Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Collision course

Source: fightfan.com
By Ace Freeman (07-May-2009)

FightFan.com's Ace Freeman looks at the showdown that is now on the verge of inevitable: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao. The two generational titans - in their prime - could potentially be on a collision course to face off later this year. Read on for some perspective and analysis on this future mega fight.

Photos: Joe Bruiser / Bruce Heinsius

Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.  Just looking at the names with the “vs.” between them begins to send chills and immediately these words inspire intrigue. Several years ago the names paired against each other would have looked strange and perhaps even silly. Now, the two are unequivocally the most prestigious fighters of this generation. Two warriors at the absolute peak of their craft.

At 31, I am between Mayweather and Pacquiao in age. They are 32 and 30 years old respectively.

I mention this only to provide some context that it was not long ago that these two were in the beginning stages of their careers while I was a young and eager boxing fan. Both fighters captured sudden and impressive acclaim at an early age and were regarded as  fighters to keep an eye on. Fast forward several years and now in 2009 they are neck and neck as the best fighters of their generation.

If we look back ten years their potential face off feels similar to an undefeated Oscar De La Hoya taking on an undefeated Felix Trinidad. Even farther back a young rising star, ‘Sugar Ray Leonard’ set out to fight an undefeated Thomas Hearns.

It is that momentum and perceived historical significance that defines a potential Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight. While Manny Pacquiao’s record (49-3-2, 37 KOs) might not have a zero in the loss column, for all intents and purposes as far as this fight is concerned, it might as well have. The Filipino terror is undefeated in over four years and ten fights, most of them against the legends of his generation.

Make no mistake about it, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are at their absolute best. Both are freakish athletic specimens that represent the pinnacle of potential in the human body. Speed, Reflex, Athleticism, Mechanics, Skill, Power, both men posses these traits of fundamental  boxing like few athletes in the history of the sport.

In turn, both could claim the distinction of being the most historically significant boxer of their generation. In the better portion of this decade both of these amazing fighters have captured title after title in multiple divisions, dominating great and legendary fighters with an astounding and picturesque display of boxing attributes.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. captured a world title at just 21 years of age against an only once beaten forty fight veteran in Genaro Hernandez when he stopped the durable champion in eight rounds. Floyd has not lost before or since. He followed up that feat  by capturing titles in four more divisions, on route to becoming a five division champion. Mayweather is one of the only fighters in Boxing history to have held the prestigious WBC title in five separate weight classes. He has defeated some of the best fighters of his generation throughout those years and divisions including Jesus Chavez, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Zab Judah, Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya.

Manny Pacquiao is equally impressive over a wider range of weight classes. After turning pro as a small and starved 16 year old, the young Filipino has boxed his way through an unprecedented ten weight classes on his way from obscurity to the top of the boxing world. Winning titles in six weight classes between 112 pounds and 140 pounds, Pacquiao spanned a staggering 28 pounds between dominating title wins (to Mayweather’s 24 pounds, picking up championship belts from 130 pounds to 154 pounds).

Legendary names like Morales, Barrera, Marquez, Hatton and De La Hoya have all hit the canvass a combined 14 times in 9 fights against Pacquiao. It is not unfair to compare him to the ferocious punching machine that was a young Mike Tyson.

Between Pacquiao and Mayweather lies a path to storied supremacy in boxing history but at the end of that path there is only room for one. Both these fighters are in their physical and fighting prime at a very early age. They are masters of their craft, commanding supreme control over the operation of their bodies and reflexes.

To be completely honest, as a die hard boxing fan, this fight terrifies me. As unbiased as one tries to remain being an enthusiastic boxing scribe, I am truly in awe of both these fighters and have been a Fan since they burst on to the scene several years ago. My heart has been in my throat every time one of them stands across the ring from an opponent waiting for the opening bell to ring. When both men fight I often think to myself that I must be more nervous then they are at that moment of truth.

So when a friend or a fellow boxing fan asks me what I think about a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao bout I am admittedly torn. Knowing other rabid fellow Fight Fans as I do, many will be quick to jump to an immediately polarizing position.

Some will tell me Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s technical skills will take everything that makes Pacquiao a great fighter and solve them like a puzzle. His text book defense will make Pacquiao chase him resulting in him walking into Floyd’s well placed counter punches (much like Pacquiao did to Ricky Hatton recently in Las Vegas).

Others will boldly dismiss Mayweather with contempt for boring them, and point out that Pacquiao’s ferocity knows no end, saying that  Mayweather will certainly not weather his storm. The speedy and crafty little southpaw will attack Mayweather with a speed and tenacity that Floyd has never dealt with before.

But what do I think? The arguments for both sides are compelling. As much as I’ve come to expect the unexpected in boxing and to just simply make a selection regardless, I remain torn on this fight… much like I do with my inability to decide which fighter I enjoy watching more.

Photo: Joe Bruiser

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is poetry in motion. I have had the pleasure of attending workouts in training camp for several of his last fights. Standing on the ring apron, hanging over the top rope, you gain a new appreciation for these fighters. Up close the sights and sounds are as vibrant and hypnotizing as standing in the winners circle while a jockey parades his prized thoroughbred within an arm’s reach of you after winning a race.

Mayweather’s mechanics are something to marvel at. If you have been in any boxing gym and watched as a typical fighter pounds on a heavy bag or navigates around a boxing ring you have the context to begin to understand the separate level at which an athlete of this caliber operates.

The use of the word athlete cannot be overstated. Boxing is truly the pinnacle atop the sporting and athletic pedestal. It is the meeting of a mesmerizing grace and a brutish test of human will and endurance that culminates in one of the most coveted prizes in all of athletics, holding the distinction of being ‘Champion of the world’.

To watch Floyd Mayweather in action is to truly understand why boxing is called the ‘Sweet Science’. As he spends countless hours  (often in the middle of the night) moving effortlessly around the boxing ring, he is working in milliseconds. His head movement on both the front and back foot is Ying and Yang. He religiously practices just moving backward and forward to strike and retreat like a cobra. He feints to and from and uses his instinctive reactions to bring explosive offensive punches out of a defensive stance.

When you see this translate into actual combat, and witness the easy and effortless temperament with which Mayweather operates (even with legacy and millions of dollars on the line), you begin to appreciate the mastery he holds over the science of pugilism.

It is absolutely a similar awe that Manny Pacquiao inspires as he places his lightning quick explosions of power punches at a multitude of angles. I have had the equal good fortune of standing in the  thick and sweat filled air of Freddie Roach’s Hollywood ‘Wild Card Boxing Club’ as Manny Pacquiao has prepared for his last five fights. Much like Mayweather, Pacquiao is marvel to watch in action.

Photo: Bruce Heinsius

The speed with which the Filipino warrior operates and tirelessly practices is unlike anything I have ever seen. Pacquiao pushes the envelope at the top speed of a pair of  human hands and then practices precise mechanical punches in sequence at that same speed. The speed with which you witness his hands moving in video clips (where you hear him cry out with exasperated gasps) is nowhere near as random as it might appear. A lot of fighters can flail their hands towards a target, but it is tireless effort that compels Manny Pacquiao to take his God given gift of hand speed one step further and practice placing combinations at supreme velocity.

In his early years, it was this speed and the potential it held that had the young tiger destroying anyone who stood in his way. It is now years later and the jaws of the most skeptical boxing pundits are dropping as the realized potential of that speed  (paired with learned skill and a veteran savvy) is destroying fighters 28 pounds north of where the young Filipino fighter began. Manny Pacquiao is currently scoring one-punch knockouts over champions up to ten weight division higher than when he began his career.

So what does all of this tell us about a potential clash between these two titanic figues?

After some time spent pondering, I can tell you that I feel this fight will come down to speed. The speed at which both fighters operate is unparalleled, with the exception that one will ultimately “out speed” the other.

If Floyd Mayweather defeats Manny Pacquiao, it will be because the technical brilliance from which he operates allows him to play chess at the ultimate level of human hand speed. He will time Manny Pacquiao’s storm and use his fundamental mastery of the art of boxing to largely avoid  taking punches while landing his own. Perhaps with stunning accuracy he will catch an unexpected Pacquiao advancing into his counter punches. Or… maybe his victory will come after he’s able to avoid enough of Pacquiao’s shots (round after round) so as to thwart him on route to a decisive scorecard check mate.

If Manny Pacquiao beats Floyd Mayweather it will be because his controlled fists (that are fired like speeding bullets) will be an instant too fast for even the craftiest of defenders. Perhaps even someone with Mayweather’s pedigree and professed mastery of the sweet science isn’t fast enough to stop the momentum, power, and speed that Pacquiao’s attack carries.

The two scenarios bounce back in forth in my head. To try to decide which way it will go at this point in time seems beyond me.

Currently this fight is several months away from becoming a reality. Floyd Mayweather Jr. has a July 18 “comeback ” fight where he will look to shake off over a year of inactivity against the crafty Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez is currently considered a top 3 fighter in all of boxing.

This match up between Pacquiao and Mayweather means too much money for too many people not to actually take place. I am confident that as the yellowing leaves begin to drop from the trees this fall the boxing world will be buzzing about  the two titans of this current generation  being on a collision course. Two legends in the making with room for only one to take a step higher.

Many Fight Fans will feel that one fighter has the edge over the other. They always do. While the outcome is uncertain at this point, one thing is not. Boxing fans everywhere should hope beyond all hope that  they have the privilege of seeing this fight come to fruition. It is the stuff of which legends are made, and something no doubt most of us will one day be telling our grandchildren about.