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This match up has been hyped up even before these two were even on the same weight class. I'd say about a good 4 years now. It's a great match up, when you consider the polar differences of their styles.
Both are great at what they do: one is a well desciplined specialist and the other is a barbaric warrior. A surgeon and a butcher, if you will. Both have conquered and vanquished many foes. Both are undefeated. But the similarities end there. One throws money around whilst donning his new Armani suit and craving for the MTV lime light. The other is a t-shirt wearing bar lizard who might buy you a pint of beer and expect a good story in return.
Not like Pac and Morales, who both grew out of poverty and seemed to live parallel lives. When these two fighters were matched up, the hype machine grew on its own once the obvious was clear. But for Mayweather and Hatton, the talk and hype were well ahead of schedule. Mayweather at 140 had two great options at the time: Tsyu and Hatton. But he went for Gatti, the most popular 140 titlelist in America (and the least skilled).
Seriously, I've watch boxing for years....since 1973 when I could remember seeing Ali try to win back his title....I've never seen two fighters matched up literally years before their final showdown. The closest I saw was Leonard/Hagler. But it was Hagler who was doing most of the hype, not the fans coz Leonard was retired (first of many).
Now...it's not even November yet and the amount of threads in several boxing forums are almost limitless. The online traffic is great for popup ads. When December rolls around....I think people are going to drive more carefully just to be sure they're alive long enough to see this momentous occasion.
Both are great at what they do: one is a well desciplined specialist and the other is a barbaric warrior. A surgeon and a butcher, if you will. Both have conquered and vanquished many foes. Both are undefeated. But the similarities end there. One throws money around whilst donning his new Armani suit and craving for the MTV lime light. The other is a t-shirt wearing bar lizard who might buy you a pint of beer and expect a good story in return.
Not like Pac and Morales, who both grew out of poverty and seemed to live parallel lives. When these two fighters were matched up, the hype machine grew on its own once the obvious was clear. But for Mayweather and Hatton, the talk and hype were well ahead of schedule. Mayweather at 140 had two great options at the time: Tsyu and Hatton. But he went for Gatti, the most popular 140 titlelist in America (and the least skilled).
Seriously, I've watch boxing for years....since 1973 when I could remember seeing Ali try to win back his title....I've never seen two fighters matched up literally years before their final showdown. The closest I saw was Leonard/Hagler. But it was Hagler who was doing most of the hype, not the fans coz Leonard was retired (first of many).
Now...it's not even November yet and the amount of threads in several boxing forums are almost limitless. The online traffic is great for popup ads. When December rolls around....I think people are going to drive more carefully just to be sure they're alive long enough to see this momentous occasion.
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