Final Glory Unveiled: Part 1 of 4: Mayweather vs Pacquiao

Until recent time this fight was confined to our fascination of a matchup between two incredible fighters. It is a fight that should have taken place five years ago but even today after all that has transpired it continues to arouse polarising opinion and passion in its potential audience. Boxing’s detractors have temporary halted their sermons of its demise. They have secretly purchased tickets, veiled in their backing yet contributing to the record shattering revenue of boxing‘s most lucrative fight ever.

Perhaps it has been with good reason that we have been kept waiting so long for this bout. These fighters are in final season of their prolific careers and this is going to be their most memorable bout. Although the demands and performance will force the clock hands back; the night’s close will usher in a curtain for one of these fighters’ careers. Neither fighter has faced an opponent with similar capabilities and standing. We would be foolish to assume that these fighters have no respect for each other’s ability, achievements and contributions to our beloved sport.

continue

Broner (Predictably) Picks Mayweather/Betting $10k On A Stoppage

The ever divisive Adrien Broner (30-1, 22ko) has spoken to FightHype.com after a trip to the Mayweather gym to visit his friend and mentor Floyd in sparring.

Broner, who at his worst is a bare-faced Floyd imitator, has said Mayweather is sharp and very focused ahead of Saturday’s fight;

“It’s tunnel vision now. You can tell there’s only one thing on his mind.”

continue

Carl Froch Breaks Down Mayweather Pacquiao / Hints At Retirement?

British WBA super-middleweight boss Carl Froch (33-2, 24ko) has this lunchtime (tue) spoken to Sky Sports News and become the latest in a long-line of fighters to wade in with a pick for Saturday night, offering his own tactical insight into what each man must do and also into whether or not his career has wound down to a natural conclusion.

Froch, a year removed from his stadium rematch with George Groves at Wembley, is certainly a fighter used to a big occasion. (Albeit not as big as this!)

continue

Mayweather/Pacquiao – game plans last until the first big shot

Clichés like “key to victory” and strategic game-planning referring to the coaches’ insights and observations are a vital part of the mental preparation and the “psyche” of any pugilist. However even the most elaborate game plan is just a hypothesis, an intention that lasts until the first big shot is landed. In the late rounds when incremental damage piles up boxers fight on habit and instinct with rare moments of ingenuity and little regard of the initial game plan. They are creatures of habit like everyone and rarely act out of character especially under pressure. Hence the importance of style – an amalgam of habits and steady boxing skills replenished and honed over the years. Here is a review and comparison of the combatants’ fundamentals before the clash of epic financial proportions and yet-to-be-seen technical value.

continue

The Prediction: Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao

Like many fight fans the coming days are going to be very long as we await the anticipated fight of the century. Ok it has taken 5 years in the making, but its hear and I for one cant wait. Actually this is a match makers dream, an attacking whirlwind fighter versus a master counter puncher, possibly one of the best if not the very best the spot has ever seen. Those that say we will see a boring fight, I beg to differ. This will be pure excitement. My prediction is based on the following factors backed by countless hours of analysing past fights among other things.

continue

Arum -“Floyd has Megalomania”

Manny Pacquiao’s long time promoter and Floyd Mayweather’s friend, (only joking about the last part) Bob Arum, has spoken to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s super fight to offer his thoughts on Floyd’s recent statements about being better that Ali and Ray Robinson and his fighter’s chance’s.

The Top Rank chief, who has been at the helm of the organisation for almost 50 years said of Mayweather’s recent claims;

“Floyd Mayweather is an excellent, excellent fighter. He’s a great technician but to compare himself to Muhammad Ali, or Ray Robinson or Ray Leonard is a joke.”

continue

The Artist and the Scientist

It only takes a few minutes of highlight footage to distinguish the scientist from the artist. In the parlance of the sweet science, one corner envisions the confrontation in a series of highly choreographed tactical moves embodied by perhaps one of the most gifted technicians in boxing. In the other corner however, is an unpredictable beast that manages to keep even the most seasoned of boxing experts in awe and have them constantly guessing of what comes next. The result of these contrasting styles is an unpredictable and exciting melange of fists and fury over the stretch of twelve rounds.

continue

Subjective scoring and controversy in boxing

Professional boxing is a sport unlike any other. It is not scored by the passing of a ball through a net, nor the time it takes someone to cross a finishing line. Whilst there are objective mechanics in boxing, as in the case of a KO or foul, the majority of fights are scored by three judges placed at different points around the ring, who proceed to use a series of criteria to determine which fighter should be awarded the round. The scoring of rounds in professional boxing is not determined by quantitative criteria, i.e. the number of punches thrown/landed, instead judges score rounds using a combination of qualitative criteria, including clean punching, effective aggression and ring generalship.The person landing more punches can lose a round to the person throwing fewer, but more effective punches. That being said, there are of course specific scenarios which directly impact the score cards, as in the case of knockdowns and point deductions.

continue

Mayweather vs Pacquiao – Khan eliminator almost upon us

We are only a few days away now from the fight which almost everyone wants to see – Mayweather vs Pacquiao. In the build up to the fight the focus has strongly been on three things – How much money the fight is generating, why it took so long to make the fight happen and who folks believe is going to win. Most predictions have surprisingly favoured Floyd Mayweather Jr. I am not too sure why, perhaps because he is undefeated and always wins. The fight has not been without its detractors though, and rightly so. Both guys are past their prime, the fans are getting ripped off with prices for the PPV and tickets (if indeed they could get any) and the fight has been blown out of proportion and should be recognized for what it truly is – a final eliminator to face the sensational pound for pound number 1 fighter on the planet, Britain’s great Amir Khan.

continue

Canelo Alvarez Interview Transcript

Canelo Alvarez – Good afternoon. It’s a pleasure to be here with you.

O. De La Hoya – Great. So, now we can open it up for questions. Thank you.

Q – Okay, great. First of all, I’d like you to ask Canelo, he’s coming back to another city in Texas in Houston when he was in San Antonio a couple years ago and he had that huge crowd for the Austin Trout fight. I want to know how pumped up is he because by all accounts, you’re going to have another crowd similar in size in a different city in Houston for this fight. How much does he feel that love from his fans, particularly the Mexicans and the Mexican-Americans and get him motivated, let’s say, for this kind of fight?

continue