Brilliant first round by Mayweather. Controlled everything: centre of the ring, landed that dangerous right hand twice - the second time just buckling Pacman's legs a little, and ALSO was even setting traps to land a big right by drawing Manny in.
'Businessman' Floyd Mayweather can be admired but will never be loved, while Manny Pacquiao is sadly in decline - and Jamie Foxx should not be allowed to sign the national anthem again.
cal fighter, Mayweather did not need to throw more punches than Pacquiao by virtue of his supreme accuracy and impeccable right hand. The combinations that had worked for the Filipino against almost every one of his other 64 professional opponents tended to find clean air against the fleet-footed American. In rounds four and six, Pacquiao pinned Mayweather to the ropes with exhilarating bursts of shots, but his adversary reeled away, shaking his head. Sometimes a boxer can be bluffing by his insistence that he has not been hurt, but not on this occasion. This was a calculated masterclass.
Pacquiao never threatened to attack Mayweather with the sustained ferocity that has become his trademark. Perhaps the sixth-round knockout that he suffered at the hands of Juan Manuel Márquez in 2012 was a portent after all, for he looked a diminished force here, landing a slender fraction of his punches compared to his opponent. Trainer Freddie Roach had claimed that he needed to wage a perfect fight to stand any hope of victory, and this was far too flawed a performance to make that possible. He faded badly in the last five rounds as Mayweather, characteristically, identified his every weakness. He is a charming and endearing figure, but his subsequent argument that he won this contest did him scant credit.
Mayweather has consistently declared that his next fight – the concluding part of a six-bout contract with broadcasters Showtime – would be his last, and it is time to start believing him. While he confirmed here that he would be back in the ring in September, the 38-year-old is demonstrating little desire to eclipse Rocky Marciano’s record by going one further, and chasing a 50th win without defeat. In his 19-year career, he has spent 18 of them as world champion, and he appears desperate to protect those immaculate credentials. Mayweather is mindful of the fact that he is slowing, that his powers are waning, and grasps when it is time to stop. For Pacquiao, the most sensible course of action after this, his ultimate pay-day, would be to pursue a second term as congressman in the Philippines. His fighting career, sadly, has passed its zenith.
There were many bizarre rituals ahead of the opening bell. What possible reason, for example, was there for the Mexican national anthem to be played, besides the fact that the fight was sponsored by Tecate, a Mexican beer? This was far from the most egregious musical choice, however. That belonged to whoever decided to allow Jamie Foxx to sing *The Star Spangled Banner* in a discordant, barely listenable warble. Beyoncé, watching from ringside, must have found it excruciating. Foxx might have delivered an admirable star turn in the biopic of Ray Charles, but this was a case of celebrity tokenism gone mad.
Mayweather looked angry, hurt even, as he stared out at the crowd post-fight and was met largely by a chorus of boos. Even if he prevailed by unanimous decision, Pacquiao, smiling and endlessly effervescent, had been the overwhelming people’s choice – the favourite of 70 per cent of boxing fans to win, if you were believe some of the snap polls here in the MGM Grand. Mayweather will never command the love that he feels is his due – not with the domestic violence record that has proved so alienating, and nor with his obsession that money that prompted him to dedicate part of his victory speech to his watchmakers Hublot. A wonderful exponent of defensive ringcraft he may be, but he remains the sport’s most deeply divisive personality.
And did you notice Manny Pacquiao had an Organo T shirt on? I think I won't be wrong to say that he's from the Organo family. Gary G'eonariBrooks Petit-Frere and Leonie Msleo Resuma must be very proud of that. Congrats guys.
If there's anything I've learnt from this fight is that it's not all about winning that matters. It's about the motive behind your winning that counts.
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