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Pacquiao/Mayweather is big. We all know it's even more than that. It's huge, it's important, and it's defining. Normally we try to compare events like this to those in the recent past, but a fight like this hasn't happened in quite a while. Let's look at some of the particulars that make this one special:
We have the top two fighters in the world pound-for pound. You can't find a list outside of another fighter's household that would disagree. It's clear, it's the consensus, and it's not even close.
Both Pacquiao and Mayweather are in their absolute prime. This isn't one of those fights where one competitor is slightly beyond his best and the other is still improving. These men are at their apex. While each has turned thirty they're both incredible athletes and their most recent performances rank among the best of their career.
They're pretty close in size. While it's true that Mayweather is a more natural welterweight, Pacquiao has grown into the division. Mayweather is also not one to use his size and strength as an advantage, preferring to work from the outside. They will be the two most evenly matched superior athletes to get into the ring for quite some time.
They're the two most recognizable fighters in the sport. In many ways this is the most unique thing about the event. During the big fights of the previous decades there were always other superstars around, always other big draws. There were marketable fighters both in the lower weight divisions and in the heavyweight division.
It's a different world now. These two are literally the only two mainstream figures in boxing in America. They are the only two that an average sports fan would know.
Let me put it this way; if we had to set an over/under on PPV buys for this fight it would probably about 2.4 million, the all-time record. Outside of these fighters is there any bout in the sport you would expect to break 500,000? Maybe an all Klitschko match might garner morbid curiosity and attention, but this is the only game in town. THE LAST OF THE SUPERFIGHTS.
With that said lets look at some comparable events over the last thirty years:
De La Hoya/Trinidad 1999: This one was huge at the time. The Golden Boy was a star from the moment he won the gold in the Olympics and Felix Trinidad had built a loyal following appreciative of his action style. Everyone was excited for this one. It ended up being a bit of a dud, with De La Hoya dominating the early rounds and refusing to engage in the late rounds. Trinidad won an unsatisfying decision.
While this was big, neither De La Hoya nor Trinidad had accomplished quite what Mayweather and Pacquiao had at the time of the fight. They were in an earlier stage of their careers. If Pacquiao and Mayweather were to retire right now even the most stringent lists would have them among the best fifty boxers ever. Not the case for Trinidad and De La Hoya.
Whitaker/Chavez 1993: Perhaps the closest for historical importance, both Whitaker and Chavez had proved themselves as truly great fighters by this point. Like Pacquiao and Mayweather they had moved up through the weight classes before finally meeting at welterweight. It had similar resonance in terms of who would be remembered as the greater fighter historically. In addition, Chavez, a veteran of 87 fights at this point had begun to noticeably slow down.
More distinctly, it wasn't quite as big an event as Pacquiao/Mayweather is likely to be. While Chavez was beloved among Mexicans he didn't break through with the sporting community at large. Whitaker was extremely well respected, but he was not a sporting star like Pacquiao and Mayweather. As for the fight itself, Whitaker was in control throughout but ultimately came away with a disappointing and controversial draw.
Hagler/Leonard 1987: This was a colossal event, probably bigger than Pacquiao/Mayweather is likely to be. The fight had been years in the making, and Leonard came out of a long retirement. The historical balance between the two greats was on the line, but at the time, and more clearly in hindsight, each man was beyond his best days. Leonard was the smaller man while Hagler was winding down a difficult and rugged career; it was the last fight he would ever have.
Again, the result of the fight was a bit of a disappointment, with Leonard using movement to restrict the engagements to squeeze out a controversial split decision.
Leonard/Hearns 1981: Another huge event in the welterweight division. Leonard was coming off his victory over Duran in their rematch while Hearns had blasted through a series of tough welterweights.
While this fight was enormous, and has only grown in importance since, each man was still in the early stages of his career. Neither had reached the fullness of his abilities or reputations at this point.
It was, however, the best of the superfights, with Leonard scoring a dramatic come from behind stoppage in the 14th round.
There are a few more fights, such as Toney/Jones, Duran/Leonard, Spinks/Tyson, and Holyfield/Lewis which have similarities to the upcoming event, but very few have such a unique build up - both in terms of attention and historical importance - as Pacquiao/Mayweather.
We're lucky the event is going to happen, as fights like this don't come along often.
We have the top two fighters in the world pound-for pound. You can't find a list outside of another fighter's household that would disagree. It's clear, it's the consensus, and it's not even close.
Both Pacquiao and Mayweather are in their absolute prime. This isn't one of those fights where one competitor is slightly beyond his best and the other is still improving. These men are at their apex. While each has turned thirty they're both incredible athletes and their most recent performances rank among the best of their career.
They're pretty close in size. While it's true that Mayweather is a more natural welterweight, Pacquiao has grown into the division. Mayweather is also not one to use his size and strength as an advantage, preferring to work from the outside. They will be the two most evenly matched superior athletes to get into the ring for quite some time.
They're the two most recognizable fighters in the sport. In many ways this is the most unique thing about the event. During the big fights of the previous decades there were always other superstars around, always other big draws. There were marketable fighters both in the lower weight divisions and in the heavyweight division.
It's a different world now. These two are literally the only two mainstream figures in boxing in America. They are the only two that an average sports fan would know.
Let me put it this way; if we had to set an over/under on PPV buys for this fight it would probably about 2.4 million, the all-time record. Outside of these fighters is there any bout in the sport you would expect to break 500,000? Maybe an all Klitschko match might garner morbid curiosity and attention, but this is the only game in town. THE LAST OF THE SUPERFIGHTS.
With that said lets look at some comparable events over the last thirty years:
De La Hoya/Trinidad 1999: This one was huge at the time. The Golden Boy was a star from the moment he won the gold in the Olympics and Felix Trinidad had built a loyal following appreciative of his action style. Everyone was excited for this one. It ended up being a bit of a dud, with De La Hoya dominating the early rounds and refusing to engage in the late rounds. Trinidad won an unsatisfying decision.
While this was big, neither De La Hoya nor Trinidad had accomplished quite what Mayweather and Pacquiao had at the time of the fight. They were in an earlier stage of their careers. If Pacquiao and Mayweather were to retire right now even the most stringent lists would have them among the best fifty boxers ever. Not the case for Trinidad and De La Hoya.
Whitaker/Chavez 1993: Perhaps the closest for historical importance, both Whitaker and Chavez had proved themselves as truly great fighters by this point. Like Pacquiao and Mayweather they had moved up through the weight classes before finally meeting at welterweight. It had similar resonance in terms of who would be remembered as the greater fighter historically. In addition, Chavez, a veteran of 87 fights at this point had begun to noticeably slow down.
More distinctly, it wasn't quite as big an event as Pacquiao/Mayweather is likely to be. While Chavez was beloved among Mexicans he didn't break through with the sporting community at large. Whitaker was extremely well respected, but he was not a sporting star like Pacquiao and Mayweather. As for the fight itself, Whitaker was in control throughout but ultimately came away with a disappointing and controversial draw.
Hagler/Leonard 1987: This was a colossal event, probably bigger than Pacquiao/Mayweather is likely to be. The fight had been years in the making, and Leonard came out of a long retirement. The historical balance between the two greats was on the line, but at the time, and more clearly in hindsight, each man was beyond his best days. Leonard was the smaller man while Hagler was winding down a difficult and rugged career; it was the last fight he would ever have.
Again, the result of the fight was a bit of a disappointment, with Leonard using movement to restrict the engagements to squeeze out a controversial split decision.
Leonard/Hearns 1981: Another huge event in the welterweight division. Leonard was coming off his victory over Duran in their rematch while Hearns had blasted through a series of tough welterweights.
While this fight was enormous, and has only grown in importance since, each man was still in the early stages of his career. Neither had reached the fullness of his abilities or reputations at this point.
It was, however, the best of the superfights, with Leonard scoring a dramatic come from behind stoppage in the 14th round.
There are a few more fights, such as Toney/Jones, Duran/Leonard, Spinks/Tyson, and Holyfield/Lewis which have similarities to the upcoming event, but very few have such a unique build up - both in terms of attention and historical importance - as Pacquiao/Mayweather.
We're lucky the event is going to happen, as fights like this don't come along often.
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