touching distance for in less than 48 hours, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will finally get it on in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand, Nevada.
I’m now beginning to feel a sense of excitement and anticipation that superseeds anything I’ve previously experienced in sport. Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao. Say it again. Floyd and Manny. In the same ring. Tomorrow. Tomorrow.
I can hardly believe I’m writing these words. For what feels like a sporting eternity, this is the fight I’ve dreamed of, that so many boxing fans craved. Finally it’s fight time and it’s time to pick a winner.
So who will have their hand raised in triumph by referee Kenny Bayless come the final bell?
I answered this question on the day the fight was announced and I remain more convinced than ever that Manny Pacquiao can finally be the man to hand Mayweather his first loss.
Mayweather was as short as 2/7 when the fight was announced but he has drifted to 1/2 with Pacquiao in from 11/4 to 15/8 which demonstrates not only that there is an increase in confidence in Pacquiao but also that there is a lot of emotion in this fight. The people want Manny to win and so do I. I’m no fan of Floyd the man or Floyd the ego but he is a marvelous artist of a fighter and Pacquiao is going to need to be better than ever before to get the win but I genuinely believe he still has it in him to pull this one off.
There is no doubt that both men have slowed down a touch but they are still considered the No 1 and No2 Pound for Pound fighters in the world today and while the fight might have been faster 5 years ago, and would not necessarily have been more exciting, and it certainly would not have had quite the same anticipation or financial reward.
The phrase I keep hearing from the people is that the head says Floyd and the heart says Manny and while that seems obvious enough with Manny being such an engaging and like-able man, and Floyd playing the role of the braggart villain, why is it that Manny is somehow considered a lesser talent to Floyd?
Ok, Floyd has never been beaten and is clearly the toughest puzzle in boxing, a living legend of a rubix cube, and a man that has barely been hurt in his entire career. At 38, he has been a bonafide world champion of the sport for the best part of 15 years (not including his “retirement”) and his achievements are extraordinary. But so are Manny’s.
it’s hard to think of too many great fights though that involved Floyd and certainly he has not been any kind of wars in his career. Principally this is because of his defensive ability but also because of the nature of so many of his previous victims with tough, come forward fighters that played into Floyd’s skill-set. Rarely did you think “that was a hell of a fight” after watching Floyd which is to his own credit but to the disappointment of the fans.
But when you think of Manny, you think of his wars with Marquez, the wonderful trilogy with Morales, the same with Barrera and then his ascendancy through the divisions as he produced stunning knock-outs and dazzling displays of skills in defeating larger opponents like De La Hoya, Cotto and Margarito.
It’s clear that both men are legends of the sport, but not for all the same reasons and I believe it is Manny’s experience of these kind of wars that is going to hand him the advantage tomorrow. Can Floyd really dig as deep as Manny has and is prepared to tomorrow?
I firmly believe that no-one has brought the same level of aggression and speed to the ring against Floyd that Manny will tomorrow. This will be a war. It might take a few rounds, but this fight will be the hardest of Floyd’s career and I could spend hours talking, writing and discussing why I believe Manny is going to win. Perhaps it comes down to my inate desire to see the Pretty Boy finally lose and lose to my favourite fighter of the era to boot.
It seems to me that that a lot of people have underestimated Manny, partly because of his defeat to Marquez 3 years ago and also because of the fact Mayweather has never tasted defeat in the pro ranks. Well, records are there to be broken and if there is 1 fighter from the last 20 years that had the speed, the desire, the skill, the boxing ability and the sheer greatness of a champion to beat Floyd, then it is surely Manny Pacquiao.
His resume, his achievements are beyond imagination. Rising from the slums of General Santos in the Philippines, turning pro at 14 years of age and fighting for 2 dollars. Now look at him. He is the real life Rocky.
I’m not putting my “mortgage” on this fight. It could go either way but I’m definitely backing Manny to win @2/1 odds while I’ve also backed him to win on points @4/1. The value is there and in my heart, in my gut, I simply cannot ignore this bet.
I don’t even care about the money. This is the longest standing bet of my life. For 6 years I wanted this fight, believing always that Pacquiao would be too aggressive, too dangerous and would present Floyd with the kind of trouble he has never experienced in his career. And I sure ain’t changing my tune now.
If Manny wins there will be tears of joy in the Philippines and beyond, certainly including myself, for it would be the most thrilling, satisfying and worthy sporting event of all if it is indeed Manny Pacquiao that claims the prize of the greatest fighter of his generation and does it by ending the run of the man they call Money.
Says it all really.
Best Bets
Manny Pacquiao to win @2/1
Manny Pacquiao to win on points @4/1
Comments are closed.