06.05.07 – By Michael Iurato: In a fight that was promoted to the absolute gills, a true fight fan would understand that the chances of living up to the hype of that nature is slim to none. Fights like Aaron Pryor vs. Alexis Arguello (1982), Marvin Hagler vs. John “The Beast” Mugabi (1986), and The Ward vs Gatti Trilogy only floats around every so often to succeed these expectations. You have to look what each of these men brought to the table to understand that it would be exactly what it was, a game of cat and mouse..
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has made a career of utilizing his GOD given gift of speed and elusiveness to avoid fighting and out pointing his opponent to victory. A game of “You cant beat what you cant catch”. His uncanny ability to utilize ring space and make people miss is what makes him special. The best pound for pound fighter today or of all time? I would have to disagree, but in his defense his ability to avoid punishment and entrapments with his speed and ring savvy is second to none.
Oscar Delahoya on the flip side was the predator in this fight and understood that the only way to beat Floyd Mayweather is to bring the fight to him. Oscar did just that and came up a little bit short. Using his great left jab and consistently hunting for body shots was not the greatest game plan, if that was the game plan at all. HE proved to the world that he is a great fighter and is willing to trade and wanted to trade, but against someone as fast as Mayweather that refuses to trade is a very tall order. 2 different fighters with 2 different styles is not a fight that would EVER live up the hype that the names would bare.
Where does the Sweet science stand as we speak? Well that is in the eye of the beholder. If you are a fan that used to only flip the TV on to watch Mike Tyson knock someones head off and then not watch another fight until the next Tyson fight was aired, then I honestly would say that your boxing knowledge is minimal and non appreciative of a beautiful art. If that is the case then boxing is dead, because the heavyweight division is non existent and will be for a very long time. Fighters such as Antonio Margerito(in which mayweather ducked for 8 million dollars), Juan Diaz, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, and Manny Pacquiao to name a few bring fights of legendary nights in the near future to come. Boxing is the most beautiful art in the world if it is truly understood and appreciated.
It’s not about getting into a ring and swinging for the fences until the button is ignited and the opponent hits the canvas. If thats what you are looking for than you are better off watching the Tough Man Championships for a good chuckle or a hard laugh. Boxing is a pure science. Utilizing your strengths, minimizing your opponents strengths, changing strategies, and then implementing all of this in the ring. That is what makes great fights and legendary fighters.
In closing I would like to say to the true Boxers and passion riders of the sport. Boxing is and always will be a staple in many of our lives. From teaching us discipline and respect, to remembering victory and embracing defeat. No matter what the outcome, we tend to come back for more. Why? Because we are the few that have what many people do not have, a fighting spirit. That is why no matter what happens in this sport, its the people like us that will never let this sport fall to a knee, and when the flame is being blown by outside winds we will unite and make sure we keep the flame lit. Until next time CHIN DOWN HANDS UP and GOD BLESS. Long live the sweet science of boxing.