Michael Herron – The month of May can not seem further away yet that is how long the boxing world will wait before the most anticipated fight of the decade is upon us. For fight fans however time is not a factor when it comes to comparing, contrasting, and debating which fighter will ultimately reign supreme. Though a definitive answer will be provided in the near future the battle for now will wage on the accomplishments and merits of each fighter’s past. What roads did each fighter travel; what choices did they make along the way; what obstacles did they overcome to get where they are today; though they may seem like polar opposites, Mayweather and Pacquiao’s paths toward each other are more alike than we might imagine.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr’s reputation as the Pretty Boy suggests that his career has taken the path of least resistance. A former Olympian, Mayweather it is assumed, simply followed the golden brick road of great fighters like Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya before him.. Winning his first title at only 21 years of age, Mayweather, prior to his brief retirement in 2008, was one of the longest reigning champions in boxing. Throughout the years however he has been criticized for not taking what boxing pundits view as the toughest available competition.
Manny Pacquiao on the other hand is viewed as taking the path of most resistance. Turning pro at only 16 years of age, Pacquiao literally fought his way out of poverty to become a champion, a national hero, and finally an international megastar. But as they say in the NBA Playoff’s Pacquiao’s only option as a fighter was to win or go home. Name recognition, family history, nor Olympic glory was going to guarantee him a chance on the world stage. Only his fists, wits, and belief in his training were going to get him where he is today.
Both fighters began at the lighter weights and won titles in each weight division they entered; both fighters have earned the mythical title of pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, and each has attracted massive pay-per-view audiences along the way. As both men become men however their ability to carry weight has maxed out at the welterweight limit and it is at 147 that their career paths go from somewhat similar to nearly identical.
Since claiming the welterweight championship, Mayweather in his last three fights has faced former champions Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Juan Manuel Marquez; Pacquiao likewise has faced Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Miguel Cotto in his previous three fights. Both fighters emerged victorious in these encounters but there is always a catch. The general public overwhelmingly tuned in to hopefully see Mayweather lose, in contrast they tune in to hopefully see Pacquiao win. Pacquiao would defeat these opponents by sensational knockout and his victories would be celebrated throughout the boxing world, Mayweather would win by boxing skillfully but his decision victories would be despised. It is not that the boxing world is unfair but that Mayweather has worked hard to craft himself as a heel, a villain, while Pacquiao has slipped comfortably into the role of hero even playing one on TV.
Though one is a hero and the other a heel both fighters made their ascent to the top by defeating the same two opponents, De La Hoya and Hatton. As for the third opponent it is impossible to ignore the irony, Mayweather, as far as fight fans are concerned, avoided Miguel Cotto and Pacquiao likewise ignored Juan Manuel Marquez’s plea for a third fight. Is it simply by chance that they would both choose opponents that the other is accused of ducking? Since neither fighter would previously call out the other perhaps eliminating the others competition is an indirect way of acknowledging their existence?
Finally there is a weight argument that surrounds both fighters and this is where criticisms can be delivered on both sides. Their previous 3 fights may have been said to take place at 140, 147, 154, but nearly every contest was either officially or unofficially at catchweights. Mayweather, weighing in at 150, moved up to 154 to fight De La Hoya while Pacquiao drained him to 145; Pacquiao fought Hatton at 140 while Mayweather fought him at 145. Pacquiao forced Cotto down to 145 and Mayweather demanded Marquez move up to 144. What is clear is that for whatever reason no one is fighting at 147, the actual welterweight limit. Essentially, in all of these fights, with the exception of Pacquiao-Hatton, someone was at a weight disadvantage. Come May of 2010 it is essential that there are no built in disadvantages for any fighter, a superfight should be just that, super, with no excuses, no weight draining, no glove choosing, no ring sizing, no unfair money splitting, no steroids, hemorrhoids, or any other kind of roids; just the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world whose career paths have met on a road that we can all follow.
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