By Dave Greener: On this occasion, there wasn’t the posturing, the protracted negotiations over the purse split and the random shenanigans that seemingly accompany every ‘mega-fight’. Of recent contests, Mayweather vs De La Hoya and Hatton vs Pacquiao qualify in the will-it / won’t it happen’ category, whether over the purse, the weight, the size of the ring or the type of gloves. All much to the bemusement or frustration of your average fight fan. By all means build the excitement for an event such as Floyd v Manny to an epic conclusion in the ring….that’s part and parcel, but it’s another when the powers that be (including the fighters) lose sight of who pays the bills, let alone demonstrate a marked lack of respect for tradition and the sport itself..
For all Don Kings’ faults, he made the biggest fights happen. In the modern era, there have been too many great fights that were scuppered and have subsequently been forgotten and swept under the carpet. Lewis vs Bowe, Tyson vs Lewis (should have happened much earlier), Mayweather vs Cotto, Mayweather vs Mosley. I could go on. Should Mosley get past Berto in convincing style and should Mayweather continue to posture and duck around Mosley, then he will always be remembered as ‘great, but avoided the true, defining challenges’. Beyond Pacquiao and Mosley, the lucrative options are slim for Floyd. Pacquiao wasted no time in securing Clottey, who put up a game show against Cotto, but ultimately didn’t seize the opportunity.
Of course Pacquiao vs Mayweather will eventually go ahead. The travesty if it didn’t would be heavy for many of those involved to bear. Does Mayweather care? On too many occasions he has showed nothing more than contempt for legacy. It’s all about the money. Arum and Pacquiao will care however, and I suspect it will be they who have to shift their aspirations to ensure it happens.
When it eventually happens, the Mayweather v Pacquaio contest will undoubtedly become the highest grossing fight in history. Fundamentally, the interest will remain, as the boxing fans at heart will always stay true to their passion and there’s still plenty of dollars in the diehards and the high rollers. However, that’s not the problem in re-establishing boxing on the average staple sports diet. The problem is losing your average Joe, who grew up and grew old in the times of Ali, Frazier, Holmes, Leonard, Hearns….even Tyson. Apologies for the nostalgia but your casual fan neither understands nor cares to understand the complexities surrounding the circus. He becomes disillusioned, you lose the mass market.
Hopefully it’s just a cycle. Hope prevails.
Having said all that, I’ll still watch it.