by Cliff Rold
It was a magnificent event. Like the man who won, it was an efficient fight. Floyd Mayweather Jr. did what he does best on Saturday night, neutralizing a dangerous foe and winning more rounds.
Any questions left about Floyd Mayweather’s place as the best fighter in the sport, in this era, or in the Welterweight division were resolved.
Whether he fights once more, or twice, we know we’re near the end. What did the win do for Mayweather? Did it hurt Pacquiao?
Let’s go to the report card.
Grades
Speed: Mayweather A-; Pacquiao A-/Post: Same
Power: Mayweather B; Pacquiao A-/Post: Same
Defense: Mayweather A+; Pacquiao B/Post: Same
Intangibles: Mayweather A+; Pacquiao A+/Post: A; A-
While Pacquiao clearly lost, he had some moments that reminded us what we missed. Five years ago, this is a much better fight.
It still probably comes out the same.
Mayweather’s length, ring intelligence, and defense were always a tall order for Pacquiao. In 2010, both men were younger and quicker. We’d have seen more tension like what we got in rounds four and six as Pacquiao attacked.
We’d also have seen more of what Mayweather did to start the eleventh, coming hard at Pacquiao with slinging right hands. Saturday was a good fight (in a technical sense) that could have been great attached to an event that couldn’t have been much bigger.
We got nearly middle-aged millionaires who box a little more politely than bloodlust would desire, but at least we saw it. The sport would have been worse off without it.
In some ways, it was a big win beyond the box office. Sure, for the price tag paid, it was no thriller. However, as much as thrillers, boxing needs fights that produce credible outcomes on the biggest stages.
Nothing cost the sport more fans in the US than the feeling that an already presumed corrupt sport was no longer providing credible product on its best days. Whitaker-Chavez, Holyfield-Tyson II, and Lewis-Holyfield I were indicative of some of the shenanigans that saw a sport already teetering on the edge lose millions of its audience in the 2000s.
Saturday was a fair fight, fairly scored. Not every Super Bowl is good and not every fight sizzles. A new fight people want to see can overcome that. Now imagine if Mayweather hadn’t got the nod from the judges? Plenty of viewers got a look at, and were impressed by, Vasyl Lomachenko. The replay on HBO is attached to Canelo Alvarez-James Kirkland. There are chances to build off the fight without the stench of bad judging or officiating.
That's a net positive.
Pacquiao is taking a beating for being a ‘sore loser’ in the aftermath but that will pass. Sometimes, great winners are bad losers. It’s part of why they won so much. The loss to Mayweather doesn’t change his historic accomplishments, the classics he had, or his lock on the Hall of Fame.
It does put him in some perspective. There was a desire to see him as our Henry Armstrong. He was more our Jimmy McLarnin another fighter who moved from the lower classes all the way to Welterweight with big names at every stop on the way. Jimmy McLarnin was a great fighter. Considering the titles Pacquiao won, maybe he rests somewhere between the two.
Mayweather just turned out to be better than him. He’s better than an awful lot of fighters, now and all time. Even if one wants to argue he picked and chose some spots, his longevity and consistency are remarkable. Those assets combined with his star power and finally overcoming his chief rival, may have finally cemented him as the best fighter since Sugar Ray Leonard.
He’s not the best ever, but he’s the best of his time. That’s all any fighter can ever really aspire to.
What next for both men? There are some who might want a rematch. Even with the disappointment in Saturday’s action, a rematch is the biggest fight in boxing at the box office.
It’s not likely.
For Pacquiao, one could see him pick up a win or two to rebuild as Top Rank perhaps builds towards a torch passing possibility with Terrence Crawford. Mayweather, who it says here goes for 50 if he wins one more, has plenty of options under the Al Haymon tent. Amir Khan, Keith Thurman, or Danny Garcia would all be credible foes. Khan and Thurman, based on recent form, would be live underdogs.
Can Floyd finish his undefeated run? He isn’t getting any younger and the risk goes up with every new foe. Who he chooses to face will determine how serious the risks are.
Report Card and Staff Picks 2015: 29-7
Previous Installments
Research Note: Records compiled with the use of www.boxrec.com
Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
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