In a little under 24 hours the richest fight in boxing history would go down. It pits the best pugilists of this generation against each other, two bona fide future hall of famers.

The narratives surrounding this fight are just crazy. It’s one that has been half a decade in the making, which the masses have clamouring for but that somehow never materialised- until now.

It’s not just a clash of boxing styles, but a clash of worlds. Pacquiao is the ultimate aggressor, a relentless combination of speed, agility, and power. Mayweather is the consummate defender, the best this sport has ever seen. If he was a football team he’d be the quintessential Mourinho team.

Pacquiao is the laid back persona, a genuine good guy, humanitarian, politician, God-fearing. Mayweather is the stereotypical bad guy, brash, ostentatious, arrogant, been in trouble for domestic violence in the past.

Yet at the core, they’re both the same person- fiercely competitive, determined, world class professionals who fought through extreme poverty and numerous obstacles to the top of the world.

And at the MGM Grand Arena, it all comes to a head.

Tale of the Tape

Build-Up

There is a genuine case for this being the greatest boxing bout of all time, with the build-up being taken to extremely crazy levels. Tickets sold out in a minute, the MGM Grand was all booked up within 3 minutes of the fight being announced. The media frenzy, Showtime, HBO, The Grand- it’s no doubt the most lucrative boxing fight in history.

The two boxers have been quietly going about their business, only interested in getting in tip top shape for what they both realise as the greatest challenge they’ve ever faced. Their meet-ups, both at the Press conference and weigh-in, have gone largely without incident. All you get is a feeling of deep, mutual, respect.

Mayweather has been uncharacteristically subdued, not displaying any of the brash ‘Money’ persona that makes people love to hate him so. Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddy Roach, says he’s genuinely worried Mayweather would not show up for the bout. More than a few people are getting the feeling Mayweather’s scared.

Mayweather disagrees. This is a big enough fight; he doesn’t have to do any of his usual antics to sell it. He’s going to do all his talking in the ring.

“It’s time to fight now” He said at the pre-fight press conference. “You guys came out here to see excitement, you guys came out here to see a great event, and I think that’s what both competitors bring to the table: excitement”

Pacquiao has gone full on God-mode. A highly devout man, he’s attributed all his success to the man above. He plans to pummel Mayweather, and introduce him to his God after the fight.

“I just want to mention though that everything that I have accomplished, God who gave me the strength.

I am hoping that after the fight I can have a conversation with Floyd sharing my faith about God. We can inspire more people, especially those children who are looking to us and supporting us”

The Bout

The fight itself is unlikely to be the explosive fest most people are dying to see. Mayweather is an extremely cautious fighter, unlikely to give Pacquiao the toe-to-toe slug fest he wants. He’s going to move about elusively, trying to not get hit yet land those jarring counter jabs of his.

This is the ultimate technical bout, the best offense versus the best defence. Mayweather is a nightmare to hit, Pacquiao a relentless puncher who doesn’t mind taking a few hits as he pummels you with more deadly hits.

Verdict

Mayweather has made grinding decision wins something of an art form, concentrating on just a few hits per round to win that round. In Pacquiao, he faces a threat unlike any he’s ever faced before.

Still, I believe the greatest defence wins over the greatest offence 8 out of ten. Pacquiao would throw all he can, would land some devastating shots, but in the end Mayweather would shade just enough rounds to pick up the split decision.

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